The Baltimore Orioles (60-38) defeated the Tampa bay Rays (61-41) 6-5 on Saturday afternoon at Tropicana Field. The Orioles once again have taken sole possession of first place in the AL East.
The Orioles scored five runs in the fourth inning off Shane McClanahan to take an early 5-0 lead. McClanahan finished his outing pitching only four innings with those five earned runs on five hits while striking out five and walking three.
The Rays were able to rally, getting two in the sixth and one in the seventh before getting two in the eighth to tie the game 5-5.
The Orioles got the last laugh, coming up with a run off Pete Fairbanks (0-4, 2.08) in the ninth inning to take a 6-5 lead that would prove to be the difference. For Fairbanks, it was the third straight game in which he made an appearance.
The Rays will look to salvage a sweep in the series finale with the Orioles on Sunday afternoon. Rookie Taj Bradley is expected to start for the Rays, against Tyler Wells for the O's. First pitch Sunday is scheduled for 1:40 PM - coverage begins with Chris Adams-Wall hosting This Week In Rays Baseball at high noon on 95.3 WDAE & AM 620.
PHOTO COURTESY GETTY IMAGE