Rays 6, Orioles 3- Morton does it again

The Rays entered tonight’s game looking to extend their winning streak to four with All-Star Charlie Morton on the hill. For the Orioles, it was Asher (hold on) Wojciechowski, who was acquired a day earlier from Cleveland.

Brandon Lowe had a good first inning.

Lowe continues to pace American League rookies in home runs and runs batted in, also tying Evan Longoria for most home runs by a Rays rookie before the All-Star break. It’s almost as if Lowe should be at the All-Star game himself, but I digress...

Orioles first baseman Chris Davis matched Lowe’s effort with a solo homer of his own against Morton in the third, the first hit for the O’s.

But Lowe wouldn’t take that lying down.

And that was all Morton needed.

In the bottom of the sixth, Lowe got another hit, but after fouling two pitches off his leg in the at bat, was taken out of the game after limping his way to first. Yandy Diaz took his place as the pinch runner.

After a Tommy Pham walk, a wild pitch and a Ji-Man Choi groundout, Avisail Garcia extended the lead to three. This spelled the end of the night for Wojciechowski.

Morton dominated for one more inning before giving way to Adam Kolarek. Prior to giving up a base hit to Rio Ruiz, Morton struck out six consecutive Orioles and twelve on the night, including this one.

With his outing tonight, Morton recaptured the American League lead in ERA.

Pham added two more with a double in the home half.

Kolarek struck out the side in order in the eighth, but Chaz Roe didn’t have it so easy in the ninth, allowing a two-run homer to Chance Cisco. Jose Alvarado got loose, but the Rays ultimately didn’t need him.

The Rays go for the sweep tomorrow. Rookie of the year candidate John means gets the ball for the Orioles while the Rays have yet to announce their starter.

An update on Brandon Lowe.