Matt Joyce delivered a two-run double in the sixth run ninths any and the Tampa Bay Rays stunned the Baltimore Orioles 10-6. The comeback ended Baltimore’s franchise-record streak of 109 straight wins when leading after seven innings. Joyce who homered earlier finish today 3 for 5 with five RBI.
Heading into the ninth and trailing 6-4, Kelly Johnson launched a one-out home run off of orioles closer Jim Johnson to left field to close the gap to 6-5.
Johnson then loaded the bases on two walks and a hit before Joyce hit a two-run double to right-center for a 7-6 lead. Ben Zobrist added a two-run double off Darren O’Day to stretch the lead to 9-6. O’Day then issued a bases-loaded walk to Luke Scott.
“Not getting strike one is a good place to start,” Johnson said. “Pitching behind, just not throwing quality pitches. It kind of snowballed back and didn’t obviously make the pitch I needed to. It’s just one of those days where it just didn’t work.”
Rays manager Joe Maddon was obviously pleased with his team’s effort.
“We believe in each other, and then you’re able to do those things,” Rays manager Joe Maddon said. “If you stop believing, if you don’t think it can’t happen, then it never will. If you think it can happen, then it shall. And that’s pretty much what this group’s been about.”
Tampa Bay will try to complete a sweep of the Orioles on Sunday when Matt Moore 7-0 faces Chris Tillman 3-1.
