Mark Trumbo's tiebreaking homer in eighth lifts O's to win

Frustrated again by some missed chances that left runs on the board, the Orioles turned to what they do best to get one more run than the Tampa Bay Rays today.

Mark Trumbo blasted a tiebreaking homer to center field in the last of the eighth as the Orioles beat the Rays 2-1 to even the series at two wins each. The Orioles improved to 82-67 and moved within 2 1/2 games of first-place Boston. The Red Sox play the Yankees tonight.

With the game tied 1-1, Trumbo blasted No. 43 to center field. It traveled 433 feet for a 2-1 lead. Trumbo smoked a 94 mph first-pitch fastball from reliever Ryan Garton for what was just his third homer in the last 17 games. Trumbo had missed the last two games with back spasms but returned today, and the Orioles needed him.

Heading to the eighth inning, the Orioles were 0-for-5 today with runners in scoring position and 5-for-30 in the series with RISP.

Earlier, in a cruel twist for lefty starter Wade Miley on the day he was pitching well finally for the Orioles, an injury pushed him out of this game. He threw four scoreless innings today, allowing just one single. But he was warming up before the top of the fifth when he walked off with trainer Richie Bancells

The O's later announced that Miley left due to upper back cramps. Today, he walked one and fanned three, throwing 63 pitches. It was his best Orioles outing after he had gone 1-5 with an ERA of 8.41 in his first eight starts with the team.

Darren O'Day came on to pitch at that point after coming off the disabled list before the game. The first pitch he's thrown since Aug. 11 was hit to left and just made it into the seats for a homer for Corey Dickerson. Tampa Bay led 1-0 on Dickerson's 21st of the year.

Held to four hits and no runs through five innings by right-hander Jake Odorizzi, the O's scored to tie it in the last of the sixth. Manny Machado hit a 407-foot homer to right-center. It is a new career-high 36th for Machado, one more than his 2015 total. That blast tied it 1-1.

Trumbo's homer put the Orioles ahead and Zach Britton closed out a win for reliever Brad Brach with his 45th save in 45 chances.

The Orioles and Boston begin a four-game series at Camden Yards on Monday night when Dylan Bundy (9-5, 3.88 ERA) faces right-hander Rick Porcello (20-4, 3.12 ERA).