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GAME LOG
BALTIMORE (AP) -- With help from a maligned defense and a couple
of former New York Mets, Jay Spurgeon added another milestone to
his storybook season.
Spurgeon allowed two runs in seven innings to win his first
start in the majors, and Melvin Mora homered as the Baltimore
Orioles defeated Tampa Bay 3-2 Sunday.
It was the sixth win in eight games for the Orioles, who took
three of four from the last-place Devil Rays.
Spurgeon started the season in Class A ball, then played six
games with Double-A Bowie and two more with Triple-A Rochester
before being called up by the Orioles on Aug. 14.
He made two appearances out of the bullpen getting his first
chance to start, and the right-hander made the most of the
opportunity. He allowed eight hits, walked two and hit a batter
before leaving after throwing 97 pitches.
"We wanted to leave a good taste in his mouth," Orioles
manager Mike Hargrove said.
Mission accomplished.
"I felt good about my performance," Spurgeon said. "This
whole season has been a dream come true. I started off in A ball
and never gave up hope. I just wanted to keep us in the game, and I
did that."
The Orioles trailed 2-0 before Mora hit a two-run homer in a
three-run fifth inning against Ryan Rupe (5-5). Mike Kinkade,
obtained with Mora in the July 28 trade that sent Mike Bordick to
the New York Mets, doubled in the go-ahead run.
That was enough offense for Spurgeon (1-0), who was aided by
three double plays from a defense that Friday ended a club-record
run of 16 straight games with at least one error.
"Double plays are a pitcher's best friend, and they were
definitely my best friend today," Spurgeon said.
The only glaring flaw in Spurgeon's performance came in the
second inning, when Aubrey Huff hit a two-run shot to dead center
estimated at 443 feet.
"We were swinging at everything he was throwing," Huff said.
"If you can sit back and wait for his fastball, he's very
hittable. But he used his off-speed stuff well."
Mike Trombley pitched a perfect eighth and rookie Ryan Kohlmeier
allowed two straight singles before getting three outs for his
seventh save in seven opportunities.
"We should have got to him," lamented Tampa Bay manager Larry
Rothschild.
After stranding six runners in the first four innings, the
Orioles broke through in the fifth. Brady Anderson hit a leadoff
single and Mora followed with his second AL homer. Rupe then got
two outs before allowing successive doubles to Chris Richard and
Kinkade.
"I'm just real happy I got a chance to go to Baltimore before
the Olympics," said Kinkade, who was to leave the team Sunday
night to join the U.S. squad.
Rupe was 5-0 in nine starts since being recalled from Triple-A
Durham on July 8. He was seeking to break the club record for
consecutive wins, but instead lost for the first time since May 2.
"Sometimes when you throw bad pitches they are going to catch
up to you, but I threw some goodies," Rupe said. "Even getting
out of the fifth was a struggle."
Rupe allowed three runs, eight hits and two walks in five
innings.
"I don't think Ryan was on top of his game," Rothschild said.
"He struggled all day, but he battled and hung in there."
He was replaced by right-hander Tony Fiore, who pitched three
scoreless innings in his major league debut.
Game notes
Fiore was recalled earlier in the day to replace RHP Tanyon
Sturtze, who was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a strain
of the left oblique muscle. The injury occurred Saturday. ...
Baltimore is 8-5-5 in its last 18 series. ... The Orioles won the
season series 8-5. ... The Devil Rays went 5-8 on their 13-game
swing through Boston, Chicago, Minnesota and Baltimore.
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