BALTIMORE -- A poor start by Yovani Gallardo and an abundance of missed scoring opportunities cost the Baltimore Orioles a chance to enhance their position in the playoff picture.Evan Longoria homered and drove in five runs, and the last-place Tampa Bay Rays again played the spoilers role in a 7-6 victory over the Orioles on Thursday night.Baltimore dropped two games behind AL East-leading Boston and fell even with Toronto in the loss column in the race for the top wild-card spot, pending the Blue Jays late game against the Angels.Gallardo (5-8) gave up six runs and seven hits in 3 1/3 innings.When Orioles manager Buck Showalter emerged from the dugout to pull Gallardo in the fourth, many of the hometown fans cheered. They subsequently booed the right-hander as he walked toward the dugout.In spite of this, Baltimore had runners on the corners with one out in the ninth inning before Alex Colome struck out major league home run leader Mark Trumbo and slugger Chris Davis to earn his 33rd save.Its a tough loss because we fought back and had a chance there at the end, catcher Matt Wieters said.Baltimore went 3 for 15 with runners in scoring position.Tampa Bay has won three straight, including the last two of a three-game series in Toronto. The Rays also defeated the wild-card contending Yankees on Sunday.Its fun that we are playing competitive baseball, Longoria said. Its one thing to go out in a great environment against a team that is a playoff contender, but to be in the game and winning games is the best thing about it.Longoria hit his career high-tying 33rd homer with two on in the first inning and added a two-run single in the fourth to increase his team-high RBI total to 91.Coming off a 6-3 road trip culminated with two successive wins in Boston, the Orioles fell flat against a team they dominated for much of the season. Baltimore is now 11-5 against Tampa Bay, 6-1 at home.First game back home, you obviously want to get home and start off on a good note, Gallardo said. Ive been feeling good my past few starts, and I was just a little off.Although the temperature was a comfortable 72 degrees and the Orioles are in the midst of a playoff push, the game attracted an announced crowd of only 19,233.Longoria put the Rays up 3-0 before Gallardo got an out. In 21 starts this season, hes surrendered 21 earned runs in the first inning.Baltimore answered in the bottom half with a two-run single by Wieters and a two-run double by J.J. Hardy.Tampa Bay pulled even in the second, went ahead in the third and used Longorias two-run single to make it 7-4 in the fourth.Baltimores Nolan Reimold hit into a double play with runners on the corners in the fourth. The Rays worked out of an even bigger jam in the fifth, retiring Manny Machado, Trumbo and Davis with runners at second and third.Brad Boxberger (4-1) got the last two outs in the fifth.Run-scoring groundouts by Hardy and Michael Bourn made it 7-6 in the eighth.Tampa Bay avoided being eliminated from playoff contention, but a Toronto victory against the Angels later Thursday would mathematically end the Rays chances of reaching the postseason.TRAINERS ROOMRays: 1B Nick Franklin left in the fifth inning with a left hamstring strain. Hes day to day, manager Kevin Cash said. ... 1B Logan Morrison will get a second opinion on whether surgery is required for his season-ending left wrist injury. Morrison was injured while taking a swing Sunday and received an MRI this week.Orioles: OF Steve Pearce will be sidelined until the final week of the season, maybe longer, after receiving a platelet-rich plasma injection in his throwing arm Wednesday. ... RHP Darren ODay (rotator cuff strain) will throw a simulated game Friday.UP NEXTRays: Chris Archer (8-18, 4.05 ERA) starts Friday night, seeking to pad his AL-leading strikeout total of 217. He also hopes to avoid setting the franchise record for losses in a season. The right-hander is currently tied with Tanyon Sturtze, who lost 18 in 2002.Orioles: RHP Ubaldo Jimenez (7-11, 5.98) strives to win his fourth straight start. Hes got a 2.83 ERA in his last four outings. 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Wholesale Magic Jerseys . - After leading the Saints to a fourth playoff appearance in five seasons, Drew Brees expressed confidence in the direction of his team and, perhaps more importantly, showed a willingness to listen to contract proposals if the team needs his help getting under the NFLs salary cap. PLAYER RATINGS FOR THE MAROONS FOR STATE OF ORIGIN III:1. DARIUS BOYD - Struggled to get involved, especially with NSW dominating possession. Pounced to score another Origin try but it wouldnt be the match-winner. 62. COREY OATES - Tried to get involved at times through the middle to ease burden on forwards and ran over 140 metres. 73. GREG INGLIS - Started brilliantly with his 18th Origin try and ran for 120 metres, got through plenty of defence too. 6.54. JUSTIN ONEILL - A solid effort to complete an impressive debut Origin campaign. Makes some very good reads in defence. 65. DANE GAGAI - Went missing at times. A disappointing end to an otherwise strong series. 56. JOHNATHAN THURSTON - Was probably kept too busy in defence to really trouble the NSW line with the ball. Also missed two shots on goal. Still had a hand in two of Queenslands tries however. 67. COOPER CRONK - Sin-binned in the first half for a professional foul. Made a sensational tackle to stop James Tedesco in the dying minutes. Gives his all. 6.58. MATT SCOTT - The veteran prop got through a mountain of work in his time on the field, its just a shame he was only out there for 43 minutes. 69. CAMERON SMITH (c) - Named man of the series and Queenslands best on the night.ddddddddddddJust oozes class every time he plays. 810. NATE MYLES - Came into the game under an injury cloud and only played 30 minutes. Time may be up for this Maroon warrior. 5.511. MATT GILLETT - Some are speculating he could be Smiths successor as captain. Had a great night in a beaten team. 7.512. SAM THAIDAY - Solid effort but also only played 44 minutes. 613. COREY PARKER - Leaves Origin having given it all. His 19th game for his state was like the others, whole-hearted and full of effort. One of the Maroons best. 7.5INTERCHANGE:14. GAVIN COOPER - Scored a try on debut running alongside good mate Thurston. A long wait for the chance but didnt let his state down. 6.515. JOSH McGUIRE- Lots of energy off the bench. Has become a real Origin player and should be given a starting role next year. 716. AIDEN GUERRA - Might find his Queensland spot in jeopardy. A quiet night in a quiet series during a quiet season. 5.517. JACOB LILLYMAN - Solid effort off the bench without being spectacular. 6 ' ' '
