Baltimore Orioles vs Tampa Bay Rays series recap

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.