The Baltimore Orioles continued their mark of only beating Tampa once this season, as Tampa swept the three-game set at Camden Yards. Starter Spenser Watkins went five innings, but couldn’t really put the Orioles in a position to win the game. That’s what you ask of your starter. Watkins’ line: 5.0 IP, 7 H, 6 R, 1 BB, 4 K.
Tampa hasn’t missed one pitch that the Orioles have thrown up there this year. Today was no exception. They took a 1-0 lead in the first on Arozarena’s RBI-single. Wendle would add one of his own and the Birds trailer 2-0.
However something else we’ve seen is that the Orioles fight back. They may not make it all the way, but they try. Austin Hays cut the lead in half with an RBI-single in the last of the first. Tampa and the Orioles would swap homers in the second and third respectively, with the Orioles’ coming off the bat of Ryan Mountcastle.
However Tampa got a two-run homer by Meadows, and a solo shot by Wendle in the sixth. And the O’s seemingly woke Wendle’s bat up – he hadn’t hit a home run since June. BUT…Jorge Mateo’s two run homer in the last of the sixth cut the lead back to 6-4.
However as I said, the Orioles woke up Wendle’s bat. His seventh inning grand slam extended the lead to 10-4. But the O’s kept fighting none the less. Trey Mancini’s RBI-single and DJ Stewart’s RBI-groundout in the seventh cut it to 10-6.
But Tampa had to prove a point. Franco sent a soft blooper with two on and two out into center in the eighth. It fell, netting one more for Tampa. But the Orioles were lackadaisical in getting the ball back in, allowing another run to score for Tampa.
That really illustrates how you have to be on your game when you play Tampa. They pay attention to every detail, and they gladly accept every little opening they get in a game. If you stumble, they’re right there to hold you accountable for it.
The O’s would put up two more on Cedric Mullins’ two-run homer in the eighth, but that would be it. The Birds fell 12-8, and were swept in the series.
The Orioles now head to Rogers Centre in Toronto for the first time since 2019. Chris Ellis gets the start for the Orioles, and he’ll be opposed by Toronto’s Robbie Ray. Game time is set for just after 7 PM.
Birdland Crush 