Sports

Johnson, Zobrist Homer as Rays Beat Orioles 9-8

Posted: 2:39 PM May 13, 2012
Reporter: AP

BALTIMORE (AP) -- Elliot Johnson and Ben Zobrist homered, Carlos Pena ended an extended slump with two doubles and two RBIs, and the Tampa Bay Rays held on to beat the Baltimore Orioles 9-8 Sunday and avert a three-game sweep.

James Shields earned his sixth win for the Rays, who snapped a three-game skid and won for only the second time in eight games. Tampa Bay entered the series tied atop the AL East with Baltimore.

The Rays led 7-1 in the fourth inning and 9-6 in the eighth, but it was 9-8 when Fernando Rodney got Matt Wieters to ground out in the ninth with runners on second and third with two outs.

Rodney got his 10th save in 10 tries in a game that earlier appeared was going to be blowout.

Shields (6-1) gave up six runs, four earned, and seven hits in 6 1-3 innings..

Orioles starter Jake Arrieta (2-4) allowed seven runs and a career-high 10 hits in 3 2-3 innings.