The Tampa Bay Rays (92-57) defeated the Baltimore Orioles (91-56) 7-1 on Friday night at Camden Yards. The two teams are now tied for first place in the American League East.
Brandon Lowe homered in the second, before Manuel Margot hit a RBi single, to give the Rays an early 2-0 lead. In the fifth inning the Rays added a run on a sacrifice fly from Brandon Lowe for his second RBI of the night.
Then in the sixth inning Tampa Bay pulled away - moments after Margot hit a RBI double, Harold Ramirez hit a pinch-hit, three-run home run that turned the game into a blowout.
Zach Eflin (15-8, 3.44) was brilliant, allowing one earned run on one hit in seven innings of work while striking out eight and walking none.
The Rays now look to go ahead of the Orioles in the AL East standings when the two teams meet in the third game of their four game series on Saturday. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 PM - Chris Adams-Wall begins pregame coverage at 6:30 PM on 95.3 WDAE & AM 620, your Home of Rays Baseball.
PHOTO COURTESY GETYT IMAGES