masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgNelson Cruz would not let them lose.

The Orioles’ slugger drove in seven runs today with two homers and a triple as the Orioles beat Tampa Bay 7-5 in 11 innings to avoid a sweep at Tropicana Field.

Just when it looked like Tampa Bay would beat the Orioles at their own game, by hitting home runs, Cruz flipped the script.

The Orioles went to the ninth down 4-2, but Cruz’s three-run triple gave the Orioles the 5-4 lead. But Ryan Flaherty’s error at shortstop led to an unearned run for the…Nelson Cruz would not let them lose.

The Orioles’ slugger drove in seven runs today with two homers and a triple as the Orioles beat Tampa Bay 7-5 in 11 innings to avoid a sweep at Tropicana Field.

cruz-pointing-up-gray-back-sidebar.jpgJust when it looked like Tampa Bay would beat the Orioles at their own game, by hitting home runs, Cruz flipped the script.

The Orioles went to the ninth down 4-2, but Cruz’s three-run triple gave the Orioles the 5-4 lead. But Ryan Flaherty’s error at shortstop led to an unearned run for the Rays off Zach Britton in the last of the ninth, and the game was tied 5-5.

However, Cruz’s heroics were not done for day. In the 11th, Nick Hundley walked with one out and Cruz homered to center to cap his seven-RBI day and provide the 7-5 lead. That was homer No. 39.

Today marked Cruz’s third multi-homer game of the year, the 13th of his career.

Cruz went 4-for-5 and also scored two runs. The seven RBIs are one off his career high, done twice. It is two RBIs off the Orioles’ club record held by Eddie Murray and Jim Gentile.

Cruz has 39 homers and 101 RBIs for the season.

The Orioles improved to 83-59, and coupled with New York’s loss to Kansas City, they stretched their American League East lead to 9 1/2 games and reduced their magic number to 12.

The Orioles are now 3-48 when trailing after eight innings.

Orioles starter Bud Norris had given up just two homers over his last nine starts coming into this game, and Tampa Bay had hit just three total in its last 15 games.

But today Evan Longoria, James Loney, David DeJesus and Kevin Kiermaier connected off Norris, who gave up four runs and eight hits over six innings.

Down 3-0 in the sixth inning, the O’s got closer when Cruz connected on a two-run shot. Cruz hit No. 38 on an 0-2 curveball from Jeremy Hellickson. The O’s scored just two runs in the first 23 innings of this series until Cruz’s homer.

With the comeback win, the Orioles finished the season series going 12-7 against the Rays, and they are now 34-22 in AL East games.

Now the road trip heads to Fenway Park in Boston. On Monday night, Miguel Gonzalez (8-7, 3.38 ERA) faces Joe Kelly (3-3, 4.13 ERA.)