BALTIMORE, Sept. 12 (UPI) -- Jeff Niemann tossed 7 2/3 strong innings Monday and the Tampa Bay Rays tightened the American League playoff picture with a 5-2 win over Baltimore.
Niemann (10-7) held the Orioles to two runs on six hits, walking two and striking out five for the Rays, who pulled to within three games of idle Boston in the AL wild-card race, with their eighth win in nine contests.
Ben Zobrist went 3-for-5, delivering a two-run double in the first inning and an RBI single in the seventh.
Sean Rodriguez and Johnny Damon each contributed an RBI as Tampa Bay began an 11-game road trip with a victory.
Baltimore's Zach Britton (9-10) was touched for four runs on five hits in a five-inning effort.
Matt Wieters socked a solo homer for the Orioles.
