The Baltimore Orioles (69-48) defeated the Tampa Bay Rays (58-57) 4-1 on Friday night at Tropicana Field.
Zach Eflin (8-7, 3.83) returned to Tropicana Field after being traded from Tampa Bay to Baltimore back on July 26. He pitched seven shutout innings in which he allowed just four hits while striking out seven and walking one.
The Orioles got a solo homer from Colton Cowser in the first inning before adding two in the fifth and one in the sixth to build a 4-0 lead. The only Rays run came from Dylan Carlson getting a solo homer in the ninth to make it 4-1.
The Rays look to bounce back in the second game of the three-game series coming up on Saturday night. First pitch on Saturday is scheduled for 7:15 PM - Chris Adams-Wall begins pregame coverage at 6:30 PM on 95.3 WDAE & AM 620, your Home of Rays Baseball.
COVER PHOTO COURTESY GETTY IMAGES