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.