Baltimore Orioles Blast Past Tampa Bay Rays 7-4 In 2013 Season Opener

April 2, 2012; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; Baltimore Orioles designated hitter Chris Davis (19) is congratulated by center fielder Adam Jones (10) and catcher Matt Wieters (32) after he hit a 3-run home run against the Tampa Bay Rays in the seventh inning during opening day at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

Jason Hammel and the Baltimore Orioles opened the 2013 season on the road against David Price and the Tampa Bay Rays.

At the top of the first, the Orioles put themselves on the board with a two-run home run from C Matt Wieters. The Rays did not respond until the bottom of the fourth, when RF Ben Zobrist hit a solo bomb to right.

From then on it seemed like the Rays had taken control, scoring two more runs in the bottom of the sixth. The Orioles were not able to match that momentum. Once the Rays caught up to Hammel, he was taken out and replaced with Jake McGee. The Orioles were down 3-2.

That didn’t even last half an inning, for at the top of the seventh the Orioles offense put up five runs. CF Adam Jones doubled to deep left center, scoring Brian Roberts and Nick Markakis. Wieters was intentionally, which brought up 1B Chris Davis, who hit a three-run homerun to right.

So the ball was back in the Rays court, but they were only able to put one more run together. Closer Jim Johnson came on in the bottom of the ninth to seal the win for Baltimore. In all the Orioles looked like a complete team, commanding pitching, sound defense that only amounted for 1 error, and an offense that got runs when they needed them.

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