masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – The Orioles came to life tonight after Rays starter Matt Moore left the game.
They also came from behind to take a 4-3 lead.
Moore held them to two hits over seven scoreless innings, with no walks and nine strikeouts. He hadn’t gone more than five innings in any of his eight previous starts in 2015 or struck out more than four batters.
Rays manager Kevin Cash brought in Alex Colome to work the eighth with Moore’s pitch count at 93 and the Orioles trailing 3-0. And he…

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – The Orioles came to life tonight after Rays starter Matt Moore left the game.

They also came from behind to take a 4-3 lead.

Moore held them to two hits over seven scoreless innings, with no walks and nine strikeouts. He hadn’t gone more than five innings in any of his eight previous starts in 2015 or struck out more than four batters.

Rays manager Kevin Cash brought in Alex Colome to work the eighth with Moore’s pitch count at 93 and the Orioles trailing 3-0. And he left Colome to face nine batters and blow the lead.

Jonathan Schoop led off with a single, his second hit of the night. Steve Pearce lined to left field and J.J. Hardy struck out, but the Orioles kept grinding and Cash kept his spot in the dugout.

Pinch-hitters Gerardo Parra and Steve Clevenger singled, and the Orioles had their first run. Manny Machado followed with an RBI single and both runners moved up on a wild pitch. Chris Davis was walked intentionally to bring up Adam Jones, who struck out twice against Moore.

jones-jog-close-gray-sidebar.jpgJones punched a two-run single into right field, and the Orioles had their first lead of the night.

Matt Wieters struck out for the fourth time on Colome’s 33rd pitch of the inning.

Someone check under the bathroom stalls for Cash’s feet.

Kirby Yates kept warming as the Orioles battled back. So did Brad Brach, who stranded Steven Souza, Jr. on first base after walking him with two outs in the bottom of the eighth. Souza has walked three times and been hit by a pitch.

Chaz Roe retired all four batters he faced and stands to be the winner if the Orioles hold onto their lead. This would be their seventh victory in their last nine games.

Darren O’Day is warming for the Orioles. Left-hander Zach Britton must not be available tonight.

Update: The Orioles defeated the Rays 4-3, with Roe getting the win and O’Day recording his third save.

The Orioles (72-74) improve to 30-45 on the road and 21-24 in one-run games. They’re 4-64 when trailing after seven innings.

Jones’ two-run single came on the first pitch of his at-bat, a 94 mph fastball.