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Baldelli, Pena lift Rays to dramatic win over Orioles

Aug 31, 2008 - 1:49 AM ST. PETERSBURG, Florida (Ticker) -- Rocco Baldelli and Carlos Pena teamed up to give the Tampa Bay Rays a dramatic victory over the Baltimore Orioles.

Baldelli doubled into the corner in left field in the ninth inning to score Pena all the way from first base and lift the Rays to a 10-9 triumph over the Orioles on Saturday.

After B.J. Upton struck out to start the inning, Pena drew a walk from Rocky Cherry (0-2). Baldelli followed with a shot just inside the left-field line that kicked around in the corner long enough for Pena to beat a relay throw home.

"I've seen a bunch of (comebacks) this year, since April, sitting in the dugout" said Baldelli, who has missed most of the season with a genetic problem that saps his strength. "That's fun but it's a lot more fun to be involved, to actually contribute and be part of it. It's been something I've been waiting for a long time. It's awesome."

Baltimore's Nick Markakis hit a solo home run in the ninth with two to tie the game at 9-9. The blast to left came off Dan Wheeler (3-5), who picked up the win but blew his third save in 13 chances this season.

Baldelli went 2-for-3 with two RBI and a run scored. He gave the Rays a 9-8 lead in the seventh when he was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, scoring Akinori Iwamura.

Pena walked three times, scored three times and drove in a pair for Tampa Bay, which improved to 51-19 at home this season.

"Our guys are very aware of what's going on," Maddon said. "You can tell by the intensity. We are playing every night, we are not taking anything for granted and we are doing it the right way."

Markakis went 4-for-5 for the Orioles, who jumped out to a 5-3 lead after three innings.

"We didn't put enough zeros on the board," Baltimore manager Dave Trembley said. "Offensively, some real big hits and some real big performances ? but we didn't get outs. It's just unexplainable. Give Tampa credit, they took advantage of every opportunity they had. It was a tough one."

Jay Payton put Baltimore ahead 2-0 in the first with a two-run homer to left. Tampa Bay responded with a run in the bottom of the frame and two in the second to take a 3-2 lead. Aubrey Huff then connected for his 30th homer of the season, a three-run shot to deep right in the third, to put the Orioles back on top.

For the second straight start, Andy Sonnanstine failed to tie the Tampa Bay franchise mark for wins by a pitcher (14), set by Rolando Arrojo in the team's inaugural season. The righthander lasted just 3 1/3 and was charged with six runs - five earned - and departed on the short end of a 7-3 score.

"Physically I felt great," Sonnanstine said. "I just wasn't sharp today. I didn't have any command or control."