BALTIMORE -- Thrust into the unwanted position of playing out the final weeks of a losing season, the Tampa Bay Rays have found a way to make the situation more tolerable.Evan Longoria homered and drove in five runs, and the last-place Rays again played the spoilers role in a 7-6 victory over the Baltimore Orioles on Thursday night.The loss stalled the Orioles bid to enhance their position in the playoff picture. Baltimore dropped two games behind AL East-leading Boston and fell even with Toronto in the loss column in the duel for the top wild-card spot.Tampa Bay has won three straight, including the last two of a three-game series in Toronto. The Rays also defeated the wild-card contending Yankees on Sunday.Its fun that we are playing competitive baseball, Longoria said. Its one thing to go out in a great environment against a team that is a playoff contender, but to be in the game and winning games is the best thing about it.The Rays arent embracing the role of spoiler. Theyre just trying to go out on a high note, and if it hurts their opponent, well so be it.Were playing well and this is great learning experience for all of us in these environments, manager Kevin Cash said.Longoria said: I dont think were coming to the ballpark everyday thinking we want to spoil this team or that teams chances of getting to the playoffs.Tampa Bay avoided being eliminated from playoff contention, but a Toronto victory against the Angels later Thursday would mathematically end the Rays chances of reaching the postseason.Alex Colome worked the ninth for his 33rd save. After the Orioles got runners at first and third with one out, the right-hander struck out major league home run leader Mark Trumbo and slugger Chris Davis.Baltimore went 3 for 15 with runners in scoring position.Although the temperature was a comfortable 72 degrees and the Orioles are in the midst of a playoff push, the game attracted an announced crowd of only 19,233.Longoria put the Rays up 3-0 before Yovani Gallardo (5-8) got an out. Baltimore answered in the bottom half with a two-run single by Matt Wieters and a two-run double by J.J. Hardy.Tampa Bay pulled even in the second, went ahead in the third and used Longorias two-run single to make it 7-4 in the fourth.When Orioles manager Buck Showalter emerged from the dugout to pull Gallardo in the fourth, many of the hometown fans cheered. They subsequently booed the right-hander as he walked toward the dugout.Gallardo gave up six runs and seven hits in 3 1/3 innings. In 21 starts this season, hes surrendered 21 earned runs in the first inning.Baltimores Nolan Reimold hit into a double play with runners on the corners in the fourth. The Rays worked out of an even bigger jam in the fifth, retiring Manny Machado, Trumbo and Davis with runners at second and third.Brad Boxberger (4-1) got the last two outs in the fifth.Run-scoring groundouts by Hardy and Michael Bourn made it 7-6 in the eighth.TRAINERS ROOMRays: 1B Nick Franklin left in the fifth inning with a left hamstring strain. ... 1B Logan Morrison will get a second opinion on whether surgery is required for his season-ending left wrist injury. Morrison was injured while taking a swing Sunday and received an MRI this week.Orioles: OF Steve Pearce will be sidelined until the final week of the season, maybe longer, after receiving a platelet-rich plasma injection in his throwing arm Wednesday. ... RHP Darren ODay (rotator cuff strain) will throw a simulated game Friday.UP NEXTRays: Chris Archer (8-18, 4.05 ERA) starts Friday night, seeking to pad his AL-leading strikeout total of 217. He also hopes to avoid setting the franchise record for losses in a season. The right-hander is currently tied with Tanyon Sturtze, who lost 18 in 2002.Orioles: RHP Ubaldo Jimenez (7-11, 5.98) strives to win his fourth straight start. Hes got a 2.83 ERA in his last four outings. Nike Air Max 90 Ultra Se Sale . The formidable trio of Canadian receivers -- individually known as Chris Getzlaf, Rob Bagg and Andy Fantuz -- will share the field at Mosaic Stadium one more time on Sunday. Nike Air Max 90 Leather Sale . Shot outdoors against the stunning backdrop of Banff, Alta., the networks 30-minute original production airs tonight at 8pm et/5pm pt on TSN2. The four All-Star teams will play for $100,000 in prize money during TSNs annual skins game, airing live this weekend on TSN from The Fenlands Banff Recreation Centre. http://www.wholesale90airmax.com/wholesale-air-max-90-woven.html . Tests earlier this week revealed a Grade 2 left hamstring strain for Sabathia, who was hurt in last Fridays start against San Francisco. Its an injury that will require about eight weeks to heal. He finished a disappointing campaign just 14-13 with a career-worst 4. Cheap Nike Air Max 90 Sneakerboot .Y. -- Syracuse has turned up the defence at the right time all season, and when High Point threatened to pull off a monumental upset the second-ranked Orange did what they do best with their quick hands and savvy play. Cheap Air Max 90 Leather . PETERSBURG, Fla.ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- Broncos linebacker Von Miller received a six-game suspension under the NFLs substance-abuse policy Tuesday, taking away the best defensive player from a team many expect to make a run at the Super Bowl. The league wanted a longer penalty for the third-year linebacker, but the sides agreed to less than half the season, a person familiar with the negotiations between the linebacker and the NFL told The Associated Press. The person who spoke to the AP did not want to be identified because details about the negotiations were not public. Broncos executive vice-president John Elway said the team was frustrated with what happened "and, I think, disappointed in Von." "Well live with that decision," Elway said. "What Id like to do is try to do everything we can to prevent any other situations." According to the NFL, Miller is eligible to play and practice through the last two preseason games. His suspension, without pay, will begin Aug. 31, and will cost him more than $800,000 of the nearly $2.3 million hes scheduled to make this season. Hell be allowed at the team facility, but not at practice during the suspension. He can return to the field Oct. 14, the day after Denvers home game against Jacksonville, and will be eligible for an Oct. 20 contest at the Indianapolis Colts. After being notified of the decision, Miller released a statement saying, "although my suspension doesnt result from a positive test, there is no excuse for my violations of the rules." "I made mistakes and my suspension has hurt my team, Broncos fans, and myself," he said. "I am especially sorry for the effect of my bad decisions on others. I will not make the same mistakes about adhering to the policy in the future. " The NFL has two drug policies -- one that covers use of performance-enhancing substances and the "Policy and Program for Substances of Abuse" that applied to Millers case. There are ways to violate the drug policy without necessarily testing positive. They include missing a test, refusing to test, tampering with tests or giving a diluted urine sample. The Broncos had been operating throughout the preseason as if Miller would be with them for their regular-season opener Sept. 5. "I dont know if that was confidence as much as it was wishful thinking," coach John Fox said. "I think we all tend to look at the glass half full instead of half empty. But now the reality is there and Im kind of glad weve gotten to where it is finalized." It gives Fox a chance to finalize "Plan B" for a team listed at most Vegas sports books as the favourite to win the Super Bowl. Miller is the best player on the Broncos defence -- the second pick of the 2011 draft, the NFLs 2011 Defensive Rookie of the Year and runner-up last season for the leagues Defensive Player of the Year. He had 18 1/2 sacks last season and 30 over his two years. Likely to take his spot at the rush linebacker position is Shauun Phillips, a 10-year veteran the Broncos signed in free agency during the off-season.dddddddddddd Others in the mix in a juggled linebacker corps include Nate Irving, Wesley Woodyard and Danny Trevathan. Another linebacker, Stewart Bradley, had emerged as a front-runner over Irving at middle linebacker during training camp, but he hurt his left wrist in a preseason game Saturday night and underwent surgery. On Tuesday, the Broncos signed 12th-year veteran Paris Lenon, who played ahead of Bradley in Arizona last year. "Were going to have to have guys play better," Fox said. "Everybody is going to have to step up. I know its Next man up, but hes a hard man to replace." Miller, meanwhile, has a number of issues pending before his return. Among them, staying in playing shape while not being allowed to practice with the team. He also must clear up his recent arrest for failing to appear in court for traffic violations. News of the arrest came as Miller was deep in negotiations with the league and the union over his case, about which he repeatedly insisted he had "done nothing wrong." Then, theres the issue of keeping the trust of his teammates, who have steadfastly backed him during a summer filled with turmoil. "Has not changed," Peyton Manning said Tuesday, before word of the six-game suspension became official. "Theres been a lot of noise and speculation. But Von is one of our teammates. Hes part of the family, and I certainly have his back as his teammate and I know that all the players do and the organization does." The organization has been hit by a number of distracting stories since last season ended with a loss to Baltimore in the divisional playoffs. The Broncos lost their second-leading sack man, Elvis Dumervil, because of a foul-up with a fax machine while his contract was being finalized. Two front-office executives got arrested on drunken-driving charges and were suspended. Millers status has been the news since training camp started, though it has shared headlines with a steady beat of injuries coming out of training camp. All of which threatens the focus of a team that brought Manning in to win the Super Bowl now. "I think sometimes you can use distractions to your benefit, in the fact that distractions are also when you are getting patted on the back all the time, which we have been quite a bit," Elway said. "Von was a big part of our defence and were going to have to play and pick up that slack." Miller will be sidelined for the season opener against Baltimore, then at the New York Giants, home against Philadelphia and Oakland, at Dallas and home against Jacksonville. His return coincides with Mannings first game in Indianapolis since he last put on a Colts uniform. "The guys around him have to play better," Fox said. "The guys on the other side of the ball have to play better. That will be the challenge to our team." ' ' '