Erasmo Ramirez, Rays come up just short against Orioles
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) -- Evan Longoria and the Tampa Bay Rays couldn't get out of their own way.
Longoria was called out for batter's interference in the eighth inning, negating an apparent stolen base, and the Rays wound up losing to the Baltimore Orioles 2-1 Saturday night.
With pinch-runner Mikie Mahtook taking off from first base, Longoria swung and missed at a pitch by reliever Darren O'Day. Longoria was penalized for interfering with the throw of catcher Matt Wieters, and Mahtook was sent back to first.
"I guess it's kind of an umpire's discretion call," Longoria said. "I don't think it was the right call. I think if Dale (Scott) had a chance to do it again, he would either not make the call or make the `incidental contact' call."
Scott explained that although Longoria's bat hit Wieters on the backswing, interference was called for "leaning into the pathway of the catcher."
"He hit me with the backswing first," Wieters said, "and I think the umpire saw that also he may have gone across the plate."
On the next pitch, Mahtook was caught stealing.
"Our opportunities were lost long before that inning, we feel," Rays manager Kevin Cash said.
Mahtook didn't start a day after tying a team record with five hits in a game. Cash said a number of factors, including Longoria being the designated hitter, led to his lineup decision. Mahtook ran for Grady Sizemore, who was hit by a pitch near his knee.
The Rays have lost six of eight.
Wei-Yin Chen pitched seven effective innings and Adam Jones drove in two runs for the Orioles. They won for the eighth time in 11 games after starting the day 4 1-2 games behind Houston for the second AL wild-card spot.
Chen (10-7) allowed one run, six hits and struck out seven. He ended his outing by escaping a two-on, no-out jam.
After Jones had an RBI grounder in the first, the Rays tied it in the bottom half on Richie Shaffer's double. But they went 0 for 8 with runners in scoring position on their way to losing for the 28th time by one run.
Erasmo Ramirez (10-6) gave up two runs and nine hits over seven innings. The right-hander was coming off a start against the Yankees in which he lost a no-hit bid in the eighth.
Chris Davis had a leadoff double in the sixth for his third hit and scored on Jones' single to put Baltimore up 2-1.
GUYER'S GAME
Rays LF Brandon Guyer set a team record in the third when he was hit by a pitch for the 19th time this season. ... He had been 0 for 17 before a first-inning single.
BY THE NUMBERS
Orioles 2B Jonathan Schoop extended his career-best hitting streak to 12 games on a fourth-inning single. ... Longoria was hitless in 16 at-bats before hitting a double in the sixth.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Orioles: Pitching prospect Hunter Harvey felt discomfort in his throwing elbow at instructional league and will be examined by Dr. James Andrews. ... RHP Miguel Gonzalez (right shoulder) is scheduled for a bullpen session Sunday.
Rays: SS Asdrubal Cabrera (strained left knee) was back in the lineup and went 1 for 4 after missing three games. ... LHP Xavier Cedeno (left side) is ready to pitch. ... LHP Jake McGee (left knee) will have his second simulated game Sunday. C Curt Casali (left hamstring) will take part in the game. . . . Sizemore said he will be able to play Sunday.
UP NEXT
Orioles RHP Kevin Gausman (3-6) and Rays RHP Jake Odorizzi (8-8) will start the finale of the four-game series Sunday.
