by Steve Carney

Tampa Bay got seven brilliant inning from Alex Cobb, and Chris Gimenez's two-run double in the bottom of the eighth proved to be the difference as Tampa Bay defeated Baltimore 5-3 Monday.

Cobb started by retiring the first ten Orioles batters in a row before J.J. Hardy's slicing single to left with one out in the fourth.

Ben Zobrist got the scoring started in the bottom of the fourth with a solo homer, his 20th, off Orioles starter Wei-Yin Chen.

The game remained 1-0 until the top of the seventh, when Alex Cobb made his only mistake pitch, which Matt Wieters hit over the small wall by the left-field foul pole for Baltimore's second hit to tie up the game.

However, Tampa Bay took the lead for good in the bottom of the frame, as Evan Longoria reached on an error by Manny Machado.  He moved to third base on a single by Jeff Keppinger, and scored on a sacrifice fly by Ben Francisco.

Sam Fuld's grounder to first then hopped over Mark Reynolds's head, allowing pinch-runner Rich Thompson to go to third base, and Chris Gimenez's double brought in both runners to make it 4-1.

Cobb earned his 11th win by going six innings and allowing just the one run on two hits.

Tampa Bay added insurance in the eighth, as B.J. Upton doubled to lead off the frame, moved to third on a groundout by Zobrist, and after Longoria drew a walk, scored on a fielder's choice by Carlos Pena.

Kyle Farnsworth allowed a leadoff single by Hardy before Chris Davis lauched a pitch off the C-ring for a two-run blast to make it 5-3.  Joe Maddon then turned to Fernando Rodney, who allowed hits to Adam Jones and Wieters, but struck out Jim Thome and Mark Reynolds and got Endy Chavez to ground back to the mound for his 47th save, extending his franchise record.

James Shields (15-9, 3.62 ERA) will make his final start of the regular season Tuesday, taking on Miguel Gonzalez (8-4, 3.45 ERA).  Coverage on 620 WDAE starts at 7, with first pitch at 7:10.