Rays 9, Orioles 8: Ben Zobrist homered and drove in three runs as Tampa Bay held on to avoid being swept at American League East leader Baltimore.

The Rays, who had lost three straight and seven of their last eight, took the lead for good in the second inning when Elliot Johnson singled in a run and scored on a double to center by Zobrist. Carlos Peña knocked in two more runs during a three-run fourth to chase Baltimore starter Jake Arrieta (2-4) and give Tampa Bay a 7-1 cushion.

After the Orioles rallied to get back within one, Johnson and Zobrist provided some insurance in the top of the eighth with back-to-back solo blasts off Troy Patton. Those runs proved to be decisive after an Adam Jones RBI double off Fernando Rodney with two out in the ninth cut the deficit to one and put the winning runs in scoring position.

Rodney got Matt Wieters to ground out to third to end the comeback bid.

James Shields (6-1) worked 6 1/3 innings for the victory, allowing four runs on seven hits while striking out five and walking two.

Arrieta departed after 3 2/3 innings for the Orioles, giving up seven runs on 10 hits and a pair of walks. The right-hander struck out six.

Baltimore got three runs against Shields in the sixth inning when Nick Markakis doubled in a run and scored on a two-run homer by Wieters. A two-run double by Markakis in the seventh cut the Rays’ lead to 7-6.

Will Rhymes and Matt Joyce had RBI singles in the third and fourth innings, respectively, for Tampa Bay. Nick Johnson homered in the eighth for the Orioles.

GAME NOTEBOOK: The Rays had not hit back-to-back homers all season before Johnson and Zobrist accomplished the feat Sunday. ... Baltimore had won seven games in a row against AL East opponents. ... Tampa Bay CF B.J. Upton was 0-for-4 with four strikeouts and a walk.