Baltimore, MD (My Sportsbook) - Erik Bedard allowed just one run in six innings and Corey Patterson homered as the
Baltimore Orioles beat the
Tampa Bay Devil Rays. 6-1, in the second of a three-game set at Camden Yards.
Bedard (10-4) gave up six hits with two walks and eight strikeouts. He leads the American League with 175 strikeouts and is 6-0 in his last seven outings.
"They took a lot of pitches," said Baltimore manager Dave Trembley. "He had to get big outs and didn't give in. He was helped by good defense behind him. I thought he was very special tonight, because he didn't give in at all. I think tonight shows why he's such a good pitcher. He pitches, he doesn't throw. He stayed with his game plan and they were working the count really well, taking a lot of pitches, getting a lot of deep counts. He kept pitching."
Patterson finished 3-for-5 with two RBI for the Orioles, who have won three in a row. Ramon Hernandez collected two hits and drove in a pair.
Raul Casanova homered and Akinori Iwamura and Brendan Harris had two hits apiece for the Devil Rays, who have lost five in a row and 22 of 27.
Tampa Bay starter Andy Sonnanstine (1-6) gave up five runs on seven hits, while walking three and striking out four in six full innings. The youngster has lost six in a row since posting his first win in early June.
"Sonnanstine pitched a great game," said Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon. "He should have maybe given up one fun all night. It could have been a 1-1 game late into the game. He basically matched him [Bedard] all night long. [Especially with] his command of his breaking ball when he gets behind in the count."
Baltimore scored three runs in the first. Patterson singled to right with one- out and Kevin Millar and Aubrey Huff both walked with two-outs loading the bases for Hernandez, who ripped a single to left scoring two and Jay Payton followed with a single to left plating another.
Casanova put the Devil Rays on the board in the third with his sixth homer of the year, a shot to left-center.
In the fifth, Brian Roberts singled to right and Patterson doubled to center before Nick Markakis' sacrifice fly to left pushed Baltimore's lead to 4-1.
Luis Hernandez's single to left in the sixth scored Hernandez who had reached with a one-out walk. Patterson led-off the seventh with a homer to right, his fifth of the year to put the O's up 6-1.
Game Notes
Tampa Bay has lost eight straight at Camden Yards...Tampa Bay hitting coach Steve Henderson was ejected from the game by home plate umpire Tom Hallion for arguing balls and strikes after B.J. Upton struck out looking in the third inning...Baltimore placed closer Chris Ray on the 15-day DL with a sore elbow and recalled RHP Cory Doyne from Triple-A Norfolk...Baltimore improved to 8-4 since the All-Star break and 17-13 under interim manager Dave Trembley...Attendance was 21,427.