masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgIt was a night where neither starter completed five innings and the game moved along at a snail’s pace. But given the opportunity to produce big hits, the bottom of the Orioles lineup took advantage.

Caleb Joseph – batting eighth – came up with a clutch two-run single, and Jonathan Schoop – the No. 9 batter – added an RBI hit of his own as the Orioles beat Tampa Bay 4-2 at Camden Yards.

With the win, the Orioles get back to 20 games over the .500 mark at 75-55. They have won 14 of their last…It was a night where neither starter completed five innings and the game moved along at a snail’s pace. But given the opportunity to produce big hits, the bottom of the Orioles lineup took advantage.

Caleb Joseph – batting eighth – came up with a clutch two-run single, and Jonathan Schoop – the No. 9 batter – added an RBI hit of his own as the Orioles beat Tampa Bay 4-2 at Camden Yards.

joseph-swing-back-white-sidebar.jpgWith the win, the Orioles get back to 20 games over the .500 mark at 75-55. They have won 14 of their last 21 games and are 10-4 against the Rays after going 6-13 versus Tampa Bay in 2013.

The Orioles pinned a loss on Grant Balfour, the right-hander they agreed to a contract with in December before nixing the deal later. He gave up four hits and two runs in one inning plus two batters.

Nelson Cruz singled to lead off the O’s fourth and Delmon Young walked. With two outs and those runners on second and third, Joseph’s single to center gave the O’s a 2-1 lead. Joseph had been just 1-for-20 when batting with two outs and runners in scoring position. Young had gotten into scoring position with his first stolen base since April 16, 2011.

After Tampa Bay tied the game on Evan Longoria’s fifth-inning double for his second RBI of the night, the Orioles moved back ahead on Schoop’s two-out RBI single in the sixth. Cruz came up with an RBI double in the seventh for his 88th RBI and a big insurance run.

O’s starter Wei-Yin Chen lasted just 4 2/3 innings, his second shortest start of the season. He gave up seven hits and two runs. He threw 91 pitches and tied his season high in walks, walking three batters.

Rays starter Alex Cobb had his shortest start, allowing three hits and two runs in four innings on 92 pitches. The Orioles were able to work some deep counts against Cobb, who was 7-0 with an ERA of 1.99 in his previous 10 starts.

The Orioles bullpen did a strong job again. Brad Brach pitched out of a bases-loaded jam in the sixth. Tommy Hunter worked a scoreless seventh. Andrew Miller did the same in the eighth. Zach Britton closed it out for his 28th save in 31 chances.

The Orioles are winners of 17 of their last 22 home games and are now 32-19 in American League East games.

The Yankees fell to the Tigers in Detroit tonight by a final score of 5-2, increasing the O’s lead in the AL East to seven games.

The O’s host Game 3 of this series on Wednesday night. Kevin Gausman (7-5, 3.81 ERA) faces left-hander Drew Smyly (8-10, 3.44 ERA).