Upton matches brother with 100th homer as Rays beat Orioles
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — B.J. Upton and his brother can really share a pair of milestone moments.
Upton joined elite company by hitting his 100th career homer and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Baltimore Orioles 2-0 on Friday night.
Upton put the Rays ahead 1-0 on a fourth-inning homer to center off Tommy Hunter (4-7). Upton joins Rickey Henderson, Barry Bonds, Bobby Bonds, Cesar Cedeno, Lloyd Moseby, Eric Davis and Hanley Ramirez as the only players to amass 100 homers and 200 steals before age 28.
“Anytime you can be in the same sentence with any of those guys, it’s always an honor,” Upton said. “I’m glad I’m in a position to be able to do that. Rickey Henderson is definitely one of the guys I looked up when I was growing up.”
Upton turns 28 on Aug. 21. His brother, Arizona’s Justin Upton, also hit his 100th career homer earlier in the night at Philadelphia.
I was just texting (Justin),” B.J. Upton said. “He said he got his before mine. It’s cool to do that on the same day. It’s one home run, but I’m glad it happened.”
The Upton brothers both hit their 99th homers during games on July 20.
“Congratulations to the Family Upton,” Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon said. “That’s an incredible feat. Mom and Dad have to be really proud tonight. The brothers have to feel great about it, but just think about being the parents at that moment. That’s pretty neat.”
Tampa Bay’s Matt Moore (8-7) improved to 7-2 in his past 11 starts after giving up six hits over 5 1-3 innings. Fernando Rodney, the fourth Rays’ reliever, pitched the ninth for his 32nd save.
The Rays have four shutouts in their past six games.
Desmond Jennings made it 2-0 on a solo shot in the sixth. Hunter has given up 26 homers this season.
“Left the balls up,” Hunter said. “It was mistakes.”
Orioles center fielder Adam Jones later in the sixth made a catch near the wall to take away an extra-base hit from Carlos Pena with runners on first and second.
Hunter allowed two runs and six hits over 5 2-3 innings.
Baltimore loaded the bases with two outs in the first, but failed to score when Moore struck out Mark Reynolds.
Jake McGee replaced Moore with a runner on second and one out during the sixth and worked out of the jam. Joel Peralta struck out Reynolds and pinch-hitter Wilson Betemit with two on to end the eighth.
“You get some opportunities, you better take advantage of them,” Orioles manager Buck Showalter said.
Notes: Maddon said 3B Evan Longoria, out since May 1 with a partially torn left hamstring, could rejoin the team during a three-game series against Toronto that starts Tuesday. ... Orioles DH Jim Thome, on the disabled list due to a herniated disc in his neck, received an epidural injection. ... Rays RHP Jeff Niemann (broken right fibula) threw a simulated game and is set to start a minor league rehab assignment next Wednesday. ... Orioles 2B Brian Roberts had season-ending surgery to repair a torn labrum in his right hip. ... Tampa Bay recalled INF Will Rhymes from Triple-A Durham. ... Rays DH Jeff Keppinger left after turning his ankle sliding into second base.