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Jones, Orioles shut out Rays

Apr 16, 2014 - 11:54 PM Baltimore, MD (SportsNetwork.com) - Adam Jones had two hits and drove in a run to lead the Baltimore Orioles over the Tampa Bay Rays, 3-0, at Camden Yards.

Nick Markakis also had two hits and Matt Wieters and J.J. Hardy added an RBI apiece for the Orioles, who won both games of this rain-shortened series. Weather forced the postponement of Tuesday's scheduled game.

Baltimore starting pitcher Miguel Gonzalez (1-1) got the win, tossing five scoreless innings, as the Orioles have won five of their last seven. He allowed three hits, walked three and struck out six in picking up his first win of the season.

Rays batters were held to only six hits in losing their third straight and falling for the sixth time in nine outings. It was the eighth time in those nine games they scored three runs or fewer.

"We're going to continue to pitch well and the balls are going to start finding some holes or rest comfortably on the outfield grass without being caught," said Rays manager Joe Maddon. "We've just got to keep fighting through it."

Tampa starter Jake Odorizzi (1-2) suffered the loss, yielding three runs on five hits in five innings of work. He struck out four and walked three.

The game was scoreless until the Orioles broke the scoreboard with a two-run fourth inning. Nelson Cruz scored the inning's first run on Matt Wieters' bases-loaded sacrifice fly to the warning track in center field. Chris Davis then scored on Hardy's ground out to make it a 2-0 game.

Baltimore got another run in the fifth when Jones' swinging bunt stayed fair down the third base line, allowing Ryan Flaherty to score for a 3-0 edge.

"However it takes for us to get some runs," said Gonzalez. "We have guys that have power but you don't need to hit home runs to score runs. ... Defense and pitching is going to win some ballgames."

Tampa left the bases loaded in the seventh to spoil a chance at posting some offense. First, with one out, Ben Zobrist grounded into a fielder's choice that forced out the runner coming home. Then, Will Myers struck out to end the inning.

Zack Britton worked three innings of two hits relief for Baltimore and Tommy Hunter worked around a lead-off hit in the ninth to record his fourth save of the season.

Game Notes

Baltimore ended its homestand with a (3-2) mark ... The Orioles begin a seven- game road trip in Boston on Friday ... Tampa finished its road trip (3-4) ... The Rays return home to start a seven-game homestand on Thursday against the Yankees ... No make-up date has been announced for Tuesday's rain out.