Orioles Take Series From Rays; Closing on the Quarter-Mark of the Season...

The Baltimore Orioles defeated the Tampa Bay Rays on Sunday, 9-3, to take the three-game series down in St. Petersburg, Fla.

After a bad week, they have won five out of their last six games and neutralized a Rays’ team that was fairly hot. Baltimore is now 19-20 on the season, and after what we all saw last year, what a difference it is.

The Orioles may not be contenders yet, but they have played solid baseball over the past week.

Starting pitcher Jake Arrieta (5-1) went six innings against the Rays, allowing just two runs in yet another excellent outing by Baltimore hurler on the mound.

Meanwhile, for the second straight day the offense got going as J.J. Hardy hit a grand slam home run in the in the sixth inning. Since Hardy’s return, he’s been in the middle of everything and has been a spark in the lineup. Robert Andino did a good job; however, with Hardy back in the lineup, he’s had his hand in several key moments during the week.

The Orioles at the plate got 15 hits and Derrek Lee drove in two runs.

The batters for Baltimore would punish Tampa Bay starter Andy Sonnanstine (0-1) and his bullpen on the afternoon.

Nick Markakis – who had three hits on the day and raised his batting average to .245 – slammed his fourth homer of the season in the fourth inning.

Vladmir Guerrero and Brian Roberts both had two hits. Matt Wieters – who had three hits and Mark Reynolds each drove in runs.

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