Baltimore, MD – Matt Joyce's two-run double was the go-ahead hit in a six-run ninth inning, as Tampa Bay rallied past Baltimore, 10-6, in the middle test of a three-game set from Camden Yards.
Jim Johnson (1-4) entered with a two-run lead, but Kelly Johnson's one-out homer made it 6-5. Jose Lobaton and Yunel Escobar both walked and a Desmond Jennings single loaded the bases. Joyce stepped in and roped a double to the gap in right center for a 7-6 contest, and Darren O'Day came on, only to be greeted with a Ben Zobrist RBI double.
Evan Longoria reached second on a hot shot behind first base, and James Loney drew a free pass ahead of Luke Scott's walk which forced in Zobrist to make it 10-6. Johnson then grounded into a double play to end the threat.
Josh Lueke stranded a runner on second to close out the contest. Alex Torres (1-0) tossed four hitless relief innings for the win.
Joyce ended with three hits, including a two-run homer and five RBI for the Rays, who won their second straight in the series and eight of 10 overall.
Adam Jones slugged a two-run homer and drove in three for the Orioles, who saw their franchise-record 109-game win streak when leading after seven innings evaporate.
"Their track record after seven innings has spoken for itself," Longoria said. "They've been really good late in the game and Jim Johnson has been as good as they come. To be able to get to him and then tack a couple of more on late in the game, in this hostile environment is really good."
Nick Markakis contributed three hits and drove in a run, while Chris Davis added a solo shot and scored twice in defeat.
The Orioles battered Tampa starter Ramon Hernandez right out of the gate with a four-run first inning courtesy of an RBI double from Markakis, a two- run shot from Jones and a solo homer by Davis.
Tampa responded with three in the third on Escobar's run-scoring double and a two-run blast from Joyce, but Davis was plunked to start the home half -- prompting an exit by Hernandez -- and the O's catcher came around to score on J.J. Hardy's one-out double off Cesar Ramos for a 5-3 game.
Nate McLouth singled to start the home fourth, stole second, went to third on a Markakis hit and crossed the plate on a Jones grounder, but Joyce doubled home Lobaton in the fifth and pulled the Rays within 6-4.
"We didn't finish off our game today," Orioles manager Buck Showalter said. "We had some things that could have made it easier."
Game Notes
Baltimore's last loss prior to Saturday when leading after seven innings occurred on Aug. 8, 2011 in a 7-6 home setback to the Chicago White Sox ... Per Elias, the run was the second-longest streak for any club during the expansion era (since 1961), trailing just the 1998-99 Yankees (116) ... Recalled prior to the contest from Triple-A Norfolk, Orioles starter Jair Jurrjens lasted five-plus innings, giving up six hits and four runs with five strikeouts and a walk ... Hernandez was charged with eight hits and five runs over two-plus frames ... Johnson departed after one out having surrendered three hits and five runs ... The O's also optioned pitcher Alex Burnett and recalled pitcher Jake Arrieta from Norfolk, placed outfielder Nolan Reimold on the 15-day disabled list and transferred infielder Brian Roberts to the 60-day disabled list.
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