Orioles beat Rays 3-2 to remain in 1st place

The kid hasn't felt the pressure yet. To the contrary, Machado is hitting in the clutch, playing third base as if he's done it all his life and making heady decisions that leave opponents shaking their heads.

Machado made a brilliant defensive play in the top of the ninth and scored the winning run in the bottom half, and the Orioles beat the Tampa Bay Rays 3-2 Wednesday night to retain a share of first place in the AL East.

Nate McLouth drove in the decisive run for the Orioles, who moved 18 games over .500 (80-62) for the first time since the end of the 1997 season. Baltimore started the day tied atop the division with the New York Yankees, who won 5-4 at Boston.

In the Tampa Bay ninth, pinch-runner Rich Thompson was on second with two outs when Evan Longoria topped a pitch from Jim Johnson (2-1) down the third-base line. Machado picked it up and faked a throw to first as Thompson rounded third. Machado flipped the ball to shortstop J.J. Hardy at third base, starting a rundown that ended with Thompson being tagged out by catcher Matt Wieters.

"I was trying to get Evan out to be honest, but then when I came up I saw I had no chance," Machado said. "So I did a pump-fake and tried to deke the runner. It was just natural. I just came out and didn't think about it."

What made the play even more impressive is that Machado is a converted shortstop. He was moved to third base because the Orioles have Hardy at shortstop.

"He was smart. I don't know if he would have been able to throw out Evan," Hardy said. "I know (Longoria) is running a little slow with his hamstring, but for Manny to do what he did, it just shows you how aware he is at 20 years old. I think he's really impressed me."

Those in the opposite dugout felt the same way.

"His poise and his calmness, he's not taken in by the moment at all," Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon said. "That was an example of his calmness right there. He's really aware of everything that's going on around him. For him to do that in that situation is impressive. He has the maturity of a veteran."

Thompson added, "I was prepared for him to go to first, wasn't prepared for Hardy to be backing up. It certainly is one of those plays you will never forget. Certainly never happened to me before."

The Orioles will seek to complete a three-game sweep of Tampa Bay on Thursday.

B.J. Upton homered for the Rays, who fell three games behind the Orioles. Tampa Bay stranded 11 and went 2 for 10 with runners in scoring position.