masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – The Orioles have grown accustomed to bizarre occurrences at Tropicana Field. Having the lights go out in the middle of a rally didn’t faze them.

The Orioles scored twice in the top of the eighth inning to break a 3-3 tie, but only after enduring a 19-minute delay.

As Steve Pearce stood on deck following Steve Clevenger’s double, the transformer carrying incoming power lines to the facility was struck by lightning. Players headed to their respective dugouts except for…ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – The Orioles have grown accustomed to bizarre occurrences at Tropicana Field. Having the lights go out in the middle of a rally didn’t faze them.

The Orioles scored twice in the top of the eighth inning to break a 3-3 tie, but only after enduring a 19-minute delay.

As Steve Pearce stood on deck following Steve Clevenger’s double, the transformer carrying incoming power lines to the facility was struck by lightning. Players headed to their respective dugouts except for two Rays who sat in center field and watched a Looney Tunes cartoon on the JumboTron.

Bugs Bunny played every position. If he can catch, the Orioles might give him a call.

No truth to the rumor that the rest of the game is airing on Cartoon Network.

The building suddenly grew dim, but not the Orioles’ chances of scoring.

Pearce walked and Ryan Flaherty singled with the bases loaded and one out to give the Orioles a 4-3 lead. Another run scored on Nick Markakis’ bouncer to second base.

Flaherty is 15-for-71 this season, but he’s got four multi-hit games.

The rally started when Matt Wieters collected his second hit on the night before his scheduled appointment with Dr. James Andrews. His average is up to .344.

He makes one heck of a designated hitter.

Clevenger barely missed his first home run, the ball slamming off the top of the fence in right-center field. That’s when a portion of the lights went out.

Fortunately for the Orioles, it didn’t extinguish their rally.

Darren O’Day is the pitcher of record for the Orioles as Zach Britton works the bottom of the eighth.

Update: Game over. Orioles defeat the Rays 5-3 to take the first game of the series.

Tommy Hunter notched his ninth save after leaving the bases loaded. Darren O’Day improved to 1-0 with a 0.75 ERA.

Britton lowered his ERA to 0.93 with a scoreless eighth.

The Orioles are 13-0 when leading after the eighth inning. They’re 11-8 versus the American League East.