Rays 2, Orioles 1
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Desmond Jennings hit a two-run homer to break up Jason Hammel's shutout, and Chris Archer won for the first time this season on Friday as the Tampa Bay Rays edged the Baltimore Orioles 2-1 in a taut pitcher's duel at Tropicana Field.
Tampa Bay improved to 33-27 as the Orioles fell to 34-27.
Archer, who allowed five runs on seven hits and three walks in losing his first start of the season at Cleveland on June 1, was sharp against an Orioles team that had averaged six runs a game against the Rays in nine games this season. Archer (1-1) left after seven innings having allowed one run on two hits and two walks with two strikeouts.
Joel Peralta pitched the eighth, and Fernando Rodney earned his 13th save, retiring American League home run leader Chris Davis for the final out. The Orioles managed just two hits.
In a loss against Detroit on June 1, Hammel was ejected after just three innings, allowing five runs on five hits and three walks.
On Friday, he allowed just three hits through seven innings before Jennings' blast. The Rays had placed a runner as far as second base just twice before the eighth. Their biggest threat had come when James Loney (2-for-4) doubled with one out in the fourth. But Hammel retired Jennings and Luke Scott to preserve the lead.
Hammel didn't escape again in the eighth, though, as Jennings hit his sixth homer of the season to dead center one pitch after Loney singled leading off. That gave the Rays a 2-1 lead. Hammel couldn't finish the eighth after allowing a two-out hit and walk, but reliever Troy Patton quelled the rally.
Hammel (7-4) was charged with two earned runs on six hits and two walks in 6 2/3 innings. He fell to 6-1 on the road this season.
Baltimore took a 1-0 lead in the third inning as Manny Machado continued his torrid hitting away from Oriole Park. The third baseman entered the game as the leader in road base hits (52) and was batting .403 with eight RBIs in his last 14 road games. He put the Orioles ahead with a two-out single to left off Archer. Chris Dickerson, who had walked with one out and taken third on a wild pitch, scored on the play.
NOTES: Last year's American League Cy Young Award-winner David Price reported no problems after his first rehab bullpen session on Friday. Price, who went on the disabled list on May 16 with triceps tightness, threw 38 pitches and is scheduled to do so again on Monday. ... The Orioles entered the game with the best winning percentage (.620) in baseball since July 29, 2012. .... OF Nick Markakis rejoined the Orioles after missing two games attending his grandmother's funeral. ... 3B Evan Longoria, LF Kelly Johnson and OF Matt Joyce make up one of just five trios is Major League Baseball to have hit double-digit homers this season. Each entered play on Friday with 10. ... Johnson returned to the Rays lineup after missing two games with back spasms. ... Orioles 3B Manny Machado has hit safely in 22 of his last 24 road games.
