Major League Baseball

Chen, Jones help Orioles beat Rays 2-1

Published Sep. 19, 2015 10:06 p.m. ET

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ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) The Baltimore Orioles have not given up reaching the postseason.

Wei-Yin Chen pitched seven effective innings, Adam Jones drove in two runs and the Orioles beat the Tampa Bay Rays 2-1 on Saturday night.

Baltimore started the day 4 1-2 games behind Houston for the second AL wild-card spot.

''We're hanging in there,'' Orioles manager Buck Showalter said. ''We're trying to do what we can do to get back in this thing.''

Baltimore has won eight off 11, but would have to jump over four teams to make the playoffs.

Chen (10-7) allowed one run, six hits and struck out seven. He ended his outing by escaping a two-on, no-out jam.

Darren O'Day worked a scoreless eighth before Zach Britton got three outs for his 34th save.

Tampa Bay rookie Mikie Mahtook didn't start a day after tying a team record with five hits in a game. Manager Kevin Cash said a number of factors, including third baseman Evan Longoria being the designated hitter, led to his lineup decision.

Mahtook entered as a pinch-runner in the eighth after Grady Sizemore was hit by a pitch near his knee. Mahtook stole second, but the play was voided when Longoria was called out by plate umpire Dale Scott for interfering with catcher Matt Wieters after first hitting the catcher on a backswing.

''I guess it's kind of an umpire's discretion call,'' Longoria said. ''The throw wasn't really affected ... he made very good throw to second base, right on he money.''

Mahtook then tried to steal again second with Logan Forsythe batting and was thrown out.

''I figured if he's going with Longoria hitting, he'll probably take a shot next time, so Darren gave a good pitch to throw on,'' Wieters said.

Erasmo Ramirez (10-6) gave up two runs and nine hits over seven innings. The right-hander was coming off a start against the Yankees in which he lost a no-hit bid in the eighth.

Chris Davis had a leadoff double in the sixth for his third hit and scored on Jones' single to put Baltimore up 2-1.

After Jones had an RBI grounder in the first, the Rays tied it in the bottom half on Richie Shaffer's double.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Orioles: Pitching prospect Hunter Harvey felt discomfort in his throwing elbow at instructional league and will be examined by Dr. James Andrews ... RHP Miguel Gonzalez (right shoulder) is scheduled for a bullpen session Sunday.

Rays: Sizemore has a bruised leg, but didn't rule out playing Sunday. ... SS Asdrubal Cabrera (strained left knee) was back in the lineup and went 1 for 4 after missing three games. ... LHP Xavier Cedeno (left side) is ready to pitch. ... LHP Jake McGee (left knee) will have his second simulated game Sunday. C Curt Casali (left hamstring) will take part in the game.

GUYER'S GAME

Rays LF Brandon Guyer set a team record in the third when he was hit by a pitch for the 19th time this season. ... He had been 0 for 17 before a first-inning single.

BY THE NUMBERS

Orioles 2B Jonathan Schoop extended his career-best hitting streak to 12 games on a fourth-inning single. ... Longoria was hitless in 16 at-bats before a sixth-inning double. ... Davis is 6 for 12 against Ramirez this season.

UP NEXT

Orioles RHP Kevin Gausman (3-6) and Rays RHP Jake Odorizzi (8-8) will start the finale of the four-game series Sunday.