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Power surge helps Bedard overcome shaky performance

Aug 5, 2007 - 9:41 PM ST. PETERSBURG, Florida (Ticker) -- Erik Bedard wasn't as dominating as usual, but it was still enough to win his career-best eighth consecutive victory.

Bedard allowed nine hits - the most he's allowed since June 10 - but the Baltimore Orioles used home runs from Miguel Tejada, Aubrey Huff and Melvin Mora in pounding the Devil Rays, 11-3, Sunday.

Jay Gibbons had a career high-tying four hits and Corey Patterson added a season high-tying three RBI as the Orioles scored at least 10 runs for the third time this season, all against the Devil Rays.

"Tejada got the day started for us," Baltimore manager Dave Trembley said. "I looked to him to be the guy to give us some energy."

Compared to his recent outings, Bedard (12-4) struggled somewhat. He allowed three runs to the Devil Rays after allowing only four runs combined in his last five starts.

"It's a battle every time I pitch against them" Bedard said. "I was throwing strikes and they were hitting good pitches. As long as the team win, that's all that matters. With 10 runs on the board, it makes it easier to pitch."

Also, the Devil Rays managed nine hits - the most Bedard has surrendered since allowing nine on June 10 to Colorado, which was his last loss. Bedard struck out 11, giving him a major league-leading 192, and walked none.

"I thought he got better as the game went on," Trembley said. "The guy has a way of coming up with the big pitch. He will give you everything he's got. The guy knows how to compete and stay away from the big innings. You're going to have to earn it to beat him."

The Orioles compiled 16 hits as every starter had at least one hit. Huff, who played for the Devil Rays from 2000-06, continued his torrid hitting against his former club. Huff has four of his eight home runs this season against Tampa Bay and he's batting .372 against Tampa Bay, compared to .243 against the rest of the major leagues.

"He's become a Rays killer, huh," Carl Crawford said. "I don't know if he's found it, but he found it against us."

Trailing, 3-1, the Orioles took control with a six-run fourth. Tejada led off the inning with a solo home run. With two outs, Roberts had an RBI single, Patterson an RBI double and Nick Markakis a two-run single.

Baltimore added three more in the fifth on Huff's home run and a two-run Patterson single. Mora, who was activated from the 15-day DL Sunday, capped the scoring with a solo home run in the ninth.

Andy Sonnanstine (1-7) lost his seventh consecutive game, allowing seven earned runs and eight hits in 3 2/3 innings.

"I thought it was a bad day for him," Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon said. "All the starts that I've seen, I've felt that he's given us a chance to win, except for today."

The Devil Rays got home runs from Crawford and B.J. Upton off Bedard to build an early 3-1 lead. Crawford had three hits on his 26th birthday and is batting .443 in his last 16 games.

"Yeah, everything was good today - everything but the win," Crawford said. The Orioles defeated Tampa Bay for the 10th time in 12 meetings this year, while the Devil Rays fell to 14-28 this season against American League East opponents.

"I let the ball up a little bit today," Sonnanstine said. "They hit some good pitches and they also hit mistakes. I've got to keep the ball down."