Beavers' Two-Run Single Lifts Orioles Past Rays 6-5

Late Rally Secures Victory

The Baltimore Orioles escaped with a 6-5 win over the Tampa Bay Rays on Friday, August 14, at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida. The decisive moment came in the top of the seventh inning when pinch-hitter Beavers singled to right field. That base hit drove in Henderson and Taveras, extending Baltimore’s lead to 4-2.

Although Tampa Bay mounted a two-run effort in the ninth, the Orioles held on to improve their record to 59-63, while the Rays fell to 74-47.

Game Progression

Baltimore took an early lead in the second inning. Encarnacion-Strand sacrificed fly to right, allowing O'Neill to score and make it 1-0. Tampa Bay responded immediately in the same frame. Palacios doubled to right, scoring Hicks and moving Mullins to third, tying the game at 1-1.

The score remained tight until the third inning. Cowser hit a 420-foot home run to center, giving the Orioles a 2-1 lead. Mesa Jr. followed with a single to center that brought home Caminero, evening the score at 2-2. The game stayed deadlocked until the seventh inning, when Beavers’ two-run single broke the tie in Baltimore’s favor.

Final Inning Drama

Tampa Bay threatened to tie the game in the bottom of the ninth. Aranda singled to right, scoring Palacios and Walls to cut the deficit to 6-4. Caminero grounded out to third, allowing Mateo to score and making it 6-5. The Orioles bullpen then closed out the game to secure the win. Attendance at the venue was 18,343.

Pitching Performance

Chris Bassitt started for Baltimore, pitching 5.1 innings while allowing five hits and two earned runs. He struck out three batters and walked three. Josh Walker earned the win, pitching 0.2 scoreless innings with one strikeout. Andrew Kittredge recorded the save, pitching one inning with one hit and one strikeout.

For Tampa Bay, Steven Matz started, pitching one hitless, scoreless inning with one strikeout. Jesse Scholtens pitched three innings, allowing four hits and two earned runs. Garrett Cleavinger took the loss, pitching 0.1 innings while allowing two hits and two earned runs.

Sources

https://www.espn.com/mlb/game/_/gameId/401816518