ST. PETERSBURG, Florida -- B.J. Ryan did not allow the
Baltimore Orioles' bullpen to squander another game.
Ryan recorded the final three outs with the potential winning
run on base as the Orioles hung on for a 7-6 victory over the
Tampa Bay Devil Rays.
Baltimore's bullpen has taken the loss in two of the team's
three setbacks this season and entered the contest last in the
American League with a 7.94 ERA.
Staked to a 7-5 lead in this one, setup man Jorge Julio allowed
one run before Ryan was brought in to get the final out of the
eighth inning.
The Devil Rays appeared to put themselves in position to at
least send the contest into extra innings when Aubrey Huff
tripled to lead off the ninth and Josh Phelps followed with a
walk. But Ryan struck out the next two batters and got pinch
hitter Eduardo Perez to fly out for a save in his first
opportunity this season.
Larry Bigbie put the Orioles ahead with a run-scoring single and
Brian Roberts added an RBIs groundout against reliever Casey
Fossum (0-1) in the eighth to make it 7-5.
Roberts also had a two-run homer off Tampa Bay starter Scott
Kazmir. It was the fourth home run of the season for Roberts,
whose career high is five.
Orioles starter Daniel Cabrera allowed five runs - four earned -
and seven hits in five innings before giving way to Todd
Williams (2-0), who got the next six outs in order to pick up
the win.
After recording just one extra-base hit in his first six games,
Sammy Sosa homered and tripled for Baltimore, which has won
three of its last four games.