Could tie-breaker also be heartbreaker? (updated)

By Roch Kubatko

Orioles

April 12, 2010, 4:45pm

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Ben Zobrist just tripled in the sixth inning to score Carl Crawford and break a 1-1 tie. Zobrist came home on Evan Longoria's fly ball. Rays 3, Orioles 1. Jeremy Guthrie retired eight in a row before Crawford doubled with one out, making him 3-for-3. Guthrie's completed six innings, but his pitch count has exceeded 90 and the bullpen is busy. The Orioles are 0-for-3 with runners in scoring position tonight, including two chances in the second inning, to leave them 9-for-58 on the season. They've been fairly quiet, thanks to Rays starter Matt Garza, who's retired seven straight batters. Catcher Matt Wieters is no Ramon Hernandez. He's blocked the plate twice tonight and applied the tag, though Zobrist narrowly beat Adam Jones' throw in the sixth. Felix Pie has an outfield assist, with Wieters fielding the one-hopper and absorbing a hard slide. The kid has no fear. Update: Guthrie made it through the seventh, going over 100 pitches in the process. That's a quality start that could go to waste.