MARK DIDTLER
Associated Press
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — The Baltimore Orioles couldn’t fully enjoy their strange victory over Tampa Bay.
Ryan Flaherty and Nick Markakis both drove in a run after a power outage in the eighth inning and the Orioles beat the Rays 5-3 on Tuesday night.
Baltimore announced after the game that catcher Matt Wieters, who went 2 for 5 as the designated hitter, will fly to Pensacola Florida Wednesday to have his sore right elbow examined by Dr. James Andrews. He had an MRI on Monday.
“He’s been getting it treated for a while,” Orioles manager Buck Showalter said. “We just want to make sure we know what we’re dealing with. He’ll be back for the game. We just want to follow up. Hopefully he’s catching for us (Wednesday).”
The 19-minute delay came after a series of lights went out at Tropicana Field. The outage was soon after Steve Clevenger’s one-out double off Joel Peralta (1-2) put runners on second and third.
After Steve Pearce walked, an RBI single by Flaherty and Markakis’ run-scoring grounder gave Baltimore the two-run lead.
“The lights go out, but we picked up where we left off and got a couple runs in that inning,” Flaherty said. “It was kind of a bizarre moment.”
Peralta was charged with two runs and three hits in one-third of an inning.
“I made bad pitches and they hit them,” Peralta said. “It had nothing to do with the lights.”
The Rays announced that Duke Energy, which provides electricity to the ballpark, said the problem was caused by lightning striking a nearby transformer.
Both managers took the outage in stride.
“I was just hoping it wouldn’t mess up the air conditioners,” Showalter said.
“I think there was a grand opening somewhere and it knocked the lights out,” Tampa Bay’s Joe Maddon added.
Evan Longoria hit a two-run homer for the Rays, who loaded bases with one out in the ninth but failed to score against Tommy Hunter. The Orioles closer got a fly ball from Desmond Jennings and struck out Logan Forsythe to pick up his ninth save.
“Tommy bent, but didn’t break,” Showalter said.
Baltimore loaded the bases with no outs in the both fourth and fifth against Chris Archer, but scored just once in both innings on sacrifice flies. J.J. Hardy hit a sacrifice fly that tied it during the fourth before the Orioles went up 3-2 on Adam Jones’ fifth-inning fly ball.
Tampa Bay pulled even at 3 when Ben Zobrist hit a sacrifice fly off Darren O’Day (1-0) in the seventh.
Longoria put the Rays ahead 2-0 with his fourth homer of the season off Chris Tillman in the first.
Pearce cut the deficit to 2-1 with a third-inning homer.
Tillman allowed three runs and five hits over six-plus innings. Archer gave up three runs and seven hits in five innings.
NOTES: Showalter said 1B Chris Davis (strained left oblique) is making good progress but that it’s a long shot that he will be activated from the 15-day DL when eligible Sunday. “He’s moving in a good manner,” Showalter said. … Orioles LHP Johan Santana (shoulder) will make his second extended spring training start Saturday after a two-inning outing Monday. “He feels good today,” Showalter said. “That was good to see.” … Markakis extended his hitting streak to 13 games with a first-inning single. … Showalter said Orioles prospect Kevin Gausman (pneumonia), the fourth overall pick in the 2012 amateur draft, will pitch Saturday for Triple-A Norfolk. … Tampa Bay recalled RHP Brad Boxberger from Triple-A Durham. … Orioles RHP Bud Norris (2-2) and Rays LHP Cesar Ramos (1-1) are Wednesday night’s scheduled starters.
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