Rays 4, Orioles 9: Archer Off Target (Sorry)

Well it sure started off in a fun way. With Dylan Bundy scratched from today’s start, Chris Tillman was on the mound against our Rays, and Kevin Kiermaier welcomed him by taking his very first pitch over the wall in right center field to put the Rays up 1-0 early.

Chris Archer struggled mightily in the first frame as well, giving up hits to Manny Machado, Jonathan Schoop, Adam Jones, Chris Davis and Pedro Alvarez that ended up sending four Orioles across the plate to more than erase Tampa Bay’s early lead. 4-1.

The Rays battled back in the top of the 2nd, featuring an Adeiny Hechevarria leadoff double, followed by a Brad Miller RBI single and a Jesus Sucre homer to tie the game back at four a’piece.

The train went off the rails again in the 4th, as Archer gave up a two-run homer to JJ Hardy after Pedro Alvarez reached on a LoMo error. Hardy’s homer would put the O’s up for good, as the Rays bats remained silent, while the bullpen continued to give up runs.

The final was 9-4 Baltimore. Chris Archer could only manage to go 3.2 innings, while giving up 8 hits, 6 runs (5 earned) and a walk. The loss puts the Rays six games back in the Wild Card race, in case anyone still had their hopes up.

They’ll take tomorrow off before Blake Snell takes the mound on Tuesday in New York.