Gunnar Henderson provided the offensive highlight of the night, launching his 36th home run of the season in the sixth inning, giving the Orioles a 2-0 lead. Earlier in the fifth, the Orioles took advantage of an error by the Rays to score an unearned run. The Orioles now sit half a game ahead of the Yankees in a tight AL East race.
Pitching Dominance and Clutch Defense
After Kremer exited, Yennier Cano came in and delivered under pressure, striking out two key Rays hitters to escape a bases-loaded jam in the seventh inning. Seranthony Domínguez later secured the save with four crucial outs to close out the game, marking his ninth save of the season and maintaining Baltimore’s edge in the playoff push.
Despite a strong outing by Rays starter Shane Baz, who allowed just two hits and one earned run across six innings, the Rays couldn’t generate enough offense to challenge Baltimore’s lead. This marks another tough loss for the Rays, who have now lost six of their last nine games and have struggled to find their rhythm against the Orioles this season.
Trainer’s Room and Looking Ahead
Rays second baseman Brandon Lowe was absent from the lineup due to a swollen finger, while Orioles first baseman Ryan Mountcastle continues his recovery from a wrist injury. Both teams will look to recover as the Orioles continue to push for the AL East crown, and the Rays aim to turn things around in the coming games.
Zach Eflin will start for the Orioles in the next game, aiming to extend their winning streak as they close out the series against Tampa Bay.
