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Millar helps Orioles top Devil Rays

Jul 26, 2007 - 9:52 PM BALTIMORE (Ticker) -- Kevin Millar had two hits and drove in two runs to lead the Baltimore Orioles to a 10-7 victory over the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in the finale of a three-game series on Thursday afternoon.

Brian Roberts hit a three-run home run for the Orioles, who scored five runs in the third inning.

Millar likes what he is seeing from the Orioles as of late.

"I think this team is playing as good as we have all year long," Millar said.

Baltimore starter Steve Trachsel struggled, yielding five runs and seven hits, while walking and striking out three, in 4 2/3 innings.

"It wasn't a problem throwing strikes, it just that the strikes were up in the zone and in good locations to hit," Trachsel said.

Rob Bell (3-1) picked up the win, hurling 1 1/3 scoreless innings without walking or striking out a batter. Jamie Walker pitched the seventh, Paul Shuey the eighth, setting up rookie Cory Doyne in the ninth.

Doyne, who was recalled Wednesday after closer Chris Ray was placed on the disabled list, allowed two runs, two hits and a walk in the final frame before working out of trouble.

Trailing, 2-1, in the third inning, the Orioles sent nine men to the plate. With one out and the bases loaded, Nick Markakis drove in Paul Bako and Brandon Fahey with a single up the middle off Devil Rays starter Edwin Jackson (2-10).

Millar followed with a ground-rule double to left field that brought home Brian Roberts and Markakis to make it 5-2. After a groundout by Aubrey Huff, Chris Gomez drove in Millar with a two-out single to center.

"We're doing a great job of just finding a way to win, whether it's pitching, defense, outslugging the other team," Millar said. "That's big."

The Devil Rays cut the deficit to 6-3 with a run in the fourth on Ty Wigginton's solo home run. One inning later, B.J. Upton and Delmon Young hit RBI singles to close within a run.

Upton left the game in the seventh with an apparent leg injury. He limped off the field moments after chasing down a shallow pop fly.

Baltimore opened up its lead in the eighth, tacking on four runs, capped by Roberts' three-run blast to right field. The insurance proved to be crucial after Tampa Bay added two runs in the ninth.

"Right now, everybody is having a good time," said Roberts, who also walked three times. "We're playing hard. We're having fun, and that's the key over a long season, try to get in that phase and let it ride as long as you can."

Jackson surrendered six runs and seven hits with three walks and two strikeouts in 3 1/3 innings.

"We finally got some hitting today, and we didn't pitch as well," Maddon said. "We can't let that happen."

Carlos Pena hit his 24th homer of the season in the second inning for Tampa Bay, which lost its sixth in a row and ninth straight at Camden Yards.