O's Can't Stop the Bleeding
Devil Rays 9, Orioles 7
As the Orioles limp into, and through, the final month of the season, the full weight of failure falls upon the shoulders of Brian Roberts.
(Steve Nesius - AP)
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Tuesday, September 4, 2007
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., Sept. 3 -- Carlos Pena hit his team-record 35th homer, a tiebreaking two-run drive in a three-run seventh inning that helped the Tampa Bay Devil Rays overcome a four-run deficit and beat the Baltimore Orioles, 9-7, on Monday night.
Pe?a's drive off Jim Hoey (1-4) struck an overhanging catwalk and gave Tampa Bay a 6-4 lead. Pe?a's home run total is one more than Jose Canseco (1999) and current Orioles designated hitter Aubrey Huff (2003) hit for the Devil Rays.
James Shields (11-8) gave up four runs -- one earned -- and seven hits in seven innings for the Devil Rays, who have won nine of 11. Delmon Young had three RBI, including a run-scoring double in the seventh. Akinori Iwamura added a two-run homer in the eighth off Brian Burres that made it 9-4.
Ramon Hernandez hit a three-run homer in the ninth off Al Reyes.
Baltimore has lost 12 of 13 -- getting outscored 128-56 -- and is just three games ahead of the Devil Rays for fourth place in the AL East. Tampa Bay has finished last in all but one of its first nine years -- it was fourth in 2004.
Baltimore's Kurt Birkins allowed four runs and six hits over four innings in his first major league start. The left-hander made 45 relief appearances during the past two seasons.
Corey Patterson drove in two runs with a single, and Miguel Tejada hit a sacrifice fly during a four-run third that put Baltimore ahead 4-0. Tampa Bay made two errors during the inning.
The Devil Rays closed to 4-3 in the bottom half as all-star Carl Crawford was ejected.
Crawford was tossed by umpire Paul Nauert after hitting an RBI grounder with the bases loaded and no outs that made it 4-1. Crawford immediately spun around after crossing first and ran toward Nauert after being called out on a close play. Crawford used both hands to throw his helmet to the ground and later jumped on the back of first base coach George Hendrick, who had gotten between the left fielder and Nauert.
