DAVID GINSBURG
AP Sports Writer
BALTIMORE (AP) — Drew Smyly allowed two hits over seven innings in his second straight overpowering performance, and the Tampa Bay Rays jumped to an early lead against rookie Kevin Gausman in a 3-1 victory over the Baltimore Orioles on Wednesday night.
Evan Longoria had three hits for the Rays, who won for only the fourth time in 11 games. Tampa Bay scored all its runs in the first two innings and Smyly (9-10) made the margin stand.
Smyly gave up a solo homer to Chris Davis in the second inning and a single to Steve Pearce in the seventh. The left-hander struck out six and walked one in his fifth start for the Rays since coming from Detroit in a trade involving David Price.
Brad Boxberger worked the eighth and Jake McGee got three outs to earn his 15th save and complete the two-hitter.
In his previous outing, Smyly blanked Toronto on two hits in his first career complete game. In 18 career appearances against AL East teams, he’s 6-0 with a 1.32 ERA.
Baltimore lost at home for only the second time in eight games. The AL East-leading Orioles have lost four of six, but can capture the four-game series with a victory Thursday night.
Gausman (7-6) labored through four innings, allowing two earned runs on six hits before being lifted after 80 pitches. The right-hander is 1-3 with a 6.75 ERA in five career outings against the Rays.
Tampa Bay scored twice in the first inning on a run-scoring grounder by Matt Joyce and an RBI single by Wil Myers. The Rays might have had more if Longoria and Joyce didn’t both end up at third base on a single by James Loney.
Ben Zobrist delivered a sacrifice fly in the top of the second, and Davis’ 23rd home run made it 3-1 in the bottom half.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Rays: Longoria returned to 3B after playing two straight days as a DH because of forearm tightness. “I don’t think you can say he’s 100 percent, but he’s a lot better,” manager Joe Maddon said.
Orioles: 3B Manny Machado underwent season-ending surgery Wednesday to repair a torn ligament in his right knee. “Doctor said everything went well,” manager Buck Showalter said.
UP NEXT
Rays: Right-hander Jeremy Hellickson (9-4) makes his 18th career appearance against Baltimore in the series finale Thursday night. “I don’t think there’s a team better built for their ballpark than these guys,” Hellickson said of the Orioles. “They’re a powerful team.”
Orioles: Bud Norris (11-8) faces Tampa Bay at Camden Yards for the first time. Norris has allowed one run or none in half his home starts this season.
Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
