Red-hot prospect Wade Davis can help the Tampa Bay Rays
clinch the second .500-or-better finish in franchise history tonight when they
meet the Baltimore Orioles in the second test of a four-game series at
Tropicana Field.
The Rays, who won the American League's East Division and advanced to the
World Series in 2008, had never reached the 81-win plateau before last season.
Tampa Bay was officially eliminated from this year's postseason race last
week, but has won seven of 10, including a 7-6 triumph in Monday's opener.
Pat Burrell drove in the deciding run in the eighth, while Willy Aybar hit a
three-run shot for the Rays, who have won two in a row. Gabe Kapler, Ben
Zobrist and Evan Longoria added solo homers.
Lance Cormier (3-3) worked one relief inning for the win and Grant Balfour got
the final out of the contest for his second save.
Brian Roberts hit a two-run homer and Melvin Mora also knocked in a pair for
the Orioles, who have now lost 11 straight games .
Chris Ray (0-4) was charged with the game-winning run while recording two
outs.
Meanwhile, Davis, a third-round draft pick in 2004 and a native of nearby Lake
Wales, Florida, has been solid through four major-league starts this month,
allowing just 20 hits and 11 earned runs in 24 1/3 innings, with 28
strikeouts.
He earned his initial big-league win with a gem against Baltimore on September
17, going the nine-inning distance and allowing just four hits with 10
strikeouts in a 3-0 triumph.
Davis' gotten no-decisions in a pair of home starts so far, allowing 10 hits
and three earned runs over 12 2/3 innings against Detroit and Seattle.
The Rays are 2-2 in games he's pitched.
For Baltimore, right-hander Jeremy Guthrie will attempt to finish on a strong
note.
The former first-round draft choice - 22nd overall, 2002 - has lost three
straight starts since tying his career best with a 10th win of the season on
September 6.
Guthrie's fallen to the New York Yankees, Boston and Toronto since, while
giving up 29 hits and 15 runs in 18 1/3 innings.
In 10 career appearances against the Rays, Guthrie is 3-4 with a 4.86 earned
run average.
He defeated Tampa Bay, 6-0, in his last meeting, scattering five hits in six
scoreless innings.
The Rays have won eight of 15 games with the Orioles this season and four of
six matchups at Tropicana Field.
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