Shane Baz threw four no-hit innings of Tampa Bay’s pitching gem and Brandon Lowe had two early run-producing hits as the visiting Rays beat the Baltimore Orioles 6-2 on Wednesday night.
Lowe and Jake Mangum homered and the Rays (77-81) evened the series at one game apiece. Richie Palacios rapped a double among his three hits, and Chandler Simpson joined Lowe with two hits.
The Orioles (74-84), who were held to three singles, got on the board with Jordan Westburg’s two-run single in the eighth. Starting pitcher Tyler Wells (2-1) took the loss, giving up three runs on seven hits in four innings.
Baz departed after throwing 49 pitches across four innings. Edwin Uceta (10-3) and Garrett Cleavinger each worked a no-hit inning before the Orioles broke up that bid with Tyler O’Neill’s single leading off the seventh inning against Griffin Jax.
Bryan Baker gave up the two runs to the Orioles. Pete Fairbanks worked the ninth for what became a combined three-hitter among six pitchers, though the Tampa Bay hurlers issued five walks.
It wasn’t all smooth for Baz, with a pair of Rays infield errors, including one by the right-hander, in the first inning allowing Baltimore to have a runner reach third base. He issued a pair of walks to begin the third. Baz recorded three of the staff’s seven strikeouts in the game.
The Rays, who won for only the fourth time in their last 10 games, got rolling early with a run in each of the first three innings. Lowe doubled in a first-inning run and Hunter Feduccia doubled in the next run in the second inning.
Lowe smashed his 31st home run in the third inning. Tristian Gray doubled in the sixth and Palacios scored on right fielder Tyler O’Neill’s error.
After Junior Caminero’s RBI groundout in the seventh made it 5-0, Mangum slugged his third homer in the eighth.
Baltimore plays its home finale when the series ends Thursday afternoon.
