MLB: Tampa Bay 5, Baltimore 3

October 1, 2009 - 0 comments

St. Petersburg, Fla., Sept. 30: Ben Zobrist hit a three-run homer Wednesday that helped the Tampa Bay Rays to a 5-3 win over Baltimore, the Orioles' 13th straight loss and 98th of the season.

<strong>St. Petersburg, Fla., Sept. 30:</strong> Ben Zobrist hit a three-run homer Wednesday that helped the Tampa Bay Rays to a 5-3 win over Baltimore, the Orioles' 13th straight loss and 98th of the season.

Tampa Bay clinched the second winning season in its 12-year history. The first winning campaign (97-65) came last year en route to an American League pennant.

Zobrist hit his 26th homer of the season to give Tampa Bay a 4-0 lead in the third. Carl Crawford added a solo shot in the fifth.

James Shields (11-12) took a shutout into the eighth inning, but gave up three runs in that frame. His eight strikeouts equaled a season high.

Russ Springer retired two batters in the ninth to collect his first save in eight years.

The 13-game losing streak is the third-longest in Orioles' history. Baltimore has lost 10 straight road games, its longest such skid in six years.

David Hernandez (4-10) gave up five runs on seven hits in 4 1/3 to take the loss.