Rays hit 2 HRs, beat Orioles 3-1 for 3-game sweep

[May 20, 2013]  BALTIMORE (AP) -- Matt Moore pitched seven innings of five-hit ball to stay unbeaten, Luke Scott and Matt Joyce homered and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Baltimore Orioles 3-1 Sunday for a three-game sweep.

Moore (8-0) gave up one run, struck out three and walked one. The left-hander has won nine straight decisions, breaking the franchise record of eight set last year by David Price.

The Rays' ninth win in 11 games put them a season-high three games over .500 (23-20) and lifted Tampa Bay into a third-place tie with skidding Baltimore in the AL East. The Rays had been in fourth since April 20.

Adam Jones had two hits, stole two bases and drove in a run for the Orioles, who have dropped five straight -- all at home.

Chris Tillman (3-2) allowed three runs and five hits in six innings. He's 1-5 lifetime against the Rays.

Tampa Bay led 2-1 in the sixth inning when Joyce hit a drive that appeared to bounce off the wall near the right-field foul pole. First base umpire Dan Iassogna called it a fair ball but not a home run.

Orioles manager Buck Showalter argued that it was a foul ball and Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon contended it was a home run. After a lengthy meeting, the umpires adjourned to watch a replay and returned with their decision: home run.

Moore and the Tampa Bay bullpen made the advantage stand up. Joel Peralta worked a perfect eighth and Fernando Rodney got three straight outs for his eighth save.

Neither team had a baserunner until Yunel Escobar drew a two-out walk in the third. Desmond Jennings followed with an RBI double on a 3-2 pitch.

In the bottom half, Danny Valencia hit a leadoff double in his first at-bat with Baltimore but was stranded.

One inning later, Manny Machado was credited with a triple after Jennings and Joyce nearly collided on a line drive to right that ticked off Joyce's glove and rolled to the wall. Jones followed with a run-scoring single, then stole two bases but was left at third.

Scott, who played for Baltimore from 2008-11, connected in the fifth for a 2-1 lead. He has at least one RBI in nine of 13 starts this season.

NOTES: Tampa Bay's Evan Longoria extended his hitting streak to a career-high 13 games. ... Tampa Bay has held the lead in 30 of its last 31 games. ... The Rays recalled LHP Jeff Beliveau from Triple-A Durham and optioned LHP Alex Torres to the same club. Beliveau is expected to be sent back to Durham to make room for RHP Jake Odorizzi, who will be recalled Monday to start an afternoon game in Toronto. It will be his debut with the Rays. ... The Orioles recalled Valencia from Triple-A Norfolk after seinding 2B Ryan Flaherty to Norfolk after Saturday's game. ... Baltimore opens a three-game series Monday night against the AL East-leading New York Yankees. Freddy Garcia will start for the Orioles. ... Jones has been successful on all seven stolen base attempts this season.

[Associated Press; By DAVID GINSBURG]

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