Mark Trumbo on his big home run (plus more clubhouse quotes)

Two of the Orioles' strengths all year - power and their bullpen - helped carry them to an important 2-1 win over Tampa Bay this afternoon.

They improved to 82-67 and could move to within two games of first if Boston loses to New York tonight. They will be within at least three games of the top spot when the Orioles and Red Sox begin their four-game series Monday night.

After Manny Machado's new career-high 36th homer tied this game 1-1 in the sixth today, Mark Trumbo's 43rd homer was a tiebreaker in the eighth inning. Trumbo smoked a first-pitch fastball from Ryan Garton 433 feet to center field. He said hitting what turned out to be a gamewinner never gets old.

"It is equally as cool each time," Trumbo said. "It reminds why you play. To have that opportunity and come through. Think it's a pretty good example of what we do (with power and the 'pen). There are other things that we do really well. You know our infield defense is one you could point to as well. Today was a good day for us."

Trumbo missed two games with back spasms and then returned today with two hits. He now has 101 RBIs, a new career-high.

"Feels really good. This time of year somebody has to step up at some point in the game. We did a nice job and it was a well-played game," he said. "We just needed to get that big hit there at the end."

After starter Wade Miley had to leave the game due to a muscle strain in his upper back after four scoreless innings, the Orioles bullpen recorded five shutout innings from five different pitchers to close out the win.

"That was what we needed," Trumbo said. "Huge credit to our guys to give us a chance. They gave us a nice momentum push going to the last of the eighth."

More clubhouse quotes:

Miley on his injury: "Sometime in the fourth inning. I slipped on a pitch. Trying to go fastball away. I kind of lost my balance. I felt something grab in my shoulder blade area. It kind of stayed there and didn't go away and in between innings, it kind of got a little worse. I felt it a little bit. I didn't think it was smart to stay out there and try to deal with it.

"No, no (never had this before). That's another thing. If it was something I felt before, maybe I have an idea, but it's something I never felt. I was a little nervous. I'm not going to lie about it. It feels a lot better right now, so hopefully some cramps. It was pretty hot, so we'll go from there."

Miley on why it's tough to leave when pitching well: "Absolutely, I thought I had some command on the fastball. My game plan going in was to be able to execute. It's just one of those things, I guess. It sucks. The bullpen came in and did an outstanding job of shutting the door after that. That was a pretty solid pitch that (Corey) Dickerson hit out, sinker, down and away. Other than that, it was good."

Darren O'Day on pitching in the fifth: "I had an idea I was going to get in maybe earlier than usual. Didn't anticipate it would be that early. Hope Wade is okay, he went out and pitched four good innings for us. Injury warm-ups are tough, not ideal."

O'Day on how he felt after his outing: "I try not to throw max effort, just trying to pitch. The big thing will be how I feel tomorrow. So it was good to get out there, felt fine when I was out there and threw some really good pitches, so that was exciting."

O'Day on giving up a first-pitch homer to Corey Dickerson: "You know what, that was weird, I threw a good pitch and he hit it out. Kudos to him. After that, you just have to get outs."

Brad Brach on the bullpen today: "It's big. Anytime you have the starter go out in the fourth like that when he is pitching so well is tough. But everyone was able to step up and pitch their inning and pass it to the next guy."

Brach today recorded his 10th win. He is the first O's reliever with 10 wins since Arthur Rhodes in 1997. Donnie Hart extended his scoreless streak to 17 games and 14 2/3 innings to begin his MLB career. Zach Britton recorded his 47th straight save dating to last Oct. 1. That ties for sixth-longest streak in MLB history.