Randy Arozarena’s two-run homer capped the Tampa Bay Rays comeback from down 3-0 in Baltimore, helping the Rays earn their 17th win in 18 games agaunst the Orioles Saturday with a 4-3 decision.
Fans at Camden Yards were treated to a pitchers duel early, with starters Michael Wacha and John Means each keeping the game scoreless through the first four innings, but much like he did with Ryan Yarbrough in Philadelphia earlier in the week, Kevin Cash decided to go to his bullpen after Wacha finished his second turn through the Baltimore lineup by allowing a leadoff double to Pedro Severino to start the fifth and a one-out walk to the number nine hitter, Kelvin Gutierrez. Left-hander Adam Conley was brought in to face Cedric Mullins, who he hit with a 2-2 pitch to load the bases, and Ryan Mountcastle followed with a sacrifice fly that plated Severino to open the scoring.
Baltimore added on an inning later against Conley, with Austin Hays starting things with a one-out pinch-hit triple. Ramon Urias drew a walk, and Severino followed with a double to make it 2-0, and Mateo made it 3-0 with a RBI single to score Urias.
Means was rolling until the seventh, when Yandy Diaz singled with one out, and Brandon Lowe followed with a double to right to move Diaz to third and end the left-hander’s evening. Brandon Hyde went to Dillon Tate out of the bullpen, and Kevin Cash countered by going to his bench. Austin Meadows, pinch-hitting for Manuel Margot got Tampa Bay on the board with a groundout that scored Diaz, and Joey Wendle, pinch-hitting for Jordan Luplow, doubled in Lowe to make it a one-run game.
It took just two batters into the eighth for the Rays to take the lead, as Cole Sulser walked Kiermaier, and Arozarena followed with a blast that hit off the railing on the top of the scoreboard in right for his 17th home run of the year.
Wander Franco also kept his on-base streak going thanks to a single later in the inning.
JT Chargois, who worked a perfect bottom of the seventh, improved to 4-0 with the win, and Andrew Kittredge got the final six outs to earn his fourth save.
Tampa Bay can tie the Major League record for the most wins against a single opponent in a season Sunday if they can finish off the weekend sweep in Baltimore. Chris Archer (0-1, 4.26 ERA) will get the start, taking on Spenser Watkins (2-6, 7.07 ERA). First pitch is scheduled for 1:05.
Steve Carney is the founder and publisher of St. Pete Nine. One of the people most associated with baseball coverage in Tampa Bay, he spent 13 seasons covering the Rays for flagship radio station WDAE, first as producer of Rays Radio broadcasts, then as beat reporter beginning in 2011. He likes new analytics and aged bourbon, and is the owner of one of the ugliest knuckleballs ever witnessed by baseball scouts.
