Gäste Forum » at least seven innings on his ledger, Keuchel would

BALTIMORE -- The Baltimore Orioles had just completed a spirited comeback, and all that remained was for unfailing closer Zach Britton to seal the victory.It did not come easy.Tampa Bays Mike Mahtook was cut down at the plate trying to score from first base with two outs, and Baltimore topped the Rays 5-4 Friday night to stay in the middle of the AL playoff picture.It was the most exciting game that Ive played this year, rookie Hyun Soo Kim said, and I expect that theres more coming. So Ill enjoy every bit of it.The Orioles remained two games behind first-place Boston in the AL East and tied with Toronto for the two AL wild-card spots.J.J. Hardy and Michael Bourn came through with RBI in the eighth inning, and Pedro Alvarez and Chris Davis homered to help Baltimore rally from an early 4-0 deficit.It was 4-3 before the Orioles took the lead in the eighth against wild reliever Brad Boxberger (4-2).Two walks and a hit batter loaded the bases for Hardy, who tied it with an infield single. Bourn followed with a fly ball to left field, and pinch-runner Nolan Reimold easily scored as the throw was cut off.Brad Brach (9-3) worked the eighth and Britton escaped with his 44th save in 44 tries.With two outs in the ninth, Mahtook singled off the second base bag. Alexei Ramirez followed with a liner to left, and Mahtook wheeled toward home. The relay from Bourn to third baseman Manny Machado to catcher Matt Wieters easily beat him there.I knew it was going to be close, just based on the way Alexi hit the ball, Mahtook said. Left-field line, it wasnt like he had super long way to run for it. I was on the move, he made a good play, and they were able to get me.Evan Longoria hit his career-high 34th homer and Richie Shaffer also connected for the last-place Rays.Tampa Bay starter Chris Archer allowed three runs in 6 1/3 innings and struck out four to increase his AL-leading total to 221. The 18-game loser also avoided setting a franchise record for losses in a season.Archer was replaced after giving up successive one-out singles in the seventh. Danny Farquhar hit Adam Jones with a pitch to load the bases for Hyun Soo Kim, who hit a deep liner to center. Kevin Kiermaier leaped with his back to the 7-foot wall, grasped the ball and brought it back onto the field before it popped from his glove.Thats a grand slam with any other center fielder, Rays manager Kevin Cash said.Kim was limited to an RBI single, and Farquhar struck out Machado and Davis.But Baltimore would not be denied in the eighth.Longoria homered off Ubaldo Jimenez with a man on in the first inning and Shaffer went deep in the second for a 4-0 lead.Jimenez settled down after that. The right-hander gave up four runs over seven innings, striking out eight.Alvarez hit his 21st home run in the second and Davis delivered No. 38 in the fourth. Davis also struck out twice and has 201 for the year.Baltimores Mark Trumbo, the major league home run leader with 42, was sidelined with back spasms. It was only the second game hes missed this season.OUT IN LEFT FIELDBrad Miller usually plays shortstop or first base for the Rays. In an effort to gauge Millers versatility and add flexibility to the roster, Rays manager Kevin Cash started him in left field.It didnt take long for Miller to get noticed: The second Baltimore batter of the game hit a pop to left that glanced off Millers glove for an error.The glove was borrowed from Farquhar.TRAINERS ROOMRays: 1B Nick Franklin, who strained his hamstring on Thursday, was held from the game. Cash listed him day-to-day.Orioles: RHP Darren ODay (rotator cuff strain) threw 26 pitches in a simulated game and could be activated Sunday or Monday. ... OF Joey Rickard (thumb) took a couple of practice swings, and it did not go well, manager Buck Showalter said. Rickard has been on the DL since July 21.UP NEXTRays: Matt Adriese (7-7, 4.46 ERA) starts Saturday night, coming off his first career win against the Yankees on Sunday. The right-hander is 0-3 with a 9.24 ERA lifetime vs. Baltimore.Orioles: Chris Tillman (16-5, 3.68) makes his second start since being activated from the DL with right shoulder bursitis. He beat Detroit on Sunday.Isaac Brizuela Jersey . Brett Kulak and Jackson Houck of the Vancouver Giants were each charged with assault causing bodily harm on Aug. 18, according to the B.C. court services. Isaac Brizuela Mexico Jersey . The veteran safety was a starter for the Bengals from 2008-2012. He totaled 41 tackles and three interceptions while starting all but four of the 13 games he played last season. http://www.mexiconationalshop.us/Giovani-dos-Santos-Mexico-Jersey-Soccer/ . They reached the 100-point plateau for the fourth time in five games, bested the visiting Trail Blazers by 34 in the paint and scored 19 of the final 25 points in regulation. Alfredo Talavera Mexico Jersey . Its 1987 and a Brazilian playmaker, known as Mirandinha, is being paraded around St James Park to the passionate Newcastle fans. Jorge Torres Nilo Mexico Jersey . -- Matt Kuchar and Harris English ran away with the Franklin Templeton Shootout, shooting a 14-under 58 on Sunday in the final-round scramble to break the tournament course record.HOUSTON -- Seattle Mariners right-hander Taijuan Walker has enjoyed a brief history of dominance over the Houston Astros, but his lingering health concerns might cloud his start against them on Tuesday night.Walker (4-6, 3.29 ERA) has been battling right posterior tibial tendinitis for weeks, a condition that grew so severe in June that he departed starts at Tampa Bay on June 14 and at Boston five days later (despite tossing five scoreless innings) early due to discomfort.He had his turn skipped in the rotation before returning last Thursday against Baltimore, against which he allowed one run on four hits with five strikeouts over 6 1/3 innings.Walker will make his 11th career start against the Astros, roughly one-fifth of his total number of starts. He is 5-2 with a 3.98 ERA against Houston, with 58 strikeouts in 52 innings. He has allowed two runs or less in six of his previous starts against the Astros and three runs or less in three others.How effectively he pitches Tuesday night might have more to do with how Walker feels physically than anything the Astros can muster with a game plan.Well see, Mariners manager Scott Servais said of Walker and his condition. It has crept up in every start, sometimes later in the starts, sometimes earlier. He has been able to manage it. He threw the ball very well the last time out. Were looking for the same thing (Tuesday).The Astros (44-39) will counter with ace left-hander Dallas Keuchel (5-9, 5.13 ERA), whose up-and-down season has included two starts against the Marinners (43-40) with a 0-1 record and 4.dddddddddddd85 ERA.Keuchel is 4-5 with a 3.09 ERA in 11 career appearances (10 starts) against Seattle. Given the Mariners left-handed-leaning lineup (including regulars Seth Smith, Robinson Cano, Kyle Seager and Adam Lind), Keuchel would seem perfectly positioned to enjoy a rebound.Keuchel is 2-0 with a 3.65 ERA over his last two starts, outings that followed a solid performance against Cincinnati when he allowed two runs on five hits with six strikeouts over seven innings while getting a no-decision.With six starts of at least seven innings on his ledger, Keuchel would serve Houston well to pitch efficiently. The Astros bullpen worked two scoreless innings on Monday in support of right-hander Lance McCullers and entered the Mariners series with the best ERA (2.54) in the American League since May 1.Right-handers Luke Gregerson and Will Harris combined for two strikeouts while retiring the six batters they faced. If Keuchel hands the bullpen a lead late on Tuesday, the Astros will like their chances to win.This is what they do, Astros manager A.J. Hinch said. I had (right-hander Ken) Giles up in the seventh, Lance didnt need it as he got out of it. And then Gregersons settled into the eighth-inning role. I feel confident that Luke could close any game and he probably will soon if Will needs a day off. Will continues to come in (and pitch well). ' ' '