J.J. Hardy shines as Baltimore Orioles rout Tampa Bay Rays 9-2 in key AL East clash – MLB Update
J.J. Hardy produced a magical batting performance as Baltimore Orioles hammered the Tampa Bay Rays 9-2 at Oriole Park at Camden Yards in Baltimore, Maryland on Tuesday, September 11 in the opening game of their three match series.
Hardy displayed some top quality hitting skills to help his side establish complete control over the contest. His home-run to left in the third inning gave Orioles a 3-1 lead. Matt Wieters also showed just what he is capable of as he singled to right in
the first inning and added a double to deep right in the fifth inning.
Hardy singled to left in the sixth inning to extend Orioles’ lead to 6-1. Chris Davis and Hardy hit back-to-back home-runs in the seventh and the eighth to deny the Rays any chance of coming back into the contest.
Starting pitcher Jason Hammel also looked very comfortable on the mound as he gave up just a hit in three plus solid innings to play a key role in deciding the outcome of the clash. However, he had to leave in the fourth inning with a knee injury.
"It's a very sharp pain in the knee in the same spot," Hammel said in a post game interview. "I'm hoping it is just scar tissue. I've been told scar tissue can react like that."
"We've been down this road many times this year with a lot of different challenges," manager Buck Showalter said of Hammel’s injury. "We've operated a good portion of this season without Ham and without Nicky, so we're kind of experienced at it anyway. It's
not the kind of experience you want to have."
Relief pitchers Steve Johnson, Luis Ayala, Brian Matusz, Darren O’Day, and Pedro Strop combined to give up just one run in five plus sharp innings as Orioles held on to their lead comfortably to complete a deserving victory.
With their win, Baltimore also tied New York Yankees at the top of American League East Division standings and it will be interesting to see if they can keep up their good work to claim the title.
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