Tampa Bay Rays

Steven Souza Jr. homers for third straight game as Rays top Orioles

Published May. 31, 2015 5:09 p.m. ET

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BALTIMORE (AP) -- This was payback for all the times Jake Odorizzi pitched brilliantly without getting a win to show for it.

Steve Souza Jr. homered for the third time in three games, and the Tampa Bay Rays provided Odorizzi a rare display of offensive support in a 9-5 victory over the Baltimore Orioles on Sunday.

Souza hit a three-run drive off Chris Tillman (2-7) in the fifth inning for a 6-2 lead. His 10 home runs are tops among AL rookies and twice that of any teammate.

David DeJesus also homered and Joey Butler had a career-high four hits for the Rays, who took two of three for their first series win in five tries since mid-May.

Odorizzi (4-5) came in with a 2.31 ERA but had lost three straight starts due primarily to lack of offensive backing. The Rays have tallied six runs in his five losses, and their output Sunday was more than in his previous four starts combined.

Odorizzi allowed four runs and seven hits in six-plus innings. The right-hander yielded three home runs -- one more than in his previous 10 starts.

"It wasn't my best outing," Odorizzi said. "It's odd, I think that's the most runs I've given up all year and get a win for it. I guess if that's what it takes to get a win I'll be happy to do it every time out."

Brad Boxberger, the sixth Tampa Bay pitcher, got two outs for his 15th save.

Delmon Young and Manny Machado had two home runs apiece for the Orioles, who had 10 hits.

"We had a lot of opportunities out there," manager Buck Showalter said. "That was good to see against one of the better pitchers in the league."

Tillman gave up five earned runs and nine hits in his career-high sixth straight defeat. Each of the three batters he walked came around to score.

"I am making some good pitches, but not enough," Tillman said. "When I'm falling behind, I'm not making that quality pitch to get out of it. It's frustrating."

It was 2-all in the fifth when Tillman walked Evan Longoria after opening the inning with two strikeouts. DeJesus followed with an infield hit and Logan Forsythe singled in a run before Souza ripped a 3-2 pitch over the center-field wall.

"Logan put together a good at bat before me, which kind of took the wind out of (Tillman's) sails," Souza said.

DeJesus connected off Oliver Drake in the seventh, and Machado chased Odorizzi with a two-run drive in the bottom half.

Odorizzi has gone at least six innings in 11 straight starts, tied for second place in the team record book behind James Shields (14).

After Young put the Orioles ahead in the first inning with his first homer of the season, Tampa Bay took the lead in the second.

Young connected again in the third to knot the score at 2. It was his fourth career multihomer game, the first since August 2011 with Minnesota.

The Rays collected three singles, two doubles and a pair of walks in the first four innings but went 1 for 9 with runners in scoring position.

All that changed in the fifth, and Tampa Bay cruised to the finish.

"We didn't capitalize on some opportunities," manager Kevin Cash said, "but then Souza comes up with a huge hit to give us a little separation."

ON STRIKE

Rays: OF Kevin Kiermaier struck out four consecutive times before hitting a double in the eighth inning.

Orioles: DH Jimmy Paredes struck out twice and is 1 for 20 with 11 Ks in his last five games.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Rays: 2B Tim Beckham was placed on the 15-day DL. Beckham injured his hamstring Saturday and did not play Sunday. A corresponding move will be made Monday. ... RHP Matt Moore (elbow surgery) could start this week in extended spring training or for Class A Charlotte, Cash said.

Orioles: CF Adam Jones missed a second straight game with a mild sprained left ankle. ... Bud Norris (bronchitis) will pitch to Matt Wieters (elbow) for Triple-A Norfolk on Tuesday.

UP NEXT

Rays: Tampa Bay continues a 10-game road trip on the West Coast against the Angels on Monday.

Orioles: Baltimore leaves the Eastern time zone for the first time this season, facing the Astros in the opener of a four-game series.