Rays 3 Orioles 6: Hard to win when the other guys hit three dingers

Randy Arozarena continued his march out of a season-long batting slump, Johnny De Luca broke an 0-27, and Taylor Walls made an impressive return to the lineup. But all that still was not enough to beat Baltimore, as the Rays played unsuccessful catch-up all night.

The first inning was quiet, but the second inning got interesting. Aaron Civale, who had looked really good in his last start, gave up a few barrels, which included a home run that gave Baltimore a 1-0 lead. Colton Cowser then singled, and Ramon Urias doubled, with Cowser running hard all the way to home plate. But the Rays were able to catch the runner at the plate for the third out of the inning. Baltimore challenged, but the home plate umpire who had made the call had a great view of the plate, and it appeared to all reasonable people that the tag had been made, thanks to an amazing relay throw from recently activated Taylor Walls. But the video viewers in New York City saw something that was not apparent to any other observer and called the runner safe. Baltimore 2, Rays 0

But the Rays managed to come back and tie it. Their runs came in large and small fashion, starting with this shot from Jose Siri in the bottom of the second.

They pieced together the tying run an inning later, with Diaz singling and then Randy “is he back?” Arozarena doubling, with Ahmed Rosario bringing Diaz home on a sac fly.

Aaron Civale allowed a few base runners in the fourth, but no other runs until the fifth, when he was bested by Ryan Mountcastle’s two-run home run.

Even then the Rays didn’t give up; they scratched out another run, with two outs, with a single by Jose Siri, another by Johnny De Luca , and an infield hit from Taylor Walls, which scored a run thanks to the Baltimore shortstop throwing wide to first.

I had some hope with the Rays chasing just one run, and was buoyed when we managed to get through an inning pitched by Richard Lovelady and another by Chris Devenski, the two weak links of the bullpen, without harm.

But as we all know Kevin Cash does not like to use his best bullpen resources when the Rays are chasing even just one run, so he decided to leave Devenski in for a second inning. That didn’t go well, with a two-run homer making the score 6-3. At least the Rays wouldn’t lose a frustrating one-run game!

No way the Rays could get three runs in two innings against Baltimore’s best relievers, so they start this important series off with a loss.