Schoop homer gives Orioles lead (O's win 4-3)

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Rookie Jonathan Schoop has hit three home runs this season. None of them have been cheap.

When he gets hold of one, he really gets hold of it.

Schoop's two-run shot to left field off Rays reliever Brandon Gomes in the seventh inning gave the Orioles a 4-2 lead at Tropicana Field.

Steve Pearce singled with two outs and Schoop connected on an 0-2 pitch from Gomes, who couldn't get a 90 mph fastball past him. Gomes threw two cutters before going with a two-seamer.

Orioles manager Buck Showalter saw a matchup he didn't like with two outs in the bottom of the sixth and called upon his bullpen. Soon after, he didn't like the score.

Pinch-hitter Sean Rodriguez singled off left-hander Brian Matusz to score James Loney and tie the game 2-2.

Starter Bud Norris hit Loney with two outs and Wil Myers reached on an infield hit, with third baseman Manny Machado making a tremendous diving stop along the line.

David DeJesus homered earlier tonight and is 8-for-15 with three homers lifetime against Norris. Showalter wasn't taking any chances. He brought in Matusz to face DeJesus, and Rays manager Joe Maddon countered with Rodriguez, who dumped a soft single into center field.

Matusz had stranded all nine inherited runners this season and 55 of 60 dating back to 2012.

Ryan Webb replaced Matusz and retired Yunel Escobar on a grounder to second. He's now the pitcher of record.

Norris was charged with two runs and three hits in 5 2/3 innings, with four walks, five strikeouts, one home run and one hit batter. He threw 101 pitches, 55 for strikes.

Norris' season-high in pitches is 105, which he's reached twice.

The Orioles have 10 quality starts from their rotation in 31 games. Norris needed one more out to make it 11.

Norris has allowed three earned runs or fewer in four of his six starts.

Update: The Orioles remain perfect against the Rays this season, winning tonight's game 4-3 before 11, 282 at Tropicana Field.

The Orioles have won all four games against Tampa Bay this season and improved to 17-14 going into Thursday night's series finale. This is the second time they've been three games above .500.

Ryan Webb retired all four batters he faced to earn the win and Zach Britton had a 1-2-3 eighth inning to lower his ERA to 0.89 in 20 1/3 innings. Tommy Hunter recorded his 10th save in 11 opportunities despite giving up a run in the ninth on Wil Myers leadoff double and singles by Yunel Escobar and Ryan Hanigan.

The Rays had runners on corners with one out and Ben Zobrist at the plate. Zobrist lined softly to shortstop J.J. Hardy, and Desmond Jennings lined to Hunter.

Nothing to it.

The Orioles are 12-0 when leading after the seventh inning and 14-0 when leading after the eighth. They're 7-3 in one-run games.

The Orioles have won five series this year, including four versus the American League East.