Series gets weirder with inside-the-park home run (O's lead 5-4 in 9th)

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - We said it wouldn't get weird. This series has included some odd moments, such as yesterday's walk-off passed ball. Today brings us an inside-the-park home run by Tampa Bay's David DeJesus in the fourth inning that increased the Rays' lead to 3-0. Bud Norris hadn't allowed more than three home runs in any start this season. All three today have come with two outs. DeJesus sent a fly ball into left-center field. Alejandro De Aza ran it down, but David Lough slammed into his arm at full speed. The ball flew out of De Aza's glove and rolled all the way to the left field corner, and DeJesus easily rounded the bases without a play at the plate. DeJesus actually has four inside-the-park home runs in his career, the last coming on April 23, 2010 while he played for the Royals. There have been 13 inside-the-park homers in Rays history, including three this season. That also seems weird. Jacoby Ellsbury hit the last inside-the-park home run off the Orioles on Sept. 19, 2011 at Fenway Park. Reliever Jeremy Accardo actually surrendered two that season. Also weird. The Orioles have been held to two hits in five innings - Nelson Cruz's single in the first and Ryan Flaherty's double in the fifth. Chris Davis has walked twice against Rays starter Jeremy Hellickson. Jonathan Schoop has struck out twice today and in seven of his last nine at-bats since Thursday's home run. James Loney is 3-for-3 today and 14-for-24 lifetime against Norris. The Yankees are losing to the Royals 2-0 in the fifth inning. They trail the Orioles by 8 1/2 games in the American League East. Update: Nelson Cruz hit his 38th home run, a two-run shot in the sixth inning that reduced the Rays' lead to 3-2 and gave the Orioles their third extra-base hit in the series. David Lough single and Cruz destroyed a curveball. Hellickson left the game after retiring Davis, who was robbed of another single by the shift. The Orioles loaded the bases against Steve Geltz, who hit a batter and walked two, but left-hander Jeff Beliveau escaped the jam. Manager Buck Showalter let Ryan Flaherty bat against Beliveau, who induced a pop up near the plate. The Rays accidentally let the ball drop, but the infield fly rule was in effect. I thought Hardy might pinch-hit in that situation and replace Flaherty at shortstop. Schoop struck out again, his 10th in his last 12 at-bats. Update II: Norris had allowed a career-high four home runs today. Kevin Kiermaier led off the bottom of the sixth inning with his 10th of the season to give Tampa Bay a 4-2 lead. Update III: The Orioles loaded the bases with no outs against Joe Peralta, and Nelson Cruz tripled one out to give the Orioles a 5-4 lead. Cruz has five RBIs today. Ryan Flaherty, Jimmy Paredes and Adam Jones singled to load the bases. Paredes and Jones came off the bench. Delmon Young struck out, but Cruz sent a sharp grounder down the right field line. The Rays originally scored it a double, but correctly changed it to a triple. Cruz was stranded at third base after left-hander Cesar Ramos entered the game. Zach Britton is going for his 34th save.