O's lose to Rays, fall out of first-place tie

ST. PETERSBURG, Fl. - A ninth inning rally by the Baltimore Orioles came up short Monday night against the Tampa Bay Rays, 5-3, in St. Petersburg, dropping the O's from a first-place tie with New York. The Yankees pounded the Boston Red Sox 10-2 in the Bronx, taking a one-game lead over the Birds.

Orioles starting pitcher Wei-Yin Chin (12-11) pitched strong against Tampa Bay, before the Rays got to him for three runs in the 7th. The Orioles scored two runs in the top of the ninth inning and put the tying runs on bases, before Tampa Bay closer Fernando Rodney ended the game.

The Orioles, who clinched their first post-season berth since 1997, close out the season with two more games against the Rays. They can still win the division outright if they sweep the rest of the series and the Yankees drop their remaining games against the Red Sox.