Bedard Wins Sixth Straight for Orioles

BALTIMORE - Erik Bedard allowed one run in six innings to earn his sixth straight victory, and the Baltimore Orioles beat Tampa Bay 6-1 on Wednesday night to extend the Devil Rays' losing streak to five games.

Bedard (10-4) struck out eight - including Ty Wigginton three times - to increase his AL-leading total to 175. The left-hander gave up six hits, walked two and lowered his ERA to 3.05, fifth-best in the league.

Bedard has won four straight starts, allowing only two earned runs in 29 innings, and is 6-0 in seven outings since June 15. He is 9-3 lifetime against Tampa Bay and 28-30 against everyone else.

Corey Patterson went 3-for-4 with a double and a home run for the Orioles (46-53), who moved within seven games of .500 for the first time since June 13. Baltimore is 8-4 since the All-Star break and 17-13 under interim manager Dave Trembley.

Raul Casanova homered for the Devil Rays, who have lost 22 of 27. Tampa Bay has lost eight straight in Baltimore.

Devil Rays rookie Andy Sonnanstine (1-6) yielded five runs and seven hits in six innings. The right-hander has lost six straight decisions since earning his first major league win on June 10.

A communication breakdown by the Devil Rays enabled Baltimore to score three first-inning runs. A single and two walks loaded the bases with two outs for Ramon Hernandez, who hit a towering fly to short left. Left fielder Carl Crawford came in, shortstop Brendan Harris went out, and both backed off before the ball dropped between them for a two-run single. Jay Payton then singled in a run.

Casanova hit his sixth homer in the third, ending a run of 23 straight scoreless innings by Baltimore pitchers.

After Tampa Bay put runners on first and second with one out in the fifth, Orioles rookie shortstop Luis Hernandez made a spectacular diving snare of a grounder by B.J. Upton and started a 6-4-3 double play.

In the bottom half, Brian Roberts singled, took third on a double by Patterson and scored on a fly ball by Nick Markakis to make it 4-1.

Luis Hernandez singled in a run in the sixth and Patterson hit his fifth home run leading off the sixth.

Notes:@ Tampa Bay hitting coach Steve Henderson was ejected from the game by home plate umpire Tom Hallion for arguing a third-strike call on Upton. ... The Orioles placed closer Chris Ray (sore elbow) on the 15-day DL and recalled RHP Cory Doyne from Triple-A Norfolk. Doyne pitched a perfect eighth. ... Bedard has at least seven strikeouts in four straight games and nine of 10. ... Tampa Bay is 2-12 on the road in July.