Betting Odds - Graffiti - Podcast

San Diego, CA - Barry Bonds, as promised, took Sunday off, and while he remained tied with Hank Aaron for the all-time home run record, his Giants lost again, 5-4, to the San Diego Padres, who completed a three- game sweep of their division rivals.

Both teams lost their starting pitchers to injuries, pushing other starters into interesting positions, but it was the Padres that held on after a last- gasp rally by the Giants.

Marcus Giles went 1-for-3 with two RBI for the Padres, who won their fourth straight. Justin Germano held the Giants to two hits and two runs over 5 2/3 innings before leaving after a Pedro Feliz grounder hit his right thumb. Doug Brocail (4-1) picked up the win despite allowing two hits in one-third of an inning, but no runs. Trevor Hoffman surrendered a ninth-inning homer to make things interesting, but held on for his 29th save.

“Our pitchers are throwing very well right now, especially our bullpen. Our hitting is coming around enough,” said Padres manager Bud Black.

Bengie Molina belted a pinch-hit, two-run homer in the ninth for the Giants, who have dropped four of five. Noah Lowry left after three innings with tightness in his left forearm. He let up only two hits and a run. Vinnie Chulk (4-3) gave up two hits and two runs in two-thirds of an inning.

The injuries, to teams coming off two straight extra-inning affairs, forced Greg Maddux and Barry Zito on to the field, Zito as a reliever for the first time in his career, and Maddux as a pinch-runner.

Fred Lewis’ RBI double to left in the second staked the Giants to a 1-0 lead, but the Padres tied it up in the home half on Marcus Giles’ run-scoring single to center.

The Giants had a chance to blow the game open in the fifth, when they loaded the bases with one out, but Randy Winn grounded into a run-scoring fielder’s choice, and Ray Durham popped out, and San Francisco plated only one run out of the threat.

Again the home team tied things in the bottom of the inning, with Mike Cameron scoring when, after he stole third, Giants third baseman Feliz couldn’t handle the throw from Guillermo Rodriguez.

The Padres took a 4-2 lead in the sixth when Marcus Giles plated one run with a sacrifice fly to center, and his brother Brian, in a pinch-hitting appearance, grounded into a run-scoring fielder’s choice.

Cameron’s RBI double in the eighth gave the Padres an insurance run that became necessary when Hoffman ran into trouble in the ninth.

The Padres closer walked Lewis to start things, and gave up a pinch-hit home run to left by Molina with one out, slicing the San Diego lead to one run. Mark Sweeney followed with a single to right, putting the tying run on base, but Hoffman bore down to retire Dave Roberts and Winn, while Bonds looked on from the bench, to end the game.

“We were down in the ninth, so it makes sense for these guys to fight back like they did. It’s still frustrating, we are always a hit away,” said Giants manager Bruce Bochy.

Game Notes

Prior to the game the Padres recalled right-handed pitcher Mike Thompson from Triple-A Portland and optioned righthanded pitcher Clay Hensley, who surrendered Bonds’ record-tying homer on Saturday, to Portland…Hoffman has converted each of his last 25 save opportunities since April 28…The Giants fell to 40-21 when scoring at least four runs…Lowry has not lost in August since 2004, a 10-decision win streak.

Milwaukee, WI - Wes Helms hit a two-run double in the 11th inning as the Philadelphia Phillies came back to defeat the Milwaukee Brewers, 8-6, to salvage the finale of a three-game set at Miller Park.

Aaron Rowand finished 3-for-6 with three runs batted in, including a two-run game-tying single in the top of the ninth inning, that saw the Phillies score five in the frame.

Jayson Werth had a two-run home run and Tadahito Iguchi added three hits and two runs scored for the Phillies, who snapped a brief two-game losing skid.

Brett Myers (2-3) earned the win in relief, pitching 1 1/3 innings, giving up only one hit while striking out a batter. Jose Mesa recorded his first save of the season. Starter Adam Eaton struggled through 4 1/3 innings of work. The right-hander gave up six runs on nine hits. He walked three and struck out three.

Geoff Jenkins went 4-for-6 with three RBI and rookie Ryan Braun hit his 20th homer of the season for Milwaukee, which had a two-game winning streak halted.

Manny Parra (0-1) was tagged with his first major league loss. The left-hander gave up two runs on two hits, while walking a pair in one inning pitched. Jeff Suppan started and pitched 5 2/3 innings, allowing only one run on five hits, while striking out three.

With the Brewers holding a 6-1 lead, Matt Wise was brought in for the ninth and after Helms reached first on an error by Wise, Werth hit a two-run homer to left to make it 6-3. Milwaukee then turned to closer Francisco Cordero and the big righty struggled mightly. After retiring Chris Coste and Carlos Ruiz, Jimmy Rollins walked, Iguchi singled and Pat Burrell drew a free pass to load the bases with two outs. Ryan Howard was then hit by a pitch to bring in a run and Rowand’s ground single under the glove of third baseman Braun plated two more to tie the game at 6-6. Helms, batting for the second time in the inning, flied out to left to end the frame.

“It’s frustrating,” Cordero said. “It was bad tonight. It was 6-1 going into the ninth inning and we couldn’t hold on to the lead. But today is over and we go on to Colorado now.”

Milwaukee got a runner on in the bottom of the ninth off Phils reliever J.C. Romero when Kevin Mench walked, but the lefty struck out Jenkins before giving way to Myers, who struck out Damian Miller to force the game into extra innings.

After both teams failed to score in the 10th, the Phillies got a pair in the top of the 11th. Howard got things going with a two-out walk and Rowand singled, putting runners on first and second. Helms then doubled down the right-field line, plating two and giving the Phils the 8-6 advantage.

Mesa came in for the bottom of the 11th and was helped by a great catch by Rowand. Braun led off and hit a line drive to deep center. Rowand went back and made a leaping catch before slamming into the wall. Prince Fielder then grounded out, but Mench walked and Jenkins doubled to right, putting runners on second and third. Pinch-hitter Johnny Estrada was then intentionally walked to load the bases. Craig Counsell, bidding for a base hit, lined out to second base to end the game.

“It was a big win for us,” Helms said. “We have to win right now to gain some ground. It’s a big win, especially down 6-1. Everyone contributed. Everyone got big hits.”

Milwaukee got off to a quick start, posting four runs in the first inning. Corey Hart led off the game with a base hit and after Eaton retired J.J. Hardy and Braun, Fielder drew a walk. Mench then hit a double down the right-field line, scoring Hart. Jenkins’ double off the center-field fence plated two more and a run-scoring ground-rule double by Miller gave the Brewers the early lead.

The Phillies attempted to get something going in the fifth. With Greg Dobbs on second and Coste on first, manager Charlie Manuel elected to let Eaton hit with two outs and the Philadelphia pitcher hit a soft grounder back to the mound to end the threat.

Philadelphia managed a run in the sixth when Iguchi and Burrell reached base with one-out singles. After Howard popped out, Rowand grounded a single to short, scoring Iguchi and making it 4-1.

Braun’s leadoff home run in the fifth and RBI single by Jenkins upped the Brewers lead to 6-1.

Philadelphia had a golden opportunity to put some more runs on the board in the eighth inning. Rollins drew a leadoff walk and Iguchi followed with a double, putting runners on second and third with no outs. The Brewers then went to the bullpen and brought in Scott Linebrink to replace Carlos Villanueva and the right-hander, acquired just before the major league trade deadline, struck out Burrell, Howard and Rowand to get out of trouble.

Game Notes

Attendance was 43,716…The Phillies will welcome the Florida Marlins to Citizens Bank Park to begin a three-game set on Tuesday night, while the Brewers will travel to Colorado for a three-game series versus the Rockies on Monday night…The Phillies snapped a seven-game losing streak at Miller Park…Burrell extended his hit streak to 14 games, tying a career high…Philadelphia improved to 6-7 in extra inning games this season, while Milwaukee fell to 6-4.

Los Angeles, CA - Brandon Webb hurled his first shutout of the season, extending his scoreless streak to 24 innings, as the red-hot Arizona Diamondbacks finished off a three-game sweep of Los Angeles with a 3-0 victory at Dodger Stadium.

The win also moved the Diamondbacks (63-50) 13 games over .500 for first time since the final day of the 2002 regular season.

Webb (11-8) scattered just seven hits in a complete-game effort, struck out four and did not walk a batter en route to his fifth career shutout. He has won three consecutive starts and improved to 7-4 in 14 road starts this season. He also beat Los Angeles for the third time in 2007.

“I felt great today,” said Webb. “I had pretty good command on my sinker and was able to keep my pitch count down. It was a good day for the sinker.”

Mark Reynolds and Justin Upton each had two hits and knocked in a run for Arizona, which has won five of its last six games and 13 of 15 overall. The NL West-leading Diamondbacks also moved four games ahead of the Dodgers in the division.

Failing to get back in the win column was Los Angeles ace Brad Penny (13-3), who has dropped back-to-back decisions for the first time this season. The bulky right-hander allowed three runs on six hits, fanned five and did not walk a batter over seven innings.

Russell Martin and Andre Ethier had two hits apiece for the Dodgers, who have lost four straight and nine of their last 11 games. They’ve also dropped six of their last seven at home.

Arizona put together a two-run rally in the second to take the lead. Conor Jackson slapped a leadoff single to right, moved up on a sacrifice bunt by Stephen Drew and a single by Reynolds put runners at the corners. Upton followed with a double, bringing home Jackson, and a sac fly by Chris Snyder plated Reynolds to make it 2-0.

The middle of the lineup answered the call again in the fourth, as Jackson ripped a double to center and scored on a one-out single by Reynolds.

The Dodgers got a scare in the fifth when Penny was hit on his pitching hand trying to sacrifice Ethier to second. Penny took a moment to shake off the pain, got back in the box and lined a single to left, but Webb escaped the jam by retiring Rafael Furcal on a fly ball and Juan Pierre on a pop out.

“(Webb) had good stuff and kept the ball down,” said the Dodgers first baseman James Loney. “We hit ‘em right at people.”

Game Notes

The Diamondbacks claimed left-handed pitcher Joe Kennedy from the Oakland Athletics late Saturday and optioned right-hander Dustin Nippert to Triple-A Tucson…Dodgers second baseman Jeff Kent is still nursing a strained left hamstring and missed his sixth straight game…Penny notched his 100th strikeout of the season when he fanned Orlando Hudson with one out in the first inning…Webb is 8-3 in 13 career starts against LA…The Diamondbacks are 55-2 when leading after the eighth inning.

Atlanta, GA - Yunel Escobar hit a game-winning single in the 10th inning, as the Atlanta Braves edged the Colorado Rockies, 6-5, in the finale of a three-game series at Turner Field.

The scoring went silent from the seventh inning on, until Atlanta mounted an attack in the bottom of the 10th. Jeff Francoeur started the rally with a one- out double off Taylor Buchholz (5-4), and Matt Diaz was intentionally walked to set up the double play. Escobar stepped in next and slapped a base hit to left on an 0-2 count to plate Francoeur and end the game.

“I’m not afraid to hit with two strikes,” Escobar said. “I hit a fastball. I’m just willing to do whatever it takes to get the team a victory.”

Escobar finished with two RBI while Chipper Jones fell a triple shy of the cycle for the Braves, who won the last two games to claim the series. Chuck James got the start and allowed four runs over five innings of work. The bullpen allowed just one run the rest of the way, with Oscar Villarreal (2-1) working the 10th for the win.

Aaron Cook opposed James and allowed five runs — three earned — on 10 hits over 5 1/3 frames for Colorado, which has dropped three of five. Ryan Spilborghs homered twice and Todd Helton knocked in a pair in defeat.

“I got some balls up in the zone today. I just wasn’t sharp,” said Cook.

Spilborghs put the Rockies in front with a two-out solo blast to right in the second.

Atlanta tied it in the fourth on Escobar’s RBI single, but Spilborghs led off the top of the fifth with his second home run of the game to give the lead back to Colorado.

Jones then gave the Braves their first lead of the game in fifth with a two- run homer to left after Kelly Johnson reached first on Jamey Carroll’s fielding error.

Colorado got to James in the sixth, though, to temporarily reclaim the lead. Carroll drew a leadoff walk and Matt Holliday followed with a base hit to set the stage for Helton, who singled to center to tie the game. Tyler Yates replaced James on the mound and was greeted by a Garrett Atkins double that scored Holliday for a 4-3 lead.

The Braves struck right back in the home-half of the sixth. Following a Diaz single and a sacrifice bunt by Escobar, Corky Miller came through with a double to left to tie the contest and chase Cook from the game. Jeremy Affeldt came in and yielded a run-scoring double to Willie Harris that put the Braves in front, 5-4.

Carroll tripled with one out, and Helton tied it with an RBI single in the seventh.

Game Notes

This was Spilborghs’ second career multi-homer game…Andruw Jones sat out with a hyperextended left elbow…Atlanta’s Kelly Johnson extended his hit streak to seven games.

Minneapolis, MN - Scott Baker dominated for eight innings and combined with Joe Nathan on a five-hit shutout, as Minnesota edged Cleveland, 1-0, in the third of a four-game set at the Metrodome.

Baker (6-4) allowed only four hits to outduel Fausto Carmona. Baker fanned four and walked a pair for the Twins, who won their second in a row and their sixth in eight games. Alexi Casilla’s RBI double accounted for the lone run of the game.

Carmona (13-6) yielded only five hits and a run, with five walks and five strikeouts for the reeling Indians, who have dropped two in a row and nine of their last 13 games.

Thanks to the poor play of the Indians and Tigers of late, the Twins have closed to within 4 1/2 games of the first-place Indians, who own a half-game lead over the Tigers in the American League Central.

The Indians had an opportunity to go on top early when Victor Martinez and Travis Hafner started the second inning with consecutive singles. Baker bore down, though, striking out Ryan Garko, getting Trot Nixon to foul out, and Jhonny Peralta to fly out to center to strand the runners.

“He gave us a great outing, eight innings, no runs … That’s about all you can ask for,” said Minnesota’s Joe Mauer of Baker. “He made some great pitches when he had to and got out of some jams.”

The Twins finally broke through against Carmona in the fourth with a two-out rally. After Justin Morneau and Torii Hunter both grounded out, Jason Kubel got things started with a single to left. After Brian Buscher walked, Casilla ripped a ground-rule double to left, plating Kubel to give the Twins the lead.

Baker helped his own cause with a spectacular diving catch in the eighth. After Nixon singled to left to start things off, Peralta tried to bunt him into scoring position. The Indians shortstop bunted the ball into the air to the first-base side of the mound, and Baker made the diving grab, turned from his knees and threw to first to double off Nixon. Josh Barfield then fouled out to end the inning.

Nathan closed things out in the ninth, allowing only a two-out single to Casey Blake before retiring Martinez to end the game.

“We had some opportunities, I think there are some guys who wish they could get some pitches back,” said Blake. “It’s a tough game, obviously we don’t have a whole lot going our way right now. Our starting pitching’s been fantastic, but certainly our offense isn’t clicking on all cylinders.”

Game Notes

Minnesota’s Michael Cuddyer, who had gone 3-for-7 with two doubles and two RBI in two games since returning from the disabled list on Friday, went 0-for-4 Sunday…The Twins won despite leaving 10 runners on base…Attendance was 38,334.

Washington, DC - Dmitri Young hit a two-run double in the eighth, as the Washington Nationals put up three in the inning to defeat the St. Louis Cardinals, 6-3, in the finale of a three-game series at RFK Stadium.

Young ended with three RBI and Nook Logan scored and drove in a run for the Nationals, who went a perfect 6-0 on their homestand by sweeping both the Cardinals and the Reds.

Matt Chico yielded three runs on six hits over five innings of work. The bullpen shut down the St. Louis offense from there, with Ray King (1-0) recording the win and Chad Cordero tossing a perfect ninth for his 23rd save of the year.

Adam Wainwright pitched seven decent innings — allowing three runs on eight hits — and also hit his second career home run for St. Louis, which has dropped five in a row.

Logan started the eighth with a bunt single, and was knocked in later in the frame on Ryan Zimmerman’s base hit. That put runners on first and second for Young, who cleared the bases with a double to left.

That was more than enough cushion for Cordero.

Ryan Ludwick opened up the scoring in the second with a leadoff homer, his eighth long ball of the season.

Washington countered in the bottom of the frame courtesy of Chico’s RBI single, and added two more in the third. Zimmerman and Young hit back-to-back doubles to put the Nationals in front, and Logan’s base hit later in the frame made it 3-1.

Wainwright helped his own cause with a solo homer in the fourth, and Jim Edmonds knocked in Albert Pujols with a double in the fifth to pull the Cardinals even.

Game Notes

Nationals shortstop Felipe Lopez left in the sixth inning because of patella tendinitis in his right knee. He is considered as day-to-day…St. Louis manager Tony La Russa was ejected in the fifth for arguing balls and strikes…Washington stranded 11 runners, while St. Louis left eight men on base.

Minneapolis, MN - Scott Baker dominated for eight innings and combined with Joe Nathan on a five-hit shutout, as Minnesota edged Cleveland, 1-0, in the third of a four-game set at the Metrodome.

Baker (6-4) allowed only four hits to outduel Fausto Carmona. Baker fanned four and walked a pair for the Twins, who won their second in a row and their sixth in eight games. Alexi Casilla’s RBI double accounted for the lone run of the game.

Carmona (13-6) yielded only five hits and a run, with five walks and five strikeouts for the reeling Indians, who have dropped two in a row and nine of their last 13 games.

Thanks to the poor play of the Indians and Tigers of late, the Twins have closed to within 4 1/2 games of the first-place Indians, who own a half-game lead over the Tigers in the American League Central.

The Indians had an opportunity to go on top early when Victor Martinez and Travis Hafner started the second inning with consecutive singles. Baker bore down, though, striking out Ryan Garko, getting Trot Nixon to foul out, and Jhonny Peralta to fly out to center to strand the runners.

The Twins finally broke through against Carmona in the fourth with a two-out rally. After Justin Morneau and Torii Hunter both grounded out, Jason Kubel got things started with a single to left. After Brian Buscher walked, Casilla ripped a ground-rule double to left, plating Kubel to give the Twins the lead.

Baker helped his own cause with a spectacular diving catch in the eighth. After Nixon singled to left to start things off, Peralta tried to bunt him into scoring position. The Indians shortstop bunted the ball into the air to the first-base side of the mound, and Baker made the diving grab, turned from his knees and threw to first to double off Nixon. Josh Barfield then fouled out to end the inning.

Nathan closed things out in the ninth, allowing only a two-out single to Casey Blake before retiring Martinez to end the game.

Game Notes

Minnesota’s Michael Cuddyer, who had gone 3-for-7 with two doubles and two RBI in two games since returning from the disabled list on Friday, went 0-for-4 Sunday…The Twins won despite leaving 10 runners on base…Attendance was 38,334.

Atlanta, GA - Yunel Escobar hit a game-winning single in the 10th inning, as the Atlanta Braves edged the Colorado Rockies, 6-5, in the finale of a three-game series at Turner Field.

The scoring went silent from the seventh inning on, until Atlanta mounted an attack in the bottom of the 10th. Jeff Francoeur started the rally with a one- out double off Taylor Buchholz (5-4), and Matt Diaz was intentionally walked to set up the double play. Escobar stepped in next and slapped a base hit to left on an 0-2 count to plate Francoeur and end the game.

Escobar finished with two RBI while Chipper Jones fell a triple shy of the cycle for the Braves, who won the last two games to claim the series. Chuck James got the start and allowed four runs over five innings of work. The bullpen allowed just one run the rest of the way, with Oscar Villarreal (2-1) working the 10th for the win.

Aaron Cook opposed James and allowed five runs — three earned — on 10 hits over 5 1/3 frames for Colorado, which has dropped three of five. Ryan Spilborghs homered twice and Todd Helton knocked in a pair in defeat.

Spilborghs put the Rockies in front with a two-out solo blast to right in the second.

Atlanta tied it in the fourth on Escobar’s RBI single, but Spilborghs led off the top of the fifth with his second home run of the game to give the lead back to Colorado.

Jones then gave the Braves their first lead of the game in fifth with a two- run homer to left after Kelly Johnson reached first on Jamey Carroll’s fielding error.

Colorado got to James in the sixth, though, to temporarily reclaim the lead. Carroll drew a leadoff walk and Matt Holliday followed with a base hit to set the stage for Helton, who singled to center to tie the game. Tyler Yates replaced James on the mound and was greeted by a Garrett Atkins double that scored Holliday for a 4-3 lead.

The Braves struck right back in the home-half of the sixth. Following a Diaz single and a sacrifice bunt by Escobar, Corky Miller came through with a double to left to tie the contest and chase Cook from the game. Jeremy Affeldt came in and yielded a run-scoring double to Willie Harris that put the Braves in front, 5-4.

Carroll tripled with one out, and Helton tied it with an RBI single in the seventh.

Game Notes

This was Spilborghs’ second career multi-homer game…Andruw Jones sat out with a hyperextended left elbow…Atlanta’s Kelly Johnson extended his hit streak to seven games.

Detroit, MI - Gavin Floyd hurled six-plus shutout innings as Chicago finished its first three-game sweep of the season by besting Detroit, 3-1.

Floyd (1-1) scattered seven hits and did not walk a batter, while striking out six to record his first victory as a member of the White Sox. Four relievers combined to finish things. Bobby Jenks pitched a perfect ninth to record his 32nd save.

“I felt pretty good,” Floyd said. “I made some minor adjustments and the key today was be able to throw my fastball for strikes. I was able to get my curve over when I needed to and was able to give us a chance to win. I hope that I can build on this and get better.”

Josh Fields, Jerry Owens and Darin Erstad each drove in a run for the White Sox, who have won four straight games.

“This sweep wasn’t any more important than any other, Erstad said. “We have to play series by series. Play good baseball, build on it and win some games.”

Magglio Ordonez homered to account for the struggling Tigers only offense. Detroit has now lost five straight and 11 of their last 13 but remained just one-half game behind Cleveland after the Indians were whitewashed by the Minnesota Twins, 1-0.

“We’re not very good right now and (Floyd) was a lot better,” Detroit manager Jim Leyland said. “He had a little better command of his curve. If you’re not playing good and you’re playing a team that is, you’re going to get beat.”

Jordan Tata (1-1) followed up his successful major league debut with a less impressive affair. Tata allowed only two runs over seven innings against Oakland in his first big league start but managed to last only five innings against the ChiSox, surrendering three runs on five hits while walking four and fanning just two.

“He pitched good enough today but we didn’t hit well enough to do anything with it,” said Leyland.

The White Sox took an early 1-0 lead in the second when A.J. Pierzynski and Fields slapped back-to-back one-out doubles.

Chicago then took control with a pair of runs in the fifth. Danny Richar started things with a one-out walk and quickly crossed the plate after Owens laced a double into the gap in left-center. Erstad followed with a two-bagger of his own to make it 3-0.

Ordonez finally got the Tigers on the board when he touched Mike MacDougal for a two-out, solo homer in the eighth, his 17th of the season. MacDougal settled down from there and got Carlos Guillen to fly out to end the inning.

Jenks then dominated the Tigers in the ninth to secure things.

Game Notes

The Tigers had a string of 14 straight sellouts broken. Attendance was 39,778…Chicago has won eight of its 12 matchups with the Tigers this season and is 34-16 in the series since the start of the 2005 campaign. The White Sox have also won in 18 of their last 25 visits to the Motor City…Tigers designated hitter Sean Casey left the game after being hit in the left elbow by a Floyd pitch in the third inning. Craig Monroe pinch hit for Casey in the fifth…All six of the White Sox hits went for extra bases.

St. Petersburg, FL - Miguel Tejada, Aubrey Huff and Melvin Mora all homered as Baltimore routed Tampa Bay, 11-3, in the finale of a three-game set at Tropicana Field.

Corey Patterson finished 3-for-5 with three runs batted in for the Orioles, who took two of three in the set. Jay Gibbons was 4-of-5 with a run scored.

Baltimore’s ace, Erik Bedard (12-4), allowed three runs on nine hits in 6 2/3 innings of work. The crafty left-hander did not walk a batter and fanned 11. Chad Bradford and Danys Baez finished things with a combined 2 1/3 innings of scoreless relief.

Carl Crawford was 4-for-5 with a homer for the Devil Rays, who have lost three of their last five games. B.J. Upton also homered for Tampa Bay.

Andrew Sonnanstine (1-7) was rocked for seven runs on eight hits in just 3 2/3 innings of work en route to the loss.

Down 3-1, the O’s answered emphatically and took control of the game with a six-run fourth inning. Tejada led off the frame with his ninth home run of the season. Mora kept things going by drawing a one-out walk and moved to second when Gibbons singled. Both runners advanced on a Josh Paul throwing error before Sonnanstine walked Jay Payton to load the bases. Paul Bako then grounded into a fielder’s choice to even things.

Brian Roberts followed with an RBI single up the middle to give Baltimore its first lead and Patterson plated Bako with an RBI double to right. Nick Markakis finally capped the frame with a two-run single to right and the Orioles had a comfortable 7-3 cushion.

The O’s ran away in the fifth with three more runs. Huff led off with his eighth homer of the year to make it 8-3. With two down, Baltimore loaded the bases thanks to consecutive singles by Payton and Bako and a Roberts walk. Patterson then came through with a two-run single to right that made it 10-3.

Baltimore tacked on another insurance run in the ninth when Mora, who was activated off the disabled list before the game, belted his 13th home run of the year.

The Rays jumped on top in the first when Crawford laced a one-out, solo homer, his ninth of the year.

Baltimore quickly evened things in the second. Huff doubled to center, moved to third on Gibbons’ one-out single and crossed the plate when Payton grounded into a fielder’s choice.

Tampa Bay went back ahead in the third. After Crawford slapped a single up the middle, Upton cracked his 15th home run of the year to make it a 3-1 game.

Game Notes

Mora was sidelined with a left mid-foot sprain, originally suffered on July 1. He tried to play through the injury but was placed on the DL July 13. To make room for him on the roster the Orioles optioned infielder Luis Hernandez to Double-A Bowie…The O’s had 16 hits in the game.