Arencibia, Smyly Carry Rays Past Struggling Orioles 11-2
BALTIMORE (AP) -- J.P. Arencibia homered and drove in six runs to back an impressive pitching performance by Drew Smyly, and the Tampa Bay Rays breezed past the free-falling Baltimore Orioles 11-2 Tuesday night.
Brandon Guyer had four hits for the Rays, who scored four runs in both the fourth and fifth innings to send the Orioles to their 12th loss in 13 games. Tampa Bay has won three in a row to get back to .500 and stay in the hunt for the final AL wild card spot.
Smyly (2-2) struck out 10 over seven scoreless innings. The left-hander allowed four hits, walked one and retired the final 10 batters he faced.
It was his fourth start since returning from a 3 1/2-month stay on the disabled list with a torn left labrum. In seven career appearances against Baltimore, Smyly is 3-0 with a 0.79 ERA.
Batting ninth in the order, Arencibia hit a pair of two-run singles before adding a two-run homer in the seventh. It was his sixth game with Tampa Bay since being recalled from Triple-A Durham on Wednesday.
The one constant during the Orioles' horrid skid is their inability to score. They've been limited to three runs or fewer in all 12 of their defeats and have been outscored 78-35.
Chris Davis hit his 36th homer with a man on in the ninth, but that merely prevented Baltimore from taking its second shutout in three games.
Chris Tillman (9-10) gave up seven runs and eight hits in 4 2-3 innings. He's lost three straight decisions after going 12 starts without a defeat.
With the exception of Davis' homer, the highlight of the night for Baltimore was the pregame ceremony celebrating the 20th anniversary of Cal Ripken Jr. breaking Lou Gehrig's record for consecutive games played.
Unfortunately for Ripken, he stayed to watch the game.
Tampa Bay took control in the fourth when James Loney hit an RBI single, Arencibia singled in two runs and Grady Sizemore hit a run-scoring grounder.
In the fifth, Asdrubal Cabrera delivered a sacrifice fly and Guyer doubled in a run before Arencibia picked up two more RBIs for an 8-0 lead.
CALLUPS
Rays: Tampa Bay added six players on a day when teams were allowed to expand their rosters. Included in the mix was Matt Moore, who was 17-4 in 2013 before undergoing Tommy John surgery in April 2014. Moore was recalled earlier this season, but was sent to Durham after going 1-3 with an 8.78 ERA in six starts. Other call-ups were RHP Kirby Yates, LHP C.J. Riefenhauser, OF Mikie Mahtook, 3B Richie Shaffer and OF Luke Maile.
Orioles: Baltimore recalled RHPs Steve Johnson and Oliver Drake and activated RHP Chaz Roe from the DL.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Rays: After getting three hits for the second night in row, Logan Forsythe left in the fifth inning with left groin tightness. ... CF Kevin Kiermaier was held out with a mild right ankle sprain.
ON DECK
Rays: RHP Erasmo Ramirez (10-5, 3.68) starts the series finale Wednesday night. He has yielded nine HRs in his last 11 starts.
Orioles: RHP Kevin Gausman (2-6, 4.39 ERA) is 0-4 in his last five starts, allowing 18 earned runs over the span.
(Copyright 2015 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
