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Wed, Aug 19, 11:06:26PM
by Associated Press
BALTIMORE -- Mike Mussina did his part. So did Cal Ripken, and Eric Davis starred in a cameo appearance. Bordick's homer gave Mussina breathing room. /AP
This time, though, the Baltimore Orioles also received a key boost from some of their role players.
Mike Bordick hit a three-run homer and newcomer Willie Greene doubled, scored a run and had a critical assist as the Orioles defeated the Tampa Bay Devil Rays 6-4 on Wednesday night.
Mussina struck out 10 over seven gritty innings to help Baltimore improve to 30-8 since the All-Star break. Ripken went 3-for-4 with an RBI to move within one hit of tying Brooks Robinson's franchise record of 2,848 career hits, and Davis chipped in with a pinch-hit RBI double.
But much credit should be given to Bordick and Greene. Bordick's eighth homer of the season _ matching a career high _ made it 3-0 in the second inning, and Greene threw out Paul Sorrento at the plate from right field with the score 3-2 in the sixth.
It was Greene's most significant contribution since joining the Orioles on Aug. 10 in a trade with the Cincinnati Reds.
``Willie throwing out that guy at the plate was probably the biggest part of the game,'' Mussina said.
Despite the victory, Baltimore remained seven games behind Boston in the wild-card race. The Red Sox beat Kansas City 11-1.
If the Orioles are to make the playoffs, they will need production from players other than their big guns, and that's exactly what happened against the Devil Rays.
``In the last month we've been riding on guys' coattails like Eric Davis, Rafael Palmeiro and obviously Robbie (Alomar),'' Bordick said. ``But it all comes down to pitching, and we've been getting some great pitching performances.''
Mussina (12-6) wasn't sensational, but he was good enough. He threw 120 pitches, allowing two runs, nine hits and a walk. The right-hander struck out Randy Winn and Kevin Stocker three times each in recording at least 10 strikeouts for the fifth time this season.
``I got the ball up a little and they got a lot of opposite-field hits, some grounders up the middle,'' he said. ``Fortunately, Willie threw out a guy from right field. That changed the whole complexion of the game.''
Tampa Bay trailed 3-1 in the sixth before Bobby Smith walked in a 14-pitch at-bat and scored on a two-out single by Sorrento. After a single by Quinton McCracken, Sorrento tried to score from second on a single by John Flaherty but was gunned down by Greene.
Bubba Trammell had three hits for the Devil Rays. Rookie Rolando Arrojo (11-10) gave up four runs and nine hits in 5 2-3 innings and fell to 0-4 in six starts since July 16.
``He was OK. I thought he threw the ball better, not as good as he has been, but better,'' Tampa Bay manager Larry Rothschild said. ``The home run by Bordick was the last thing I thought about happening.''
After Greene's play, Baltimore went up 4-2 in its half of the sixth when Greene doubled and scored on a single by Alomar.
A pinch-hit double by Davis and a run-scoring single by Ripken made it 6-2 in the seventh.
Pinch-hitter Aaron Ledesma singled in a run off Jesse Orosco and John Flaherty hit a sacrifice fly for Tampa Bay in the eighth, but Armando Benitez got six outs for his 19th save.
Down 3-0, the Devil Rays loaded the bases with no outs in the fourth, but Mussina allowed only a run-scoring grounder by McCracken.
``Bases loaded, nobody out and I only give up one run, I'll take that most of the time,'' Mussina said.
The Devil Rays, who swept a four-game series in Baltimore in May, still lead the season series 6-5. Tampa Bay needs a win in the finale Thursday to join the 1993 Colorado Rockies as the only expansion teams to win a series from a reigning division or league champion.