Tampa Bay became the third team to make the playoffs, joining the Chicago White Sox and the Los Angeles Dodgers, following their sweep of the double-header with the Orioles.
Game one, won by the Rays 3-1, saw Dean Kremer (5.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 3 BB, 6 K) match Blake Snell (5.1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 4 K). Neither starter factored into the decision, however.
Cesar Valdez took the loss following a 7th inning that saw him walk Randy Arozarena, allow a Michael Perez double, a Yoshi Tsutsugo RBI groundout and a Brandon Lowe RBI sacrifice fly.
The Orioles lone rune came on a Ryan Mountcastle RBI single that scored Pat Valaika.
Game two, which featured the MLB debut of LHP Bruce Zimmermann, was won by Tampa Bay 10-6. Zimmermann allowed 5 runs on 4 hits and walked 1 while striking out 2 over 3.0 innings of work. He gave up homers to both Willy Adames and Hunter Renfroe.
Hanser Alberto (1 for 4, 1 R, 1 RBI) and Rio Ruiz (2 for 4, 1 R, 2 RBI) both homered for the Orioles. Cedric Mullins went 2 for 4 with 1 run scored as well.
Cole Sulser took the loss and dropped to 1-5 with his 3 run, 2 hit, 1 walk one-third of an inning.
The Orioles are now 22-29 on the season.
