The Rays opened a big three-game series in Baltimore on Tuesday night with a 3-1 win. Jeremy Hellickson was fantastic, keeping the O's offense at bay and picking up his first win in his last 10 starts. Hellickson did not issue a walk in 6.1 innings of work, allowing just one run on three hits. An Adam Jones homer to center that broke a scoreless tie in the fourth would be the only blemish, and the Rays bullpen picked right up from there to pitch 2.2 scoreless innings and preserve the win.
After Jones homered in the bottom of the fourth, the Rays would quickly respond and break through against Wei-Yin Chen to take the lead at 2-1. Brooks Conrad delivered the blow, taking a Chen offering over the left field wall with Sam Fuld on first. Fuld walked and Conrad came through with the clutch two-out hit that would prove to be the difference. Jeff Keppinger added another insurance run an inning later when he singled home B.J. Upton but the troika of Jake McGee, Joel Peralta, and Fernando Rodney only needed the one-run lead.
The Rays will try to make it two-in-row at Camden and clinch the series on Wednesday night. David Price will be on the hill for Tampa while Miguel Gonzalez will go for the Birds.
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