The Tampa Bay Rays had just beaten the Baltimore Orioles, and all the televisions in the clubhouse were tuned to the game between Boston and Cleveland.That’s right, the once-lowly Rays are in a pennant race. They’re scoreboard-watching, checking out the competition on TV and doing their part to make their first trip to the playoffs as AL East champions.
Jason Bartlett had two of Tampa Bay’s three hits, and the Rays inched closer to their first division title with a 4-2 victory Monday night.
After Boston lost 4-3, reducing Tampa Bay’s magic number to four, a roar resonated throughout the clubhouse.
“It was a nice, happy ending,” manager Joe Maddon said. “It’s exciting.”
Any combination of Tampa Bay wins and Red Sox losses totaling four would give the Rays their first AL East title. The Rays, already assured a place in the postseason, lead the Red Sox by 2 1/2 games.
Tampa Bay managed only two hits over the first eight innings, but both were huge. Akinori Iwamura singled in two runs in the fifth, and Bartlett doubled in the tiebreaking run in the seventh off Rocky Cherry (0-3) following an error by second baseman Brian Roberts and a walk to Eric Hinske.
Carlos Pena picked up his 100th RBI on a bases-loaded walk in the seventh, when the Rays scored two unearned runs to take a 4-2 lead.
Tampa Bay’s David Price began his first big league start with four hitless innings, but the left-hander gave up two runs in the fifth and was lifted in the sixth. Price, the top overall pick in the 2007 amateur draft, allowed one earned run and four hits in 5 1-3 innings.
“I pounded the zone, challenged their hitters, worked out of a couple jams. So, not too bad,” the rookie said. “I left us in a position to win the game. As a starter, that’s what you want to do.”
Grant Balfour (6-2) pitched 1 2-3 innings, J.P. Powell got four outs and Dan Wheeler retired two batters for his 12th save.
The Rays (93-62) are one win shy of tying the 1991 Atlanta Braves for most victories by a team that had the worst record in the majors one year earlier.
It was the sixth straight loss for the Orioles, who fell to 3-12 against Tampa Bay this season.
Baltimore muffed a potential scoring opportunity in the sixth when Oscar Salazar was doubled up on a routine fly to center.
“To me, that’s a total mental breakdown on his part,” Orioles manager Dave Trembley said. “To be honest with you, that’s embarrassing to me and the club and the people watching the game. I’m just saying, it’s not right.”
Orioles starter Brian Bass didn’t allow a hit but was pulled after walking three straight batters in the fifth inning. His pitching line was rather unique: 4 2-3 innings, two runs, no hits and four walks.
Asked if he had any reservations about pulling a pitcher throwing a no-hitter, Trembley said, “He was done. He was out of gas.”
Bass retired the first 11 batters before Pena drew a fourth-inning walk.
In the fifth, Bass walked Gabe Gross with two outs, then threw a wild pitch before issuing an intentional walk to Hinske. After Bass walked Bartlett on a 3-2 pitch, Trembley brought in Randor Bierd.
Iwamura followed with Tampa Bay’s first hit.
Baltimore tied it in the bottom half. Luke Scott reached on an error before Ramon Hernandez got Baltimore’s first hit, a single to center, and Lou Montanez singled to load the bases. Juan Castro then drew a walk to force in a run and Roberts hit a sacrifice fly.
Xtra, xtra: Pena is the third player to have two 100-RBI seasons with Tampa Bay. Aubrey Huff, who’s now with the Orioles, and Fred McGriff are the others. The Rays never before beat a team 12 times in one season (Associated Press - Sports).
