A Jonathan Schoop homer broke an eighth-inning tie in a 4-3 Baltimore Orioles win over Tampa Bay on Friday night.
Another nailbiter for the Cardiac O’s (52-36), who improved to 10-8 in one-run games in 2016, and maintain a two-game lead on second-place Boston in the AL East.
It was another night in which manager Buck Showalter relied on his bullpen, which allowed just one hit in four scoreless innings in relief of starter Yovani Gallardo (3-1, 5.77 ERA, 1.76 WHIP), who allowed three runs on eight hits in five innings of work, striking out two and walking four.
Mychal Givens (7-1, 3.27 ERA, 1.43 WHIP) picked up the win in relief. Brad Brach (16 holds, 0.81 ERA, 0.89 WHIP) pitched a perfect eighth, and closer Zach Britton (28 saves, 0.70 ERA, 0.85 ERA) pitched around a hit and a walk to finish the game out in the ninth.
Schoop (.303/.337/.515, 15 HR, 53 RBI) and Pedro Alvarez (.254/.323/.486, 10 HR, 28 RBI) each went deep for Baltimore in the win.
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Chris Graham
