DENVER For years, Joe Maddon just expected his team to somehow find a way pull out a tight game on the road.
Thats what they did, and thats what they were known for. So the Tampa Bay manager simply got used to their late-inning theatrics.
This season, the same kind of magic just hasnt been there. Well, until now.
Evan Longoria hit a tiebreaking single in the 10th inning, and Kelly Johnson later added a two-run homer, helping the Rays to a 7-4 win over the Colorado Rockies on Friday night.
Thats who we normally are win late and on the road, Maddon said. Were breaking in a lot of new guys. Were just not together and in sync yet. But we will be. Thats the kind of game I expect our team to win late, tight, on the road.
Desmond Jennings also had a two-run homer for the Rays, who improved to 3-4 on their road trip after having a game in Kansas City snowed out the day before.
Ben Zobrist led off the 10th with a double to left off reliever Matt Belisle (1-2), setting the stage for Longoria. Johnson provided some insurance by lining his fourth homer of the season just over the wall in right-center.
For that, Johnson can thank the lineup card for inspiration. Written in black marker on the card scribbled across the names of players is a saying the Rays jokingly have adopted: Swing for homers, and singles will come.
In this case, the reverse held true. Johnson wasnt looking to homer, just put a pitch on a 1-2 count somewhere in play. Johnson was so elated over the homer that he hugged bench coach Dave Martinez.
After all, Martinez encouraged Johnson to swing for the fences.
Right before going on deck, I said, Hey, do I need to bunt here if Matt Joyce walks? Johnson said. (Martinez) goes, Bunt for a hit. When Joyce popped out, he immediately goes, Just hit a home run.
Kyle Farnsworth (1-0) earned the win by pitching a perfect ninth, and Fernando Rodney picked up his fourth save in five chances, striking out Eric Young Jr. with two on to end the game.
Michael Cuddyer had a two-run homer, and Josh Rutledge hit a solo shot as the Rockies started interleague play on the wrong track at home once again. The Rockies were 0-9 against AL teams at Coors Field last season.
Colorado squandered a chance to score with the bases loaded and one out in the eighth. Reliever Jake McGee struck out Young on a 96-mph fastball before handing the ball over to Brandon Gomes, who threw a nasty curve that Jordan Pacheco took for a called third strike.
We had a few opportunities to win that game, but we didnt get the hit, manager Walt Weiss said. We couldnt get it (Friday night).
Matt Moore received his first taste of pitching at Coors Field and it was pretty sour. At least, it was by his standards of late.
Moore lasted five innings and surrendered four runs, matching the total he had given up in his last five starts combined. He also allowed a season-high seven hits in the no-decision.
The Rays lefty had won five in a row before Friday, entering the contest with a 1.13 earned run average second-best in the AL only to see it creep up to 1.95 by the end of the night.
He did not look comfortable, Maddon said. But he got us through five. I thought he (did) well without nearly his good stuff.
Moore was at his best when the Rockies had something brewing in the fourth. He walked Jonathan Herrera and starter Jeff Francis to begin the inning. With Moore struggling to find the strike zone, Dexter Fowler put down a bunt to advance the runners.
Only, the speedy Fowler hurt his right hip flexor when he bumped into first baseman Sean Rodriguez in a close play at the bag. Moore then wiggled out of the jam by striking out Pacheco and Carlos Gonzalez.
After the inning, Fowler was replaced in center field by Young.
Its fine, Fowler said after the game. It just tightened up on me. I knew it wasnt that serious. I just tweaked it a little bit.
The Rays took a 4-3 lead in the fifth when Jennings hit a two-run homer off Francis.
However, Moore couldnt hold it as he surrendered an RBI double to Nolan Arenado in the bottom of the fifth.
Down 3-0 in the third, the Rays finally solved the soft-throwing Francis. Ryan Roberts and Zobrist each had run-scoring doubles.
With All-Star shortstop Troy Tulowitzki out of the starting lineup with soreness in his legs, Cuddyer was bumped up to the cleanup spot. It paid off in the first as he launched a two-run homer to deep center, his sixth of the season.
Lefty David Price will take the mound Saturday for the first time since his run-in with umpire Tom Hallion.
The AL Cy Young Award winner accused Hallion of directing a profanity toward him during the Rays win over the Chicago White Sox last Sunday. Price thought Hallion missed a pitch and exchanged words with the plate umpire while heading to the dugout after the seventh inning.
Price doesnt expect any repercussions from the crew working the game.
I dont think umpires hold grudges, Price said.