He was the Rays' seventh pitcher, but Alex Colome finally ended it./CARMEN MANDATO
Sunday, 2 a.m.
For the Tampa Bay Rays, closing out the Baltimore Orioles was easier said than done Saturday night.
On the verge of a blowout victory, the Rays found themselves leading the Orioles by a 9-1 score in the ninth. Before it was done, however, the Orioles scored five runs — all on Chase Whitley – and came within 9-6. The Rays finally had to turn to Alex Colome for the final out, and Colome recorded his 46th save.
The win gets the Rays back to within three games of .500.
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Kevin Kiermaier had two hits for the Rays./STEVEN MUNCIE
Lucas Duda hit a three-run homer for the Rays in the third inning to lead Tampa Bay's offense early. Logan Morrison added his 37th homer later in the game.
Morrison hit his 37th home run./CARMEN MANDATO
“Adding more runs was pretty important,” said Rays' manager Kevin Cash. “I'm glad we got more runs, because we needed them.”
The Rays got a second-straight good start from Jake Odorizzi, who went six innings without allowing an earned run (one unearned one).
"It's not the ballpark," Cash said. "It's the lineup."
Kevin Kiermaier and Adeiny Hechavarria added two hits for the Rays.
The Rays finish their four-game series against the Orioles in an afternoon game today. Chris Archer will pitch against Dylan Bundy in a 1:35 p.m. game at Camden Yards.
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