ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Tampa Bay Rays manager Joe Maddon was more than happy to wait until the early morning hours for what he called an incredible victory. David DeJesus ended a nearly seven-hour game with a one-out RBI single in the 18th inning, and the Tampa Bay Rays took over sole possession of the top AL wild-card spot by beating the Baltimore Orioles 5-4 on Friday night. "Obviously, both teams really battled extremely hard," Maddon said. "You know both teams wanted to win it badly. To win that game means a lot based on the time of the year that it is." Tampa Bay started its game at 7:11 p.m., tied with Texas atop a crowded race for the two AL wild cards. By the time it ended 6 hours, 54 minutes later -- a record in time for both teams -- the Rays were a half-game ahead of Cleveland, which beat Houston 2-1 in a rain-shortened game. The Rangers lost to Kansas City 2-1 and dropped a half-game behind. Baltimore is 2 1/2 back. "Thats everything right there that you play 162 games for," Tampa Bays Chris Gimenez said. "Ive never been a part of a game that long. To win it, especially how we did it, I hope this is something we can take and kind of run with. It couldnt happen at a better time, Ill tell you that much. Its a huge win for us. The only thing we can control is how we go out and play. If we win, were in. Got that Al Davis mentality, Just win baby." Desmond Jennings had a one-out double in the 18th off Bud Norris (10-12) -- the Orioles 10th pitcher and one of a big league-record 21 used in the game. After Yunel Escobar walked, DeJesus won it on his line single to centre, ending the Rays longest game in franchise history and setting off a wild celebration. Luke Scott of the Rays came onto the field wearing a Chewbacca mask, while Jamey Wright dressed like a member of the rock band Kiss. Now the AL East rivals get to do it all over again at 1:05 p.m. Saturday. The Miami Marlins beat the New York Mets 2-1 in 20 innings earlier this season, the longest game by innings in three years. That game only took 6 hours, 25 minutes. Jeremy Hellickson (12-9), Sundays scheduled starter, allowed one hit in 2 1-3 innings of relief. Maddon said a decision on who will pitch Sunday has not been made. Ben Zobrist drove in the tying run in the seventh with an RBI single off Kevin Gausman after the Rays blew a 3-2 lead in the top half. Adam Jones greeted reliever Alex Torres with an RBI double and Danny Valencia had a sacrifice fly to give Baltimore the temporary lead. After Zobrist tied it, the teams traded zeros long into the night. From the eighth inning on, the Orioles had just two hits. The Rays had six. "Two teams wanted something very baldy and thats why those game go on like that," Orioles manager Buck Showalter said. "The games not always fair that night, but it usually evens out. Were all operating under the same umbrella and its part of the job description that you know, going in, theres going to be some times that will be challenging." Tampa Bay loaded the bases with two outs in the 15th, but failed to score when Tim Beckham was retired on a hard grounder to second. The Rays grabbed a 2-0 advantage in the first. Zobrist had an RBI double and later scored when first baseman Chris Davis was charged with an error for misplaying Matt Joyces grounder. Tampa Bay went ahead 3-0 during the second when slow-footed catcher Jose Molina doubled, went to third when Escobar hit a fly ball and scored on DeJesus sacrifice fly. Molina received a standing ovation after scoring. Orioles starter Jason Hammel, winless in his last 12 starts since beating Washington on May 27, gave up three runs and six hits over five innings. Tampa Bay left-hander David Price, who has gone five starts without a victory, allowed two runs and nine hits in his five-plus innings. "Devastating obviously," Orioles third baseman Manny Machado said. "It would have been much better if we had come out on top." NOTES: There were 593 pitches, 301 by the Rays and 292 by Baltimore, thrown in the game. ... Machado got hit around right hand by Jake McGees pitch in the seventh, but remained in the game. ... Jennings was a late scratch due to neck stiffness. He had a pinch-hit infield single in the 9th and stayed in the game to play centre. ... Tampa Bay recalled RHP Jake Odorizzi from Triple-A Durham. Joe Namath Jersey . -- Jerome Verrier scored once and set up two more as the Drummondville Voltigeurs downed the visiting Chicoutimi Sagueneens 5-1 on Friday in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League play. Nathan Shepherd Jets Jersey . Maria Silvia Bastos Marques, president of the EOM (Municipal Olympic Company), will be leaving her post but will remain as an advisor, a city hall statement said Tuesday. http://www.authenticjetsfanatic.com/c-101-jets-trenton-cannon-jersey.aspx . With the Nets winning streak in jeopardy, Williams scored 23 points, 11 in the final six minutes, to lead Brooklyn to a 104-99 victory over the Charlotte Bobcats on Wednesday night. Chris Herndon Jets Jersey . He was 26. Edwards, the Supercup Championship leader, was in the passenger seat as an instructor for a private training session at Queensland Raceway at Willowbank, outside Brisbane, Porsche Motorsport said. Trenton Cannon Jets Jersey . Rinehart joins safety Darrell Stuckey and linebacker Donald Butler as potential unrestricted free agents who are remaining with the team.Raleigh, NC (SportsNetwork.com) - The Carolina Hurricanes removed forward Jeff Skinner from injured reserve on Friday. Skinner has been out since suffering a concussion in the clubs exhibition finale on Oct. 5. The Hurricanes have started the season 0-2-2 without Skinner and dont play again until next Tuesday at Winnipeg to start a four-game westernn Canada road trip.dddddddddddd The 2011 Calder Trophy winner collected a career-high 33 goals along with 54 points in 71 games last year, his fourth in the NHL. Carolina also assigned forwards Patrick Brown and Brody Sutter to the Charlotte Checkers of the American Hockey League. Both players made their NHL debuts this season. 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