Rays' bullpen strategy leads to historic 5-inning save

The Tampa Bay Rays' bullpen experiment has resulted in one of the weirdest - and rarest - saves in Major League Baseball history.

Reliever Sergio Romo started the game against the Baltimore Orioles on Sunday and allowed three runs off two hits and was pulled after recording just one out. Vidal Nuno would come on in relief and pitch three scoreless innings before handing the ball over to Austin Pruitt with one out in the fourth and the Rays leading 7-3.

Pruitt would throw a team-high 5 2/3 shutout innings, and would be credited with the save, becoming the first pitcher to throw at least five innings and record a save in the regular season since Joaquin Benoit did it with the Texas Rangers in 2002. Benoit threw seven innings, according to ESPN.

It was the second save of Pruitt's career.

Romo has started four games since May 19, pitching a combined 3 1/3 innings.