Rays vs. Orioles final score: Evan Longoria hits 3 home runs as Tampa Bay defeats Baltimore

Evan Longoria led Tampa Bay past Baltimore, hitting three home runs.

Orioles vs. Rays Lineups: Pena, Fuld back in lineup for Tampa Bay

The Tampa Bay Rays wrap up their season tonight against the Baltimore Orioles. Tampa Bay's wild card bid fell short earlier this week, but they can still muck up Baltimore's postseason plans. Baltimore needs to win and have the New York Yankees lose in order to force a tie in the American League East.

Carlos Pena and Sam Fuld rejon the Rays lineup tonight, replacing Jeff Keppinger and Luke Scott. The rest of the lineup remains the same. Baltimore will go with the same lineup as they did in yesterday's 1-0 victory. The Rays will send Jeremy Hellickson (9-11) to the mound tonight to face Baltimore's Chris Tillman (9-2).

The full lineups are listed below:

Baltimore Orioles

LF Nate McLouth
SS J.J. Hardy
RF Chris Davis
CF Adam Jones
C Matt Wieters
DH Jim Thome
1B Mark Reynolds
2B Ryan Flaherty
3B Manny Machado

SP Chris Tillman

Tampa Bay Rays

CF B.J. Upton
SS Ben Zobrist
3B Evan Longoria
RF Matt Joyce
2B Ryan Roberts
1B Carlos Pena
LF Sam Fuld
DH Stephen Vogt
C Chris Gimenez

SP Jeremy Hellickson

Tonight's game starts at 7:00 p.m. ET.

Orioles vs. Rays: Game preview, TV schedule and more

Tampa may not be playing for a playoff spot, but the Rays could spoil Baltimore's hopes of an AL East crown.

Orioles vs. Rays final score: James Shields' 15 Ks not enough, Baltimore wins 1-0

The Baltimore Orioles defeated the Tampa Bay Rays on Tuesday night in the second of their three-game, season-finale series by a score of 1-0. Despite the loss, Rays pitcher James Shields put on a clinic with a team record 15 strikeouts.

Tampa is eliminated from the playoff picture, so these games are merely a formality for the Rays.

Baltimore, on the other hand, has clinched a spot in the American League playoff race and look to finish off the regular season strong. Tuesday was a step toward that, and another win on Wednesday would be the next step.

The only score of the game came on a solo home run by right fielder Chris Davis in the fourth inning. Aside from that, both starting pitchers were close to masterful. Miguel Gonzalez went 6⅓ innings, gave up just two hits, no runs and struck out seven.

But Shields was the story of the game with his record-breaking number of strikeouts.

Rays vs. Orioles lineups: Evan Longoria starts at third base

Despite being eliminated from playoff contention, the Tampa Bay Rays are putting their best foot forward on Tuesday night, as they look to spoil the Baltimore Orioles' chances of capturing the AL East crown.

Evan Longoria will start at third base Tuesday night when the Rays take the field for the second-to-last time at Tropicana Field in 2012. On Monday, Rays manager Joe Maddon said that it would be up to Longoria to decide if he'd want to play or rest if the Rays were eliminated.

Maddon told the media on Tuesday that the club will play the game straight up -- including using Fernando Rodney if a save situation arises.

Both Maddon and Buck Showalter announced the starting lineups, and they are as follows:

Baltimore Orioles

LF Nate McLouth
SS J.J. Hardy
RF Chris Davis
CF Adam Jones
C Matt Wieters
DH Jim Thome
1B Mark Reynolds
2B Ryan Flaherty
3B Manny Machado

SP Miguel Gonzalez

Tampa Bay Rays

LF Desmond Jennings
CF B.J. Upton
SS Ben Zobrist
3B Evan Longoria
1B Jeff Keppinger
RF Matt Joyce
2B Ryan Roberts
DH Luke Scott
C Chris Gimenez

SP James Shields

First pitch is scheduled for 7:10 p.m. ET.

Orioles vs. Rays: Tampa Bay wins, 5-3, to stay alive in wild-card race

Alex Cobb allowed a run in seven innings for Tampa Bay, and the Rays picked up a 5-3 win over the Baltimore Orioles to keep their slim playoff hopes alive.

Orioles vs. Rays: Tampa Bay leads through five innings

In a must-win game against the Baltimore Orioles, the Tampa Bay Rays hold a slim 1-0 advantage through five innings. Shortstop Ben Zobrist hit a solo home run in the bottom of the fourth to put the Rays on top at Tropicana Field.

Tampa Bay (88-71) entered Monday three games back of the Oakland Athletics (91-68) for the American League's final wild card spot. Both teams have three games remaining, so the Rays will have to win out and hope the Athletics are swept in their final series. The Los Angeles Angels are also three games behind the A's in the wild card race. Oakland plays later Monday night.

Alex Cobb has pitched well for Tampa Bay, allowing just one hit and one walk in the first five frames. Cobb has struck out five.

The Orioles (92-67) have already clinched a playoff berth and are tied with the New York Yankees atop the AL East. New York hosts Boston for its final regular-season series.

Evan Longoria might sit Tuesday, Wednesday if Rays are eliminated

If the Tampa Bay Rays are eliminated after Monday night, Rays manager Joe Maddon may decide to rest his superstar third baseman the last two games of the season.

Rays vs. Orioles lineups: Alex Cobb starts with season in the balance

Alex Cobb will start for the Tampa Bay Rays on Monday night, as they play host to the playoff-bound Baltimore Orioles.

Cobb can ill afford a hiccup, as the Rays need to sweep the Orioles, and need the Texas Rangers to sweep the Oakland A's just to qualify for a 163rd game to determine the last wild card spot.

Both Joe Maddon and Buck Showalter have announced the starting lineups for Monday's contest, and they are as follows:

Baltimore Orioles

LF Nate McLouth
SS J.J. Hardy
RF Chris Davis
CF Adam Jones
C Matt Wieters
DH Jim Thome
1B Mark Reynolds
2B Ryan Flaherty
3B Manny Machado

SP Wei-Yin Chen

Tampa Bay Rays

LF Desmond Jennings
CF B.J. Upton
SS Ben Zobrist
3B Evan Longoria
1B Jeff Keppinger
DH Ben Francisco
RF Sam Fuld
2B Ryan Roberts
C Chris Gimenez

SP Alex Cobb

Unfortunately for the Rays, the Orioles also have something to play for, as Baltimore enters Monday tied with the New York Yankees atop the AL East. Winning the division has never been more advantageous, since the wild card teams will square off in a do-or-die one game playoff on Friday.

Orioles vs. Rays preview: Game time, tv schedule and more

The Tampa Bay Rays meet the Baltimore Orioles in the final series of the regular season as the two teams battle for a Wild Card spot.