ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Ramon Hernandez hit a tiebreaking solo homer in the ninth inning to lead the Baltimore Orioles past the Tampa Bay Rays 3-2 on Saturday night.

Hernandez, who also had a run-scoring triple, gave Baltimore a 3-2 lead on his two-out homer off Dan Wheeler (0-1). The Orioles stopped a three-game losing streak.

Chad Bradford (1-1) worked a scoreless inning for the victory. George Sherrill pitched the ninth for his fifth save in five opportunities.

Carlos Pena homered for the second straight day off Orioles reliever Jamie Walker, a solo shot in the eighth that tied it at 2. Pena has three homers and seven RBIs in the first two games of the three-game series.

Evan Longoria, taken third overall in the 2006 amateur draft by Tampa Bay, went 1-for-3 with a walk in his major league debut. The third baseman pulled the Rays within 2-1 on his first career hit, a groundball run-scoring single to left in the sixth.

Ramon Hernandez had an RBI triple in the second that put the Orioles ahead 2-0. It was his sixth career triple, coming on his 3,545th at-bat. Baltimore scored a run in the first when Nick Markakis hit into a double play.

Tampa Bay right-hander Jason Hammel gave up two runs and five hits in a career-best seven innings. Orioles starter Daniel Cabrera allowed one run and five hits over 6 2-3 innings.

Notes: Markakis stayed in the game after getting hit by a pitch on the lower part of the left arm in the eighth. … Rays ace Scott Kazmir (left elbow) played catch one day after a 46-pitch batting practice session. He is scheduled to throw two innings in an extended spring training game Tuesday. … Tampa Bay RHP Matt Garza (right arm nerve irritation) resumed playing catch. … Rays RHP Jeff Niemann, taken fourth overall in the 2004 amateur draft, will make his major league debut Sunday. … Orioles RHP Matt Albers will start Monday’s game against Toronto. RHP Jim Johnson will replace Albers as the long man out of the bullpen.

AP-ES-04-12-08 2207EDT