Baltimore, MD (Sports Network) - Matt Garza twirled eight strong innings, as Tampa Bay shut down struggling Baltimore, 5-1, to open a three-game set at Camden Years.
Garza (2-0) gave up just one run on six hits with three walks and five strikeouts. Carl Crawford finished a perfect 4-for-4 with his first home run of the campaign and Reid Brignac homered and drove home a pair of runs for the Rays, who rebounded after back-to-back losses to the Yankees.
Jeremy Guthrie (0-2) was saddled with the loss, giving up three runs on eight hits with five strikeouts over seven innings. Felix Pie hit a solo home run, accounting for Baltimore's only run in its fourth straight defeat and sixth in seven games to open the season.
"I've had two starts and I've been outpitched twice by Matt," said Guthrie.
After taking a first-pitch fastball from Garza, Pie squared up the next heater from the right-hander, launching his first home run of the season to right- center field in the first.
Brignac joined the party in the third, hitting his first homer of the season to right field to tie the game. The Rays could have taken the lead later in the frame, but Pie showed off his arm by throwing out Jason Bartlett at home plate on a Crawford single.
Tampa Bay broke the tie with a two-spot in the sixth. Crawford doubled to right then Ben Zobrist hit a fly ball that Pie just missed in left, resulting in an RBI triple. Evan Longoria then skied a sacrifice fly to center for a 3-1 game.
Crawford's solo shot in the eighth added on to Tampa Bay's lead. Crawford turned on a 2-1 curveball, driving it over the high wall in right for a 4-1 margin.
Brignac drove home B.J. Upton with the game's final tally in the ninth.
"We are talking about playing well late. Great add-on runs late," said Rays manager Joe Maddon.
Game Notes
Garza improved to 8-1 in his career versus the Orioles. The right-hander also beat Guthrie in a contest last week...Zobrist was 2-for-4 with a run scored and an RBI in the victory...Baltimore catcher Matt Wieters finished 1-for-3 and is batting .400 his season...Crawford raised his early batting average to .375.
