Published: Friday, Oct. 02, 2009

Updated: Friday, Oct. 02, 2009

Maddon knows how Orioles feel

ST. PETERSBURG — Joe Maddon knew how Dave Trembley felt during the final inning of Thursday night’s game at Tropicana Field.

Maddon endured an 11-game losing streak this season. Trembley was suffering through a losing streak that seemed headed for 14 games as the Tampa Bay Rays mounted a ninth-inning rally against the Baltimore Orioles.

“It’s agonizing,” Maddon said of watching his team secure the final outs in the slump-busting win.

The Orioles held on for a 3-2 win and denied themselves the opportunity of tying the 1954 Orioles for the second-longest losing skid in team history.

“Oh, man, I can’t explain it to you,” Trembley said after the game. “We’ve got music on in the clubhouse, and I’m drinking something other than a diet soda.”

Orioles starter Chris Waters won for the first time since Sept. 16, 2008, when he held the Rays to just one run in five innings.

“That’s the kind of guy that can give us a hard time,” Maddon said. “That soft lefty.”

The Rays managed just two hits through eight innings — a double by Willy Aybar in the second inning and a solo homer by Ben Zobrist in the fourth.

They got three hits in the ninth, starting with a leadoff double by Zobrist, who eventually scored on a sacrifice fly by Pat Burrell. A pinch-hit single by Gregg Zaun put runners at second and third with two outs, but Baltimore’s Jim Johnson got Akinori Iwamura to bounce back to the mound for the final out of the night.

The Orioles’ losing streak was the longest in the majors this season and the longest in the majors since the Pittsburgh Pirates dropped 13 in June 2006.

The Orioles also avoided the longest winless road trip in team history with only their seventh road victory against an AL East opponent this season.

“Time stood still for 15 seconds, then I had to let the moment set in a bit,” Trembley said of seeing Johnson field Iwamura’s grounder for the final out. “I’m just glad this thing is over with. It’s been something I haven’t been able to explain. I’m just glad for our guys and our fans.”

Babe Zobrist

Or is it Ben Ruth?

Zobrist hit his 27th home runs of the season Thursday. It was his third home run during the four-game series and his seventh against the Orioles this season.

“(Waters) stayed away from the middle of the plate, except to Babe Ruth over there,” Trembley said. “I’m glad that’s over with. I thought he was no longer out there, but he’s been reincarnated against us this year.”

Zobrist batted .407 against the Orioles this season with 18 RBIs, nine doubles and a triple. He does not have more than three home runs or nine RBIs against any other team.

Runs and more runs

With their two runs Thursday, the Rays set a franchise record for runs in a season with 783, topping the old mark of 782 set in 2007.

Noteworthy

Willy Aybar had hit safely in 14 of his last 15 games. He’s batting .333 with two home runs, nine RBI and four doubles during that stretch. He stole third base in the second inning for his first steal of the season ... Zobrist started in left field and made a diving catch off Matt Wieters in the fifth inning ... Matt Garza finished the year 5-5 at the Trop despite a 3.24 ERA in 17 starts. He was 3-7 with a 4.85 ERA on the road. It was Garza’s first career loss to the Orioles ... The Rays are 20-25 in one-run games. They were 29-18 in one-run games in 2008 ... Expect everyone on the Rays roster to see action during the weekend series with the Yankees.