Rays 4, Orioles 2: Glasnow strikes out 13 in the series-opening win

After splitting the four-game home series against the Toronto Blue Jays, the Baltimore Orioles flew into town to begin a three-game series against the Rays. Looking for redemption from being swept in Baltimore earlier in the season, the Rays sent out Tyler Glasnow to face the Orioles lineup, while Baltimore started left-handed pitcher #69 Tommy Milone.

Here’s some trivia: prior to tonight’s game, who has two home runs in his last two games against the Rays? Renato Núñez of the Orioles. With two outs in the top of the first, he made that three home runs in three games, launching a solo home run into the Game 162 area to give Baltimore a 1-0 lead.

Baltimore’s one-run lead would not last long, only one inning in fact, as Jose Martinez led the bottom of the second off by reaching first on an error thanks to an errant throw by Pat Valaika. Hunter Renfroe made full use of that mistake by crushing a ball deep in the left field seats, giving the Rays a 2-1 lead.

Renfroe’s home run left his bat at 111.9 mph, launched 26 degrees and landed 436 feet away, good for a perfect xBA of 1.000.

Manuel Margot saw his former-Padres teammate go yard and wanted in on the fun, hitting a solo home run two pitches later to make a 3-1 ballgame. Margot’s homer went 417 feet after being launched at 29 degrees by a 104.6 mph exit velo.

The fun didn’t end in the bottom of the second, as Willy made a stellar play in the top of the third to prevent Cedric Mullins from getting a hit.

Glasnow allowed three-straight singles in the top of the fourth, the third single coming off the bat of rookie Ryan Mountcastle to score Hanser Alberto, cutting the lead down to 3-2. Glasnow got out of the inning without allowing any more runs, then Glasnow struck out the side in the next inning.

In the bottom of the sixth, the Rays loaded the bases after Hunter Renfroe reached on yet another error by Pat Valaika, Manuel Margot walked and Yoshi hit a single, giving Ji-Man Choi a golden opportunity to blow this game open. Choi hit a sacrifice fly to make it 4-2 and that would be the only run the Rays would score in the inning.

Glasnow struck out the side in the top of the seventh to record his ninth strikeout through his last 10 batters, and the seventh would be Glasnow’s final inning of his outing. After throwing 96 pitches over seven innings, Glasnow struck out 13 and walked one while allowing two runs on five hits.

Jalen Beeks entered in the eighth, allowing a hit but no runs after 18 pitches, and was tasked with completing the save by staying on in the ninth. Beeks allowed a leadoff single and got a groundout, but in the middle of facing Ryan Mountcastle, Beeks felt something in his throwing arm and exited the game.

Edgar Garcia entered to relieve Beeks and try to close the game out. Garcia struck Mountcastle out to record the second out and Mason Williams grounded out to end the game, capturing the 4-2 win for the Rays.

This game was going along perfectly, but unfortunately Jalen Beeks has become the latest pitcher to go down with an injury, becoming the 10th pitcher to get hurt with the nine others currently on the IL.

The Rays will look to secure the series win tomorrow night against Asher Wojciechowski and the Orioles with first pitch scheduled for 6:40 pm. The Rays starter is still TBD.