Baltimore Orioles vs Tampa Bay Rays series recap

The Orioles series against the Tampa Bay Rays is over, with the Baltimore Orioles winning two out of 3 over the weekend against one of their AL East foes. Before they start a 3 game set with the New York Yankees on Monday, let’s recap how the series with the Rays went.

Friday, May 20th

The Baltimore Orioles won the series opener on Friday night, prevailing 8-6 in 13 innings for what was their second straight victory. The Birds didn’t start scoring until the 7th inning when Tyler Nevin scored on a wild pitch, Ramón Urías scored on a fielding error by Randy Arozarena, and Robinson Chirinos scored on an RBI single from Trey Mancini.

They wouldn’t score again until the 10th inning when Anthony Santander tied the game 5-5 on a two-run single that scored Austin Hays and Cedric Mullins. In the 11th, Hays tied it 6-6 with an RBI single of his own. In the 13th inning, Rougned Odor blasted a walk-off two-run home run, giving the Orioles the walk-off victory, the second straight game with a walk-off home run.

Baltimore Orioles vs Tampa Bay Rays series recap

On the pitching side for the O’s, Tyler Wells allowed 3 runs on two hits and two walks over 4 2/3 innings of work. Logan Gillaspie and Keegan Akin each worked scoreless appearances before Bryan Baker had an earned run in 2/3 of an inning. Dillon Tate, Cionel Pérez, and Nick Vespi also saw work.

Odor gets the game MVP in this one, because of his walk-off home run. Special shoutouts go to Vespi for two great innings in his major league debut, and Anthony Bemboom for his tag on Wander Franco at home plate in the top of the 13th to keep the game tied.

Sunday, May 22nd

Looking to bounce back after a loss on Saturday, the Orioles did just that on Sunday, prevailing by a 7-6 score in 11 innings, with the walk-off win being their 3rd in the last 4 games, clinching the series win.

The Rays jumped out to an early 4-0 lead in the first inning, with Ji-Man Choi hitting an RBI single, and Isaac Paredes hitting a 3-run home run. In the 3rd inning, the Baltimore Orioles got two runs back with an RBI single from Ramón Urías and an RBI double from that guy Rougned Odor.

In the 4th inning, Kevin Kiermaier hit an RBI single, but Ryan Mountcastle provided the answer for the Orioles an inning later with a solo home run, albeit one that Kiermaier almost took away. In the 7th, both teams picked up one run, which made it a 6-4 score.

Baltimore Orioles vs Tampa Bay Rays series recap

Once the 9th inning hit, it was RALLY time for the Orioles. With rain approaching, Austin Hays came off the bench and ripped a two-run single to left field, tying the game 6-6. A rain delay immediately followed. Once the game was able to resume, extra innings came about, and, in the 11th, Odor hit a ground ball that Choi couldn’t get a glove on at first, scoring Rutschman to make it a 7-6 walk-off win.

Early in the game, the Orioles got a scare on the pitching side. In the first inning, starter Spenser Watkins took a scorching line drive off his forearm before getting an out. He left the game and was diagnosed with a right forearm contusion. X-rays showed no fracture, and he’ll be re-evaluated soon.

In terms of choosing a game MVP for the Sunday game, I’ll have to go with Hays. Yes, Odor got his second walk-off hit of the series, but he wouldn’t have gotten that chance if Hays didn’t come off the bench in the 9th and deliver the game-tying hit.

Up next, the Orioles head to New York for a 3 game series with the Yankees. Jordan Lyles gets the series-opening start, followed by Bruce Zimmermann in game two, and Tyler Wells to wrap up the series.