Charlie Morton threw six quality innings and Colton Cowser hit a go-ahead three-run home run in the sixth inning, propelling the visiting Baltimore Orioles to a 4-1 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays on Thursday.
Morton (4-7) improved to 3-0 in June, allowing just one run on six hits while striking out seven for the Orioles, who split the four-game series with the Rays. Baltimore closer Felix Bautista struck out a pair in a perfect ninth to secure his 15th save in 16 tries.
Tampa Bay starter Drew Rasmussen (6-5) allowed two runs on four hits in 5 1/3 innings, striking out five and walking three. Danny Jansen’s RBI single in the third accounted for all of the Rays’ offense, as the club has dropped two of three entering its weekend series against the major-league-best Detroit Tigers.
After a 10-minute rain delay preceded the game, Tampa Bay struck first in the bottom of the third. Jose Caballero was hit by a pitch, stole his big-league-leading 28 base of the year, advanced to third on a bunt and scored on Jansen’s single to left.
Baltimore got the run back in the fourth, as Ryan O’Hearn’s two-out single scored Gunnar Henderson, who was hit by a pitch.
Following Henderson’s leadoff single in the sixth and Jordan Westburg’s strikeout, Rasmussen was relieved by Edwin Uceta. The reliever retired O’Hearn and walked Ramon Laureano before Cowser blasted a three-run homer — his sixth of the season — to give the Orioles a 4-1 edge.
A lengthy delay ensued in the top of the seventh, as Baltimore’s Adley Rutschman fouled off reliever Connor Seabold’s pitch into the Tampa Bay dugout, where Rays pitcher Hunter Bigge was struck in the face. As a stretcher took Bigge off the field, the 27-year-old was able to give a thumbs-up to the home crowd.
Seranthony Domiguez replaced Morton in the bottom of the seventh. He allowed Junior Caminero’s walk and Jake Mangum’s single before striking out Caballero and Kameron Misner. Jansen grounded out to end the inning.
Tampa Bay threatened again in the eighth, with Gregory Soto walking Josh Lowe and yielding a one-out single to Yandy Diaz. After Soto struck out Christopher Morel, Bryan Baker entered for the Orioles, and he walked Caminero before getting Mangum to fly out.
–Field Level Media
