Pearce homers, Jimenez gets win as O's complete sweep of Tampa Bay

Steve Pearce homered, Ubaldo Jimenez gave up just one run and the Orioles' bullpen pitched 3 2/3 scoreless innings as the Orioles beat Tampa Bay 3-1 tonight to complete a three-game sweep. There was some bottom-of-the-ninth drama again tonight. With Tommy Hunter having pitched in five of the last seven games, Darren O'Day came on to get the save. He got it after the first two batters singled to put the tie runs on. A double play ball and a grounder to first followed to end the game. The Orioles, who outscored Tampa Bay 12-7 in this series, are 5-0 on the season against the Rays after going 6-13 last season. The Orioles are 18-14 and four games over .500 for the first time in 2014. They moved a half-game ahead of idle New York into sole possession of first place as they improved to 13-8 in AL East games. Evan Longoria's RBI single gave Tampa Bay the lead in the first, but the O's moved ahead in the second. After J.J. Hardy's two-out double, Pearce homered for a 2-1 lead. It was his second homer of the series. Jonathan Schoop's RBI single made it a 3-1 lead in the fourth and was his 13th RBI of the year and third of this series. The Orioles knocked Tampa starter David Price out after the first three batters reached to load the bases in the sixth. But reliever Brad Boxberger then struck out Pearce, Schoop and Caleb Joseph to keep the O's off the board there. Price took the loss, going five-plus innings allowing nine hits and three runs. Price threw 100 pitches and is now 3-3 with an ERA of 4.53. Over his last five starts against the Orioles he has an ERA of 4.67 and has allowed 43 hits in 27 innings. Jimenez went 5 1/3 innings allowing seven hits and one run with two walks and three strikeouts. He gets the win to go to 2-4 with an ERA of 4.73. Jimenez has an ERA of 0.71 over his past two starts and 3.00 over his last four. The O's bullpen came up big in this series, allowing just one run over 10 innings. Tonight Ryan Webb, Brian Matusz and O'Day combined for 11 outs without allowing a run. O'Day got the save, his second this year and the sixth of his career. After a tough start to the road trip with two losses in Minnesota, the O's complete their first sweep at Tropicana Field tonight since April 1-3, 2011. They head home to face Houston on Friday night, winners of six of their last eight games and 13 of their last 20.