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Jones, Machado HRs help Orioles beat skidding Rays 6-3

BALTIMORE (AP) The gap between the AL East-leading Baltimore Orioles and the last-place Tampa Bay Rays keeps getting wider.

Adam Jones homered to ignite a four-run sixth inning, and the Orioles extended the Rays' losing streak to eight games with a 6-3 victory Friday night.

The reason why Baltimore is 42-30 and the Rays are a season-high nine games under .500 (31-40) was made apparent in the fashion in which this one played out.

After falling into an early 3-0 hole, the Orioles finally got their first baserunner against Matt Moore (3-5) in the fifth inning and turned the game around in the sixth.

Then Manny Machado capped the comeback with his 18th home run in the eighth, a drive that effectively marked his return from a four-game suspension for charging the mound in a game against the Royals on June 7.

''It feels good to be back on the field and part of something,'' Machado said. ''It's a special thing we have here going on. And being away from it a couple days was a downer. I was just excited to be back around my teammates and get a win.''

Rookie Ashur Tolliver (1-0) got two outs in the sixth to earn his first major league win and Zach Britton worked the ninth for his 22nd save.

Corey Dickerson homered for the Rays, who are mired in their longest skid since a 10-game run in 2014. Tampa Bay has given up at least five runs in eight consecutive games.

''They're all frustrating, whether you lose it early or a game gets away from you,'' manager Kevin Cash said.

Tampa Bay led 3-1 in the sixth before Jones hit his 14th homer, Chris Davis added a two-run single and Mark Trumbo scored on a Tampa Bay throwing error.

The uprising wiped out a fast start by the Rays, who scored three runs before right-hander Yovani Gallardo got an out.

Logan Forsythe led off with a double, Dickerson homered on the game's fifth pitch and Evan Longoria followed with a double. Cleanup hitter Logan Morrison made it 3-0 with an RBI single, and Brad Miller drew a walk before Gallardo finally got an out.

But Gallardo settled down, keeping the Orioles within striking distance.

''The guys are going to hit. They've showed it throughout the year and it's definitely a good feeling as a starting pitcher,'' Gallardo said.

Moore retired the first 13 batters with an assist from outfielders Desmond Jennings and Taylor Motter. Both reached above the outfield wall to snag deep flies.

After Motter robbed Jones in the fourth, Baltimore's leadoff hitter feigned crying as he rounded first base.

The scenario was much different in the sixth, when Jones hit a drive well beyond Motter's reach and into the seats in left.

Moore gave up five runs, seven hits and a walk in 6 2/3 innings. After his run of 13 straight outs, the left-hander permitted seven of the next nine batters to reach.

ROSTER MOVES

Following the game, the Rays optioned RHP Steve Geltz to make room for OF Oswaldo Arcia, acquired earlier in the day from Minnesota. Arcia will join the team on Saturday.

Geltz has a 6.75 ERA after yielding Machado's homer.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Rays: OF Brandon Guyer (left hamstring strain) took live batting practice, ran out of the box and shagged flies in Florida. ... RHP Ryan Webb (right pectoral strain) allowed one run and two hits in one inning for Triple-A Durham in his fourth rehab outing.

Orioles: LHP Brian Duensing underwent surgery to remove bone chips from his elbow. ... Setup man Darren O'Day (right hamstring strain) will throw off a full mound Saturday. ... If C Caleb Joseph (testicular injury) shows no ill effects from catching Monday at Class-A Frederick, he could return as soon as Wednesday, manager Buck Showalter said.

UP NEXT

Rays: Matt Andriese (6-0, 2.88 ERA) and Jake Odorizzi (3-3, 3.63) will start for the Rays in a split doubleheader Saturday. The opener is a makeup of a rainout on April 9.

Orioles: Kevin Gausman (0-5, 4.37) seeks his first win in the opener and Chris Tillman (10-1, 3.11) vies for his 10th straight victory in the nightcap.

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