The Sports Xchange
Rays 3, Orioles 1
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The Tampa Bay Rays continued fortifying their perch atop the American League wild card standings and pushing the Baltimore Orioles off the cliff on Sunday with a 3-1 win at Tropicana Field.
Tampa Bay got timely hitting and a stifling pitching effort from rookie left-hander Enny Romero — making his Major League debut — and an effective bullpen.
Tampa Bay (86-69) remains a half-game in front of Cleveland for the top wild card while the Orioles fell to 81-73 and 4 1/2 games behind the Indians with seven games remaining.
The Orioles didn’t have a hit after Manny Machado’s leadoff single until Danny Valencia banged a two-out base hit in the ninth and Matt Wieters lofted a run-scoring double off the ‘B’ ring overhanging the field.
Fernando Rodney earned his 36th save.
Romero threw 4 2/3 shutout innings with one hit and four walks allowed in his inaugural start after being recalled Saturday night. In an odd coincidence, he made his debut as a starter on Sept. 22, just like fellow Rays left-handers David Price (2008) and Matt Moore (2011).
Romero was removed in the fifth with a 1-0 lead and two runners on base after Kelly Johnson muffed a Brian Roberts grounder at third base. Fellow rookie Wil Myers had helped preserve Romero’s lead in the inning with a sterling over-the-shoulder catch of a Michael More liner to deep right and Nick Markakis on first via a one-out walk.
The Rays took a 3-0 lead in the sixth inning by exceling at the minutia that apparently makes them a postseason team and the Orioles, increasingly, not. Desmond Jennings (2-for-3) led off with a bunt single before Ben Zobrist drew a walk on a Scott Feldman wild pitch, putting runners at first and third. Matt Joyce’s sacrifice fly to left gave the Rays a 2-0 lead. Zobrist stole second before Myers (2-for-4) singled, putting runners on first and third. Zobrist scored for a 3-0 lead on a James Loney single to left.
Orioles starter Feldman (12-11) allowed three earned runs on six hits and two walks in 6 1/3 innings. He struck out seven. Feldman settled after allowing a David DeJesus homer leading off the game and wasn’t threatened again until the sixth.
NOTES: Rays 3B Evan Longoria did not start on Sunday. Johnson started at third base, but Longoria placed him in the eighth. … C Wieters, who had Saturday off after catching all 18 innings on Friday, returned behind the plate on Sunday. … Romero became the 21st pitcher to make his major league debut for the Rays as a starter. He was the 10th different starter for the Rays this season — their most in one season since 2006 (12). … If RHP Chris Archer wins on Monday, the Rays would become the first major league team to possess a rookie with 10 or more wins in five straight seasons since the 1947-52 Philadelphia A’s, who accomplished the feat in six straight seasons. … Entering play on Sunday, the Orioles had led in 44 of 73 losses, the highest percentage this season in MLB. … With their next win, the Orioles will assure consecutive winning seasons for the first time since 1996-97. … CF Jennings was removed for a pinch runner after reporting a tight left hamstring beating out a bunt base hit in the sixth inning.
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