Tampa Bay Rays vs Baltimore Orioles Box Score on Sep 24, 2017

The Sports Xchange
Sep 24, 2017

BALTIMORE -- J.J. Hardy and Chance Sisco each hit a two-run homer as the Baltimore Orioles ended their home season in style with a 9-4 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays on Sunday at Camden Yards.

Hardy, playing in what might have been his final home game as an Oriole, received a standing ovation from fans and teammates before his first at-bat. He belted his tie-breaking two-run shot in the fourth, giving the Orioles (75-82) the lead for good.

Sisco was playing in just his seventh major league game. The catcher added his two-run homer in the sixth inning to give the Orioles some insurance over the Rays (76-80).

Since the Twins won, Tampa Bay's "tragic number" for elimination is down to one.

Chris Tillman needed to step in as the last-minute starter when the Orioles announced less than 90 minutes before first pitch that Dylan Bundy could not go because of a left hamstring strain.

However, Tillman lasted just four innings, giving up four runs on six hits.

Mychal Givens (8-1) got the win with 1 2/3 innings of shutout relief.

Tampa Bay starter Chris Archer (9-12) lost his fifth straight decision, allowing six runs on eight hits in 3 2/3 innings.

The Rays took a quick lead when Kevin Kiermaier homered on the game's first pitch, but the Orioles answered with four runs in the bottom of the first.

Adam Jones lined a two-run double to right followed by a Chris Davis RBI single. Two batters later, a Pedro Alvarez RBI single gave Baltimore the 4-1 lead.

But the Rays needed only three batters to tie it in the second. Adeiny Hechavarria led off with a double and scored on a Brad Miller single. Jesus Sucre then hit a two-run homer to left.

Hardy snapped the tie -- and earned another standing ovation -- with his two-run homer to left off Archer in the fourth, giving Baltimore a 6-4 lead.

The shortstop received his third standing ovation on his final at-bat in the eighth.

Sisco added his two-run blast off Jake Faria in the sixth to make it 8-4.

Davis added his second RBI on a slow groundout to first in the seventh.

NOTES: CF Adam Jones left the game after three innings due to what the team called "general leg soreness." That's been an issue for him in recent days. ... Baltimore SS Tim Beckham is out after hurting his hamstring Saturday. SS J.J. Hardy, the former starter, stepped in for him. ... Rays manager Kevin Cash gave 3B Evan Longoria, C Wilson Ramos and RF Steven Souza Jr. the day off, hoping to give them some rest heading into the final week. ... CF Kevin Kiermaier's home run on the first pitch of the game was Tampa Bay's 10th lead-off homer this season -- and his third.