Sun Apr 13 17:01:42 2008

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Upton's three-run homer helps Rays down Orioles

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St. Petersburg, FL (Sports Network) - B.J. Upton hit a three-run home run and Jeff Niemann pitched six strong innings in his big league debut as the Tampa Bay Rays topped the Baltimore Orioles, 6-2, at Tropicana Field.

Niemann (1-0), the fourth overall pick in the 2004 draft, allowed one run on six hits and struck out five to earn the win as the Rays took two of three from the Orioles in their weekend set.

Carl Crawford hit a two-run single for Tampa Bay, which scored all six of its runs in the fifth inning. Akinori Iwamura drove in a run and scored a run in the win.

Nick Markakis homered for the Orioles, while Brian Roberts went 2-for-5. Brian Burres (1-1) took the loss after being tagged for six runs on five hits in 4 2/3 innings while striking out four and walking four.

Burres kept the Rays without a hit until the bottom of the fifth, when Tampa Bay's offense finally sprang to life, scoring six runs and sending 11 men to the plate.

Evan Longoria walked to lead off the inning, then Justin Ruggiano picked up Tampa Bay's first hit of the game with a single to left. After Jason Bartlett flew out, Iwamura slapped an RBI single to left to get the Rays on the board, and Crawford followed by lacing a two-run base hit to center before Burres struck out Carlos Pena for the second out of the inning.

Upton followed by blowing the game wide open with a monstrous three-run homer that gave Tampa Bay a 6-0 lead and chased Burres from the game. Randor Bierd came on in relief and walked Jonny Gomes, then gave up a single to Longoria before retiring Ruggiano on a fly ball to put an end to Tampa Bay's huge inning.

Markakis pulled a run back on Niemann's first pitch off the sixth, homering just over the wall in left.

J.P. Howell came on to relieve Niemann in the seventh and quickly walked Guillermo Quiroz, before allowing singles to Brandon Fahey and Roberts to load the bases with no outs. Dan Wheeler retired Melvin Mora on a popup, but Markakis drew a walk to score Quiroz.

Wheeler recovered to strike out Kevin Millar, and Trever Miller fanned Aubrey Huff as the Rays escaped the inning with a four-run lead.

Al Reyes and Troy Percival combined to throw a scoreless eighth and ninth innings to lock up the win for the Rays.

Baltimore loaded the bases with one out in the top of the first, but Niemann retired Huff on a popup and Luke Scott on a fly ball to right to escape the threat before the 6-foot-9, 280 pound right-hander settled down over his final five innings.

Game Notes

The Rays begin a two-game home series with the Yankees on Monday...Baltimore begins a seven-game homestand Monday, starting with a two-game set against the Blue Jays...Niemann started in place of the injured Matt Garza, who is on the 15-day disabled list with radial nerve irritation in his right arm.