BALTIMORE _ A weekend full of so-called productive outs from the Orioles _ sacrifice flies, well-placed ground balls and sacrifice bunts _ was cut short when it mattered most.
The Orioles win when their big boys swing hard and connect, and that's what salvaged a series split with the Tampa Bay Rays on Sunday.
The Orioles won, 2-1, when right fielder Mark Trumbo hit a solo homer for the go-ahead run in the eighth inning, two innings after third baseman Manny Machado hit a drive out to center field to tie the game.
The Orioles got four shutout innings from beleaguered starter Wade Miley, but he left before the fifth inning. Miley was dealing with upper-back cramps and didn't make it past his warmup throws in the inning.
Right-hander Darren O'Day, fresh off the disabled list from a right rotator cuff strain, allowed a home run on the first pitch he threw in relief of Miley to open the fifth inning, but the Orioles shut the door from there.
From O'Day to closer Zach Britton, who recorded his 45th save in 45 tries, the bullpen allowed just one run on five hits with eight strikeouts in five innings.
With the win, the Orioles improved to 82-67 but would have to wait for the result of Sunday night's game between the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees to know their division deficit when Boston comes to town Monday.
For years, Rays right-hander Jake Odorizzi has been a far better pitcher against the rest of the league than he was against the Orioles. He entered the day 3-4 with a 5.48 ERA all time against the Orioles, far above his career 3.78 mark.
On Sunday, he showed what he does to every other team, pitching six innings of five-hit, one-run ball with three strikeouts.
The Rays (64-85) announced an ignominious distinction after his winless start: He has set a major league record with 12 no-decisions while allowing two earned runs or fewer.
