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Moore wins major league-best eighth game as Rays sweep O's

May 19, 2013 - 11:12 PM Baltimore, MD (Sports Network) - Matt Moore picked up his eighth win of the season and Luke Scott hit a tie-breaking homer in the fifth inning as the Tampa Bay Rays completed a three-game sweep with a 3-1 victory over the Baltimore Orioles Sunday at Camden Yards.

Moore (8-0) remained unbeaten to earn his major league-leading eighth win in his ninth start of the year after tossing seven strong innings, allowing five hits and one run. He added to his own club record with an 8-0 start to the season and also set a new franchise mark with his ninth straight victory dating back to last season.

"I think from where he's coming from, he knows he can be better," Rays manager Joe Maddon said of Moore. "He doesn't like those five-inning outings. He doesn't like that at all. So I'm sure he's deflecting based on that."

Matt Joyce added some cushion to Rays' lead with a questionable solo homer in the sixth that appeared to hit off an un-marked section of the hosts' foul pole in right field. The play was reviewed and called a home run, not a double, giving the Rays a 3-1 lead. Tampa Bay has won nine of 11.

Adam Jones had two hits and drove in the lone Baltimore run with an RBI single, while starter Chris Tillman (3-2) allowed three runs on five hits, including both homers, to go along with four strikeouts over six innings.

The Orioles added to their season-high losing streak with a fifth straight defeat, all of which have come at home.

"That's part of playing a sport," Baltimore manager Buck Showalter said. "There's some unique dips and turns to every season. It's frustrating for us, but you don't dwell on it."

With the visitors holding a 2-1 edge in the sixth, controversy struck with another debate of a questionable home run call.

Joyce smacked a one-out shot down the right field line. The ball appeared to corral off the wall, but upon further review, it looked to hit off a non- colored part of the bottom portion of the foul pole. After 10-plus minutes of delay between the umpires and both managers, the play was reviewed via video and the umpires rewarded Joyce with a homer, giving the Rays a 3-1 lead.

Fernando Rodney picked up his eighth save of the season with a perfect ninth.

Scott, a former Oriole, started the fifth with a shot to right, his third homer of the season, to break a 1-1 tie and put the Rays ahead 2-1.

Tampa Bay opened up the scoring with one run in the third. Tillman issued a two-out walk to Yunel Escobar, but the next batter, Desmond Jennings, ripped a double down the right-field line, scoring the speedy Escobar.

Baltimore tied the game in the fourth thanks to some help from an fielding miscue. Manny Machado hit a triple into the right-field gap that looked like an easy catch, though, Jennings and Joyce converged on the ball and both stopped running in fear of a collision. Jones followed with a run-scoring single to make it 1-1.

"He ended up going full speed and called it, so I just got out of the way," Joyce added. "I told him if he's going to call it, I'm going to get out of the way."

It was just the second time in 34 chances this season that Moore gave up a hit with a runner in scoring position.

"Tip your cap to the man," Added Jones of Moore's performance. "He kept us off balance. We had a few opportunities to get runs; nobody had a lot of opportunities today."

Game Notes

Evan Longoria extended his hitting streak to 12 games ... Tampa Bay pitcher Jake Odorizzi will be recalled from Triple-A Durham following today's contest and make his Rays debut tomorrow with the start versus Toronto ... Orioles have dropped five straight for the first time since May 26 - June 1, 2012, when the team lost six in a row ... J.J. Hardy had a 13-game hitting streak snapped ... Tampa Bay's David Price last held the franchise record for consecutive wins with eight last season ... Baltimore's Jones added two stolen bases ... Moore became the first left-handed pitcher under the age of 24 since Babe Ruth to start a season 8-0.