The Tampa Bay Rays (2-0) defeated the Baltimore Orioles (0-2) 5-3 on Saturday afternoon at Tropicana Field. The Rays have now won the season opening three game series and have a chance to start 2022 with a sweep on Sunday afternoon.
The Rays got RBIs from Francisco Mejia, Brett Phillips and Wander Franco in the second inning to take an early 3-0 lead. When Baltimore answered with a two-run homer from Ryan Mountcastle in the top of the third, Francisco Mejia answered with a two-run blast of his own in the bottom of the third to make it 5-2.
The Orioles hit a couple of ground-ruble doubles in the ninth inning to pull within 5-3, but Andrew Kittredge held on to secure his first save of the 2022 season in the ninth inning.
Drew Rasmussen got the start, allowing two earned runs on three hits while striking out three and walking one in four innings of work. He gave way to Josh Fleming (1-0, 0-00) who pitched three and a third shutout innings to pick up the win. After J.P. Feyereisen came into finish the eighth, Kittredge worked the ninth to complete the victory.
The Rays will attempt to secure the sweep against the Orioles when the two teams meet on Sunday afternoon. First pitch from Tropicana Field is scheduled for 1:10 PM - pregame coverage begins with Neil Solondz hosting This Week In Rays Baseball at 11:30 AM on 95.3 WDAE & AM 620.
PHOTO COURTESY GETTY IMAGES