Bay Rays topple Orioles, end 11-game losing run

BALTIMORE – The Tampa Bay Rays ended their 11-game losing streak Monday, using a 15-hit attack and an effective pitching performance by David Price to beat the Baltimore Orioles, 8-4, in the American League.

The Rays avoided becoming the first World Series team in history to lose 12 in a row the following year. Rookie Reid Brignac had a career-high four hits — his first big league homer, two doubles and a single — and B.J. Upton also connected for Tampa Bay.

Held to eight runs in their previous seven games, the Rays equaled that amount by the fifth inning. Tampa Bay, which batted .183 during its 11-game skid, hadn’t had as many as 15 hits in a game since Aug. 24 against Toronto.

At New York, Mark Teixeira hit a two-run triple on a play that caused Angels center fielder Torii Hunter to lose a shoe, then doubled to start the go-ahead rally in the eighth inning that led New York over Los Angeles in a possible playoff preview.Then Yankees posted a 5-3 decision,

New York broke a 3-all tie when pinch-runner Brett Gardner took third as part of a double steal and came home as catcher Mike Napoli bounced the throw past third baseman Chone Figgins for an error. Robinson Cano added a run-scoring single, and Mariano Rivera finished to reach 40 saves for the first time in four years and the seventh time in his career.

At Detroit, Marco Scutaro’s second error of the game allowed Brandon Inge to score from second base in the bottom of the 10th inning as Detroit rallied to beat Toronto,

Pinch-hitter Aubrey, 6-5. Huff belted a tying three-run homer in the ninth and Ryan Raburn also went deep for the American League Central-leading Tigers.

Adam Lind and Edwin Encarnacion homered for Toronto.

Brian Wolfe (1-2) walked Inge and Curtis Granderson with one out in the 10th. Alex Avila then hit a grounder to first baseman Lyle Overbay. Scutaro couldn’t handle his throw to second and Inge was able to slide home with the winning run.       (AP)