BALTIMORE -- The Tampa Bay Rays apparently have no intention of sleepwalking to the finish of a disappointing season.Although the Rays have been eliminated from playoff contention, they gave the Baltimore Orioles all they could handle Friday night before falling 5-4.Unlike Tampa Bay, Baltimore is in full-blown playoff mode. The Orioles are locked in a duel for the top spot in the AL East and competing for, at worst, one of the two wild cards.Tampa Bay went up 4-0 in the second inning and fell behind 5-4 in the eighth before nearly pulling even in the ninth against Baltimores perfect closer, Zach Britton.With two outs, Mike Mahtook singled off the second base bag. Alexei Ramirez followed with a liner to left, and Mahtook wheeled toward home. The relay from Michael Bourn to third baseman Manny Machado to catcher Matt Wieters easily beat him there.I knew it was going to be close, just based on the way Alexi hit the ball, Mahtook said. Left-field line, it wasnt like he had super long way to run for it. I was on the move, he made a good play, and they were able to get me.Evan Longoria hit his career-high 34th homer and Richie Shaffer also connected for the last-place Rays.Tampa Bay starter Chris Archer allowed three runs in 6 1/3 innings and struck out four to increase his AL-leading total to 221. The 18-game loser also avoided setting a franchise record for losses in a season.Cant say Im pleased with the way things went, the right-hander said. We lost the game.Archer was replaced after giving up successive one-out singles in the seventh. Danny Farquhar hit Adam Jones with a pitch to load the bases for Hyun Soo Kim, who hit a deep liner to center. Kevin Kiermaier leaped with his back to the 7-foot wall, grasped the ball and brought it back onto the field before it popped from his glove.Thats a grand slam with any other center fielder, Rays manager Kevin Cash said.Kim was limited to an RBI single, and Farquhar struck out Machado and Davis.But Baltimore would not be denied in the eighth against wild reliever Brad Boxberger (4-2).Two walks and a hit batter loaded the bases for J.J. Hardy, who tied it with an infield single. Bourn followed with a fly ball to left field, and pinch-runner Nolan Reimold easily scored as the throw was cut off.Brad Brach (9-3) worked the eighth and Britton escaped with his 44th save in 44 tries.If we get to where were looking for, Orioles starter Ubaldo Jimenez said, its one of those games that you can point out: What was the game that made the difference?Longoria homered off Ubaldo Jimenez with a man on in the first inning and Shaffer went deep in the second for a 4-0 lead.Pedro Alvarez hit his 21st home run in the second for Baltimore and Chris Davis delivered No. 38 in the fourth. Davis also struck out twice and has 201 for the year.Baltimores Mark Trumbo, the major league home run leader with 42, was sidelined with back spasms. It was only the second game hes missed this season.OUT IN LEFT FIELDBrad Miller usually plays shortstop or first base for the Rays. In an effort to gauge Millers versatility and add flexibility to the roster, Cash started him in left field.It didnt take long for Miller to get noticed: The second Baltimore batter of the game hit a pop to left that glanced off Millers glove for an error.The glove was borrowed from Farquhar.TRAINERS ROOMRays: 1B Nick Franklin, who strained his hamstring on Thursday, was held from the game. Cash listed him day-to-day.Orioles: RHP Darren ODay (rotator cuff strain) threw 26 pitches in a simulated game and could be activated Sunday or Monday. ... OF Joey Rickard (thumb) took a couple of practice swings, and it did not go well, manager Buck Showalter said.UP NEXTRays: Matt Adriese (7-7, 4.46 ERA) starts Saturday night, coming off his first career win against the Yankees on Sunday. The right-hander is 0-3 with a 9.24 ERA lifetime vs. Baltimore.Orioles: Chris Tillman (16-5, 3.68) makes his second start since being activated from the DL with right shoulder bursitis. He beat Detroit on Sunday.Detroit Tigers Gear . -- The Portland Timbers and Real Salt Lake played to a 0-0 tie Saturday night that left the top of the Western Conference standings unchanged. Detroit Tigers Store . Numbers Game examines the deal that sees Michael Del Zotto and Kevin Klein switch places. The Predators Get: D Michael Del Zotto. https://www.cheaptigers.com/ . Brazilian national coach Luiz Felipe Scolari has confirmed that the veteran goalkeeper is set to join Toronto on loan, saying it will help him be ready for the World Cup. Tigers Jerseys 2020 . Defencemen Drew Doughty, Shea Weber and forward Ryan Getzlaf also scored for the Canadians, who started their gold-medal defence 2-0. Goalie Roberto Luongo, getting the call in place of Game 1 starter Carey Price, was solid when needed in making 23 saves for the shutout. Tigers Jerseys 2019 . You can watch the game live on TSN at 7:30pm et/4:30pm pt. The Flyers had won seven of eight before dropping their last two outings on consecutive days over the weekend. Philadelphia was handed a 6-3 loss by the visiting Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday afternoon before dropping a 4-1 decision to the Rangers the following night in New York City.NORMAN, Okla. -- A year ago, Texas coach Charlie Strong strengthened his shaky job status with an upset win over Oklahoma.He could use another one in this years edition of the Red River Rivalry against the 20th-ranked Sooners Saturday in Dallas.Strongs Longhorns (2-2, 0-1 Big 12) opened this season with a win over Notre Dame that energized their demanding fans. But allowing 50 and 49 points in losses to California and Oklahoma State prompted a comment from athletic director Mike Perrin, and changes followed. Strong, a former defensive coordinator, took the defensive controls from Vance Bedford this week in hopes that a personal touch can sway the teams fortunes.I dont think its desperate measures, Strong said. Talking to defensive staff, they understand what we need to get done. Ive done it before. I see where I can help. Sometimes you need new energy and eyes.Oklahomas season hasnt been a picnic either. The Sooners (2-2, 1-0) entered the season ranked No. 3 and with hopes of competing for a national title after reaching the College Football Playoff last season, but that goal faded after losses to Houston and Ohio State.All is not lost. The Sooners won their conference opener at No. 21 TCU last Saturday , and a victory over the Longhorns would give the Sooners wins over two of the Big 12s most talented teams in their bid for another league title.With all the disappointment each team already has encountered, and the heat rising for Strong and Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops, neither can afford to lose to their top rival.From an emotional standpoint, this is a street fight, Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield said. Thats absolutely what this is. Theres no hiding that. This is the biggest rivalry in college football. You get in that tunnel and theres nothing nice to be said. They dont like us and we dont like them.Here are some things to watch heading into this years matchup.TEXAS NO STEPTexas running back Chris Warren III is out indefinitely after injuring his right knee Saturday against Oklahoma State. Warren missed the second half against Oklahoma State after rushing for 106 yarrds on 10 carries in the first half.dddddddddddd Leading rusher DOnta Foreman left the Oklahoma State game in the third quarter with an abdominal injury after churning out 148 yards rushing and two touchdowns. Strong said he expects Foreman to play Saturday.MIXON IT UPOklahomas Joe Mixon can be found all over the field. The sophomore running back ranks fourth nationally in all-purpose yards with 191.5 per game. He has 340 yards rushing, 242 on kickoff returns, 162 receiving and 22 on punt returns. He returned a kickoff 97 yards for a touchdown against Ohio State.EVANS RETIRESOklahoma linebacker Tay Evans has retired from football after dealing with concussions. It was difficult news for his teammates to hear.The guy had been starting, and really had an incredible future, but we want the best for him moving forward in his life first and foremost, Stoops said.It will worth watching to see how Oklahomas already struggling defense handles losing a significant player. Emmanuel Beal, who had eight tackles against TCU last Saturday, is expected to fill the slot.SWOOPING INReserve quarterback Tyrone Swoopes is handling business for Texas in short yardage and red zone situations. He has five multi-touchdown rushing games in his past 13 outings, and had two scores last Saturday against Oklahoma State.FAVORITE TARGET?Mayfield has been searching for someone to replace Sterling Shepards production from last season for the Sooners. Dede Westbrook showed he might be the guy with seven catches for 158 yards and two touchdowns last week against TCU. He had touchdowns receptions of 67 and 40 yards against the Horned Frogs. He has recovered from an unspecified injury that cost him some of his speed earlier in the season.You talk about the explosive part of his game, which is what makes him so special, Mayfield said. I mean, hes got such unique speed and top level speed. When hes able to use it, he benefits from it.---Follow Cliff Brunt on Twitter (at)CliffBruntAP ' ' '
