Too Much Machado & Key Hits Missing For The Rays

The Baltimore Orioles scored five runs in the seventh inning to break open a close game & beat the Tampa Bay Rays 9-4 on Friday night at Camden Yards in Baltimore.  Four of the Orioles’ runs in the seventh came off of Shortstop Manny Machado’s bat, who hit a grand slam off Rays Relief Pitcher Ryan Stanek.  Machado, who has three home runs in his last two games, also hit a home run off Rays Starting Pitcher Jake Faria.

Faria who entered the game looking to win his fourth consecutive decision, fell behind early in the bottom of the first inning when after a single by Centerfielder Adam Jones, Machado hit a two run home run to left field.  But Tampa Bay cut into that Baltimore two run lead when with two outs Leftfielder Denard Span singled to left.  And after Span took second base on a wild pitch, First Baseman C.J. Cron dropped a single to shallow right, driving home Span.

With Faria keeping the Orioles scoreless through the middle innings after allowing two runs early, the Rays had chances to tie the game & even take the lead.  But after putting runners in scoring position in each of the four innings after Cron’s run scoring single, the Rays were unable to get another clutch hit.  And after the Rays failed in their half of the seventh to cash in on another base runner in scoring position, Faria allowed a solo home run to Orioles Designated Hitter Mark Trumbo.  And Faria, who allowed eight hits in 6 innings while throwing 94 pitches, then loaded the bases without recording an out.  But after getting back to back strikeouts, it looked like Stanek would be able to make the Orioles do what the Rays batters had done in the previous innings and that’s leave runners in scoring position.  But with two outs, that’s when Machado struck with his eighth career grand slam.

The Rays were finally able to get a run scoring hit in the eighth when Rightfielder Carlos Gomez tripled to right-center driving in Shortstop Matt Duffy & Second Baseman Brad Miller.  But even after tacking on another run in their top of the eighth, the Rays were unable to get a quiet inning in the eighth because Orioles Catcher Chance Sisco hit the team’s fourth home run of the game, making Baltimore’s lead five runs.  And too much for a Rays team that for most of the game was unable to get the big hit when they needed it the most.

The Rays will have two chances on Saturday to end their four game losing streak, as the two teams will play a doubleheader with Pitcher Chris Archer (2-2 5.32) getting  the start in the first game.  Baltimore has not named a starter for the first game but former Rays Pitcher Alex Cobb (0-4 7.61) faces his former teammates in the second game, opposed by Matt Andriese (0-2 3.92).  Coverage of the first game begins at 2pm with Steve Carney & The Inside Pitch on 620 WDAE & first pitch is at 3:05pm.  The second game is scheduled to start 30 minutes following Game One of the doubleheader.


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