Rays 10, Orioles 6: Offensive outburst does the job

The Rays are in Baltimore to begin a three-game series against the Orioles. Ryan Yarbrough is on the mound for the Rays against John Means. Jordan Luplow makes his Rays debut tonight with Randy Arozarena going on the COVID-19 IL.

Jordan Luplow wasted no time making an impact in this one, turning the first pitch of the game into a double to get things going. He moved up to third when Nelson Cruz grounded out, but he was stranded there to end the inning.

Baltimore capitalized on the Rays not putting up a run. Cedric Mullins hit a leadoff single, stole second with one out, and scored on a two-out single by Ryan Mountcastle. Mountcastle was thrown out trying to steal second to end the bottom of the first.

The Rays answered in the top of the second. Manuel Margot hit a leadoff single and moved up to third on a Mike Zunino double. Kevin Kiermaier singled to bring Margot home, and on the play, Mountcastle made an error at first which allowed Zunino to score, making it 2-1 Rays.

Baltimore responded in the bottom of the second, taking the lead back from the Rays. Pedro Severino hit a solo home run with two outs in the inning. Maikel Franco doubled after the home run and Richie Martin plated Franco with a double of his own, making it 3-2 O’s.

The Rays threatened in the top of the third but did not score. Austin Hays made the Rays pay, hitting a solo home run to make it 4-2 Orioles. It took until the bottom of the fourth for Ryan Yarbrough to have a scoreless inning.

Yandy Diaz hit a double in the top of the fifth, and with two outs, Manuel Margot drew a walk to put two on for Ji-Man Choi. Choi struck out to end the inning.

Baltimore extended the lead once again, this time after a Trey Mancini double and Jorge Mateo triple, making it 5-2.

Surely the Rays could find a way to plate the runners they’ve been stranding in the top of the sixth. Kevin Kiermaier drew a one-out walk before moving up to third on a Jordan Luplow single. Nelson Cruz stepped in and watched ball one before tying the game on the second pitch he saw. 107 mph exit velocity, 395 feet, tie game.

Ryan Yarbrough’s day was done after five innings of work, and he put up a less-than-stellar outing. Five runs allowed on nine hits, four strikeouts and 97 pitches thrown before handing the ball over to Drew Rasmussen. Rasmussen worked a scoreless inning, allowing a hit and recording a strikeout. Rasmussen stayed in for the bottom of the seventh and pitched another scoreless inning despite a walk and a hit.

This game got turned upside down in the top of the eighth. Paul Fry entered for Baltimore and allowed a leadoff single to Mike Zunino. Two walks later and the bases are loaded. Dillon Tate was brought in to try and keep this game tied but Nelson Cruz had other plans, ripping a double down the left field line and scoring two to make it 7-5.

Wander Franco singled up the middle to plate two more, making it 9-5. Yandy drew a walk and Wander moved up to third on a wild pitch before being plated by a Manuel Margot single, making it 10-5. Marcos Diplan was brought in and stopped the bleeding to send this game to the bottom of the eighth.

That extended time on the bench got to Rasmussen, as he allowed three-straight singles to load the bases. A sacrifice fly marked the end of Rasmussen’s outing and Andrew Kittredge was called upon to keep the lead together. Kitt did just that, getting the remaining two outs to end the inning.

The Rays’ offense was quieted in the top of the ninth, so it was up to Louis Head to try and close the game out. Head worked a scoreless inning despite allowing a hit and the Rays secured their 66th win on the season.

The offense showed up in a big way after not capitalizing on opportunities earlier in the game, and the Rays start the series off on the right note. Shane McClanahan will take the mound tomorrow, looking to grab the series win against Spenser Watkins and the Orioles. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 pm.