In Game Update: Orioles Continue to Lead Rays, 3-1, heading to Bottom of Ninth

BALTIMORE, Maryland May 8, 2014 - Thanks to sensational relief pitching, the Orioles continue to lead Tampa Bay, 3-1, as the two teams battle in the top of the 8th inning in Tampa. The big hit for Baltimore is a two-run homerun by Steve Pearce, which came after the Rays had taken an early 1-0 advantage. The Orioles also loaded the bases in the 5th inning with nobody out, but Joe Madden, Tampa's skipper, summonsed Brian Boxberger, and the recently recalled hurler proceeded to strike out three consecutive Orioles. Not to be outdone, the Oriole pen pitched out of a two on, one out jam in the bottom of the seventh. First, Ryan Webb struck out the very dangerous Evan Longoria, then Brian Matusz coaxed James Loney to fly out to Adam Jones in center field. The teams are heading to the bottom of the ninth and Showalter has brought in Darren O'Day for the save, as regular closer Tommy Hunter has pitched two straight games coming in to this one.