Orioles 5, Rays 4: J.J. Hardy recorded a pair of hits and knocked in the go-ahead run in the seventh inning as Baltimore edged visiting Tampa Bay to take three of four in the series.

Nelson Cruz and Adam Jones each collected two hits and a run scored while Steve Pearce homered as the Orioles increased their lead to seven games atop the American League East. Andrew Miller (4-5) did not give up a hit over 1 2/3 innings for the win and Zach Britton notched his 29th save in the ninth.

Evan Longoria belted a solo homer and knocked in two runs while James Loney had two hits and an RBI for the Rays, who finished their road trip 3-4. Reliever Kirby Yates (0-2) got the first outs in the seventh before giving up two hits and a run to suffer the loss for Tampa Bay.

Longoria’s sacrifice fly and an RBI double by Loney put the Rays up 4-2 in the fifth before Chris Davis’ RBI fielder’s choice and an error allowed Baltimore to tie it in the bottom of the frame. Cruz doubled just inside the left-field line with two out in the seventh, Davis was intentionally walked and Hardy delivered a bloop single to right for a 5-4 lead.

Desmond Jennings (two hits) led off the game with a double and scored on Matt Joyce’s sacrifice fly before Longoria lined his 17th homer just over the left-field fence. The Orioles answered in their half of the first inning when Pearce launched a solo blast to left and Jones singled before scoring on a double steal.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Loney improved to 11-for-21 in his career against Baltimore starter Bud Norris and Longoria finished 10-for-29 with two homers and nine RBIs on a seven-game road trip for the Rays. … Pearce extended his career-high hitting streak to 11 games with his 16th home run. … Norris allowed four runs and six hits over six innings, while Tampa Bay starter Jeremy Hellickson lasted only 4 1/3 frames while yielding four runs (three earned) and eight hits.