Rays vs Orioles Recap: 11-2 Bash Sends Rays to Lopsided Loss

The Rays came to Baltimore riding a four-game losing streak. They needed a win badly. But the Orioles had other plans from the very first pitch. Steven Matz took the mound for Tampa Bay, and things fell apart immediately. Gunnar Henderson stepped up and crushed a hanging changeup deep to right field. The ball sailed 392 feet over the wall. Ward scored ahead of him, making it 2-0 before anyone could blink. The damage kept coming. Taveras singled to right, and Rutschman raced home. Then Blaze Alexander smashed another hit to right, and two more runs scored. Just like that, the Orioles led 5-0. The Rays were in serious trouble already, and the game had barely started.

The second inning brought more trouble for Tampa Bay. Tyler O'Neill stepped in and singled to left, scoring Mayo. That made it 6-0, and the Orioles weren't done yet. By the fifth inning, Blaze Alexander was up again. He ripped a double to left field, scoring both Mayo and Taveras. Baltimore led 8-0. The Rays finally got on the board in the sixth when Ryan Vilade grounded into a fielder's choice, scoring Aranda. But that was just one run. Gunnar Henderson came back in the sixth and homered again to right-center, this time traveling 419 feet. The ball exploded off his bat like a rocket. Henderson had two homers now. Alexander wasn't done either. In the seventh, he launched another bomb to left-center. The score climbed to 11-1 before you could catch your breath.

Down 11-1, the Rays showed some fight in the eighth inning. Ryan Vilade walked with the bases loaded, and Mesa Jr. scored. That made it 11-2. It was too little, too late. The damage had already been done in those early innings. Blaze Alexander absolutely carried the Orioles' offense, going 3-for-4 with a home run and six RBIs. He was unstoppable at the plate. Gunnar Henderson finished with two homers and three RBIs. Adley Rutschman went 3-for-4 and scored a run. The Orioles' pitching held strong after the early explosion. Trey Gibson earned the win, allowing just one run in five and two-thirds innings. This crushing 11-2 victory boosted Baltimore to 26-30 on the season. The Rays fell to 34-20. The Orioles won their third straight game. Tampa Bay's losing streak remained alive.