career grand slam and Nolan Reimold added a three-run shot, leading the
Baltimore Orioles past the Tampa Bay Rays 8-7 on Thursday night.
Roberts' 12th homer of the season came on a 3-2 pitch
from reliever Lance Cormier with two outs in the sixth and made it 5-1. Roberts
was the first batter Cormier faced — he replaced starter James Shields. It was
Roberts first grand slam since June 20, 2004, against Colorado.
Reimold extended Baltimore's advantage to 8-4 with his
homer in the seventh. The Orioles stopped a five-game losing streak and are 9-24
since the All-Star break.
Ben Zobrist homered and had four RBIs for the Rays, who
entered with a four-game winning streak.
Carlos Pena drove in two runs with a single during a three-run eighth as Tampa
Bay cut its deficit to 8-7.
Jim Johnson pitched the final 1 1/3 innings for his fifth
save. The Baltimore closer rejoined the team after missing the previous two
games for the birth of his daughter.
Shields (7-10) allowed four runs and seven hits over 5
2/3 innings. All three runs charged to him in the sixth were unearned because
leadoff hitter Reimold reached second on third baseman Evan Longoria's throwing
error. The Rays' opening day starter is 1-5 over his last 11 starts.
Zobrist put the Rays up 1-0 with a first-inning RBI
double, and then got Tampa Bay to 5-4 on a three-run homer off Brian Matusz
(2-2) in the sixth.
Matusz, making his fourth major league start, gave up
four runs and seven hits in 5 1/3 innings.
Baltimore tied it at 1 when Cesar Izturis hit a
run-scoring grounder in the fifth.
NOTES: Roberts has a 10-game hitting streak. … Tampa
Bay 2B Akinori Iwamura (left knee surgery) was the DH for Triple-A Durham two
days after leaving a minor league rehab start with leg muscle fatigue. … The
Orioles claimed RHP Chris Lambert off waivers from Detroit and optioned him to
Triple-A Norfolk. … Injured Baltimore INF Luis Montanez (right thumb) will
play in the Puerto Rico winter league. … Baltimore has set up a throwing
program for RHP Koji Uehara (right elbow), who is rehabbing at the team's minor
league complex in Sarasota, Fla.