Orioles take solo lead of AL East with 4-3 win over Rays (2024)

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — The Baltimore Orioles are looking down at the rest of the AL East — and the All-Star break is in the rearview mirror.

Fun times for Colton Cowser and company.

Cowser hit a sacrifice fly in the 10th inning, and the Orioles beat the Tampa Bay Rays 4-3 on Thursday night in the opener of a four-game series between the American League’s top teams.

“I think tonight was a great team win,” Cowser said after his 11th major league game.

Baltimore started the day in first place for the first time after the All-Star break since Aug, 15, 2016. The Orioles, who were 6½ games back at the beginning of July, now have a one-game lead.

“It’s just July, that’s kind of where I’m at right now,” Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said. “This team (the Rays) is so good and so hard to play, especially here. We’ve been on the other side of those type of games I can’t tell you how many times.”

Aaron Hicks opened the 10th at second as the automatic runner. He advanced on pinch-hitter Adam Frazier’s sacrifice bunt and scampered home on Cowser’s fly ball to left against Robert Stephenson (1-4).

Félix Bautista (5-1) worked a perfect ninth for Baltimore and then stayed on for the 10th. He hit Luke Raley and struck out Randy Arozarena before Brandon Lowe bounced into a game-ending double play.

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“How about Félix Bautista?” Hyde said. “I’m so lucky to have him. The reason why he pitched the 10th is because he had such an efficient ninth. ... He’s amazing.”

Orioles second baseman Ramón Urías helped keep the game tied in the eighth when he made a diving stop on pinch-hitter Harold Ramírez’s grounder with two on and threw him out at first.

Tampa Bay has lost five in a row. It is tied with Pittsburgh for the majors’ worst July record at 3-12.

The announced crowd, which included a sizable turnout of Orioles fans, was 20,203. Tampa Bay entered averaging 17,849 at home.

The Rays trailed 3-1 before rallying in the seventh. Taylor Walls singled and Christian Bethancourt reached on a bunt hit, ending Kyle Gibson’s night. Yandy Díaz then greeted Yennier Cano with a two-run double.

Baltimore had been in front since it scored three times in the fourth. Gunnar Henderson sparked the rally with some smart baserunning, racing into third for a leadoff triple when Arozarena lobbed a throw toward the infield after fielding the hit down the left-field line.

Adley Rutschman singled on Tyler Glasnow’s next pitch and later scored on Ryan O’Hearn’s sacrifice fly.

“It was tough to see,” Arozarena said through a translator. “I think it was more my fault throwing the ball really soft.”

Baltimore took a 3-1 lead when Anthony Santander knocked the ball loose during a tag attempt by catcher Francisco Mejía after Aaron Hicks’ single. Mejía was charged with an error.

“Ugly, yeah,” Rays manager Kevin Cash said of the inning.

Tampa Bay had a runner in scoring position in each of the first five innings but scored just once on Mejía’s second-inning RBI single.

Glasnow struck out nine in seven innings. Gibson struck out eight in six-plus innings.

“That was a big win not because of the standings or anything,” Gibson said. “It was big (because) it was the first game of the series and it set the tone.”

MORE ON ATTENDANCE

The Rays became the 26th MLB team to hit 900,000 in home attendance this season. Only Detroit, Kansas City, Miami and Oakland have failed to reach the mark.

EN ROUTE

Shintaro Fujinami, who was acquired by Baltimore in a trade with Oakland on Wednesday night, is expected to join the Orioles in the next couple days. The right-hander will work out of the bullpen.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Orioles: RHP Mychal Givens (right shoulder) is lightly throwing off a bullpen mound. … RHP Austin Voth (right elbow) worked a perfect inning for the rookie-level FCL Orioles.

Rays: Mejía departed with left knee discomfort. … RHP Andrew Kittredge (Tommy John surgery) went 1⅓ hitless innings for Triple-A Durham.

UP NEXT

Orioles RHP Kyle Bradish (6-4) and Rays RHP Zach Eflin (10-5) are Friday night’s starters.

___

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Orioles take solo lead of AL East with 4-3 win over Rays (2024)

FAQs

When did the Orioles last win the AL East? ›

Baltimore Orioles
AL Pennants (7)1944 1966 1969 1970 1971 1979 1983
AL East Division titles (10)1969 1970 1971 1973 1974 1979 1983 1997 2014 2023
Wild card berths (3)1996 2012 2016
Front office
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When did the Orioles lose 21 games in a row? ›

Any time you win when you lose 21 in a row it's even better. I'm proud of these guys.” Chicago on Monday matched the longest losing streak since the 1988 Baltimore Orioles lost 21 in a row, falling to the Athletics 5-1. The NL record since 1900 is held by the 1961 Philadelphia Phillies, who lost 23 straight.

How did the Orioles beat the Yankees? ›

Cedric Mullins hit a game-winning two-run, two-out double in the bottom of the ninth, and the Orioles seized on two fielding mistakes to rally to a 6-5 victory over the Yankees at Camden Yards on Sunday afternoon.

When was the last time the Baltimore Orioles won the World Series? ›

Baltimore Orioles, American professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland. Playing in the American League (AL), the Orioles won World Series titles in 1966, 1970, and 1983.

Have the Orioles ever won 10 games in a row? ›

Orioles: 14 (twice)

The 14 straight wins collected by that group tied the original franchise record set in 1916 when the team was known as the St. Louis Browns.

Who hasn't won a World Series? ›

The Seattle Mariners are the only MLB franchise that has never appeared in a World Series; the Milwaukee Brewers, San Diego Padres, Tampa Bay Rays, and Colorado Rockies have all played in the Series but have never won it, with the Padres and the Rays appearing twice.

What was the Orioles biggest loss? ›

Trembley was named full-time manager on August 22, 2007. On this same day, the Orioles suffered a 30 to 3 loss to the Texas Rangers, the most lopsided loss in franchise history.

What's the longest losing streak in MLB? ›

In the modern two-league era, the longest losing streak belongs to the 1961 Philadelphia Phillies at 23 games. In the American League, the 1988 Baltimore Orioles and 2024 Chicago White Sox hold the record at 21 games.

What is the Baltimore Orioles longest losing streak? ›

In August 2024, the Chicago White Sox tied the 1988 Baltimore Orioles for the longest losing streak (21 games) in American League history. The longest single-season MLB losing streak of all time was 26 games, by the 1889 Louisville Colonels.

Have the Orioles ever had a perfect game? ›

The Orioles have thrown 10 no-hitters in club history -- six since moving to Baltimore and four when they were previously known as the St. Louis Browns. Their most recent no-hitter was thrown by John Means in 2021. The O's are still seeking their first perfect game.

Why were the Yankees called the Orioles? ›

The team was founded in 1903 when Frank Farrell and Bill Devery purchased the franchise rights to the defunct Baltimore Orioles (no relation to the current team of the same name) after it ceased operations and used them to establish the New York Highlanders. The Highlanders were officially renamed the Yankees in 1913.

What is the most games the Orioles won in a season? ›

The Baltimore Orioles had their best record in a season in 1969, with a record of 109-53.
TEAMREC
1Orioles109-53
2Orioles108-54
3Orioles102-57
4Orioles101-57
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Did the Orioles ever have 4 20 game winners? ›

As of 2023, the 1971 Orioles are one of only two Major League Baseball clubs (the 1920 Chicago White Sox being the other) to have four 20-game winners in a season: Jim Palmer, Dave McNally, Mike Cuellar, and Pat Dobson.

What was the original name of the Orioles? ›

The team was originally founded in 1901 as the Milwaukee Brewers. It wasn't until 1954 that the team moved to Baltimore and changed their name. Seen as one of the most beautiful baseball stadiums in America, Camden Yards is home to the Orioles.

Who was the last Oriole to win MVP? ›

MOST VALUABLE PLAYER

1991: Cal Ripken Jr. 1983: Cal Ripken Jr.

What is the Baltimore Orioles streak in the AL East Series? ›

O's set MLB divisional-era record with 22 straight unbeaten series against AL East foes.

Who were the 4 Oriole 20 game winners? ›

As of 2023, the 1971 Orioles are one of only two Major League Baseball clubs (the 1920 Chicago White Sox being the other) to have four 20-game winners in a season: Jim Palmer, Dave McNally, Mike Cuellar, and Pat Dobson.

How many series in a row have the Orioles won? ›

And what has happened since? Oh, only something historic and unfathomable: The Orioles have played 21 consecutive series against teams in their division without losing any of them. They've won 15 of those series.

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