The Tampa Bay Rays lost to the Baltimore Orioles Wednesday night, 3-2, dropping a close game when Kyle Farnsworth gave up a run without retiring a single batter.
After B.J. Upton put the Rays on the board with a solo home run in the top of the first, starter Alex Cobb lost the lead in the bottom of the inning, giving up two runs on four hits. Ben Francisco tied it for the Rays with a two-out double in the top of the third, but Cobb wouldn't last even one more inning. He was pulled in the fourth by manager Joe Maddon with two on and two out. Jake McGee managed to end the fourth with no damage done, and Wade Davis and Joel Peralta combined to deliver the Rays to the ninth with the score still tied 2-2.
The Rays had a shot at pulling ahead in the top of the ninth. Jeff Keppinger singled to center and was replaced on the bases by Rich Thompson. Ben Zobrist flied out, but Thompson was able to advance on a steal. Thompson made a play for home on an Evan Longoria infield single, but he was thrown out at the plate and the game went to the bottom of the ninth with the score still 2-2. The Orioles made quick work of Farnsworth with a single, a bunt and another single to take the game.
With the loss the Rays fall three games behind first-place Baltimore and the Yankees in the AL East standings, and fail to gain any ground in the AL Wild Card race. They'll have another shot in Game 3 of the series as they look to avoid the sweep in an afternoon game, scheduled for 12:35 p.m. ET.
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