Matt Moore strong for 7, but Rays slip up late vs. Orioles
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) -- Tampa Bay starting pitchers made a little obscure history on a night that the Rays' bullpen wasted a strong outing.
Adam Jones hit a go-ahead, two-run single with two outs in a four-run eighth inning off reliever Alex Colome, and the Baltimore Orioles beat the Rays 4-3 Thursday.
Tampa Bay has 30 scoreless outings by starters for the second straight season, the first team to accomplish that feat since the Chicago Cubs did it four consecutive times from 1906-09.
The milestone was reached on Matt Moore's best start of the season. He gave up two hits while striking out nine in seven innings, his ninth start this season following Tommy John surgery and his third start after a stint in the minors.
"Hopefully this will provide him with the confidence that he's getting closer to where he needs to be," Rays manager Kevin Cash said.
It's the first time Moore lasted more than five innings this year.
"Having 93 pitches and having those zeroes is something positive to focus on," Moore said.
Baltimore, which closed within 4 1/2 games of Houston for the AL's second wild card, trailed 3-0 when Jonathan Schoop singled leading off the eighth against Colome (6-5), who relieved Moore at the start of the inning. Pinch-hitters Gerardo Parra and Steve Clevenger singled with two outs, with Clevenger's hit driving in Baltimore's first run, and Manny Machado singled to cut the deficit to 3-2.
After a wild pitch and an intentional walk to Chris Davis, Jones followed with a two-run single.
"Somebody's going to succeed, one of the two," Jones said. "Good thing it was me."
Chaz Roe (4-2) pitched 1 1-3 hitless innings, and Darren O'Day retired three straight batters for his third save, sending Tampa Bay to its fifth loss in six games.
John Jaso homered in the third off Chris Tillman, a drive that landed on the C-ring catwalk above right field and never came down. It was the fifth ball at Tropicana Field that did not come down, the first since Boston's David Ortiz hit a homer on Sept. 17, 2008.
"This ballpark plays like that, really weird," Tillman said.
Tim Beckham and Kevin Kiermaier had consecutive run-scoring infield singles in the sixth.
Tillman gave up three runs on five hits in 5 2/3 innings. He is 0-4 with a 7.76 ERA in his last six starts.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Orioles: RHP Miguel Gonzalez (right shoulder) might be ready to return in seven to 10 days.
Rays: LHP Xavier Cedeno (left side) was sharp in a simulated game. ... LHP Jake McGee (left knee) struggled with control in a simulated game but said his injured left knee is nearing 100 percent. He is scheduled for another simulated game Sunday. ... SS Asdrubal Cabrera (knee) could resume baseball activities Saturday.
ON THE ROAD AGAIN
After the current four-game series, the Rays and Orioles will have played 13 games at Tropicana Filed, the most regular-season games between two teams at one venue since the New York Giants and Pittsburgh Pirates played 13 times at the Polo Grounds in 1955. Due to unrest in the city of Baltimore, Major League Baseball moved a three-game series in May from Camden Yards to St. Petersburg.
NUMBERS GAME
Orioles C Matt Wieters struck out in all four at-bats. ... Rays RF Steven Souza Jr. reached base four times, on three walks and a hit by pitch. ... Tampa Bay 1B James Loney had his second consecutive three-hit game. ... Tampa Bay is a season-worst six-games under .500 (70-76).
UP NEXT
Orioles: Rookie Tyler Wilson (2-1) is being inserted into the rotation and is to start Friday night.
Rays: LHP Drew Smyly (2-2), coming off an 11-strikeout start Sunday against Boston, faces Wilson.
