|
|
 |
 |
|
| |
Thursday, Apr. 20 1:35pm ET
Baltimore's Baines ends RBI drought | |||||
|
| ||||||
|
RECAP
|
BOX SCORE
|
GAME LOG
BALTIMORE (AP) -- Mike Hargrove figured it was only a matter of time before Harold Baines started hitting. Baines justified his manager's faith Thursday, and the timing couldn't have been worse for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. Baines ended his RBI drought with a run-scoring double and a solo homer as the Baltimore Orioles extended their winning streak to four games with an 8-4 victory. Baines, the majors' active RBI leader with 1,583 coming into the season, batted .208 and drove in only one run in his first 11 games. But the 41-year-old designated hitter smacked an RBI double in a three-run first inning and made it 6-2 in the fifth with his first homer of the year. "I was more impressed with the double than the home run," Baines said. "I get paid to hit with men on base, and I finally got one with a man in scoring position." Although he was a bit concerned about Baines' early-season slump, Hargrove knew it wouldn't last. "You always worry and you never assume anything, but in this game you've got to believe in track records and numbers," Hargrove said. "The numbers and statistics say that Harold Baines will hit, given the chance. That's where you have to be patient." Pat Rapp (2-0) allowed two runs and five hits in six innings for the Orioles, who swept the rain-shortened two-game series. After a two-run homer by Gerald Williams made it 6-4 in the seventh, the Orioles scored twice in their half on consecutive passed balls by Mike DiFelice. "I crossed him up. He called a screwball and I threw a fastball," Tampa Bay right-hander Mike Sparks said. "The bottom line is I've got to catch those balls. That is my job," DiFelice said. "We got back in the game and momentum going, then I give them a cushion." Baines was lifted for a pinch-hitter in that inning, but his 2-for-3 effort increased his batting average by 27 points. "I haven't gotten a lot of hits, but that's just part of the game," he said. "You just deal with it. You'd like to get three hits every day, but it's impossible." Rapp walked three and struck out four in becoming the first Baltimore starter to earn his second victory. He hadn't pitched since April 12 and had to battle the effects of the lengthy layoff. "I was a little too strong. My legs felt stronger than my arm," he said. "It was a deal where I was trying to get my legs and arms working together." Ryan Rupe (0-3) allowed seven runs, seven hits and four walks in six-plus innings. The Orioles went up 3-0 in the first. Delino DeShields doubled, B.J. Surhoff hit an RBI single and Albert Belle walked before Baines drilled a ground-rule double to center. Cal Ripken followed with a run-scoring grounder. Tampa Bay used two walks and RBI singles by Dave Martinez and Fred McGriff to close to 3-2 in the third. Baltimore loaded the bases in the fourth before Mike Bordick and Brady Anderson hit sacrifice flies for a 5-2 lead. It was the team-high 20th RBI for Bordick, who last season didn't reach that figure until June. Game notesThe Orioles optioned RHP Al Reyes to Triple-A Rochester and recalled RHP Jason Johnson, who will start Sunday in Oakland. ... Mike Timlin, making his season debut after coming off the disabled list Monday, pitched the seventh for Baltimore. ... McGriff's single in the third snapped a 4-for-31 slide, but he's gone 13 straight games without an extra base hit. ... Bordick walked twice but was held hitless for the first time in 14 games this season. ... Martinez had his fourth straight multihit game. | ALSO SEE Baseball Scoreboard Tampa Bay Clubhouse Baltimore Clubhouse RECAPS Minnesota 9 Kansas City 7
Baltimore 8
  | |||||