ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) -- Bryan Rekar made it look easy.

	Bryan Rekar shut down the O's over his 8 1/3 innings.

"It's a great feeling ... I really can't explain it," Rekar said.

The victory gave Tampa Bay its first two-game winning streak since May 11-12. The Devil Rays split the four-game series against Baltimore, stopping a skid that saw them drop eight straight series.

"He was aggressive in the strike zone and hitting his spots well with good movement," Tampa Bay manager Larry Rothschild said. "It's almost mind over matter ... when you start believing, good things start happening."

Rekar (2-3), who threw 55 of 86 pitches for strikes, took a five-hitter into the ninth inning before allowing a one-out solo homer to Brady Anderson.

"He pitched great," Anderson said. "He threw strikes all night and mixed his pitches up well.

Roberto Hernandez came on and got two outs for his sixth save in 10 chances for Tampa Bay, which won for just the fifth time in 18 games.

"Hopefully we can build some momentum, build some confidence and try and do some damage," Hernandez said. "What Rekar did today was outstanding. That's momentum enough."

Rekar struck out four and walked none to get his first win as a starter since beating Florida last July 10. Over his previous four starts this season -- including three losses -- Rekar allowed 15 earned runs in 17 2/3 innings.

"I was just moving at a fast pace and throwing strikes as often as I could," Rekar said. "Going after them, and the defense behind me was terrific."

Baltimore starter Scott Erickson (2-2) allowed two runs and eight hits in his first complete game of the season.

"All that matters is winning ballgames," Erickson said. "If you don't win, it doesn't matter."

Baltimore starters have gone six innings or more in 14 of 16 games, but have only five wins over the span.

The loss was the third in nine games for the Orioles.

"That was a good ballgame," Orioles manager Mike Hargrove said. "We have nothing to be ashamed of with that game. We played hard, we got good pitching and played good defense."

Fred McGriff's RBI single in the first inning gave Tampa Bay a 1-0 lead. McGriff, who hit his 399th homer in the Devil Rays' 4-3 win over Baltimore on Wednesday, moved within four hits of 2,000.

Gerald Williams' run-scoring single in the fifth gave Tampa Bay a 2-0 lead.

The Orioles, who were held without an extra base hit for just the third time this season Wednesday, had just three singles and didn't advance runner past first base through five innings.

Rekar retired nine straight before Anderson had a two-out double in the sixth. Anderson was left stranded when Mike Bordick grounded out.

Albert Belle, who was the Orioles' designated hitter for the second time in the series, went 2-for-3. He has hit in 12 of his past 13 games.

The game was played in 2 hours, 6 minutes, tying it for the second quickest game in Tampa Bay history.

Game notes
Baltimore 3B Cal Ripken Jr. extended his major league record of hitting into double plays to 331 in the second inning. ... Devil Rays SS Felix Martinez has a hit in all seven games he's played since being recalled from Triple-A Durham last Friday. ... Baltimore's Charles Johnson has an eight-game hitting streak, two short of his career-high. ... Baltimore DH Harold Baines, who is hitting just .233, was out of the starting lineup for the second time in the series. Jeff Conine replaced Belle, who was the DH for the seventh time this season, in right field.