Sunday’s 5-3 win over the Tampa Bay Rays may go a long way to exercising the demons the Baltimore Orioles experience in Tropicana Field. In taking three of four from the Rays the O’s said “we aren’t your father’s Orioles anymore”.

Tropicana Field factored into the win just as much as the solid pitching of Mike Baumann (7-0) did. In the sixth inning Ryan O’Hearn (2 for 4, 1 2B, 1 HR, 1 R, 1 RBI) hit the go-ahead homerun, doinking it off of the left field foul pole 315 feet away from home plate. Baumann pitched 2.2 innings in relief of starter Tyler Wells and allowed 2 walks while striking out 2, beaching the Rays and earning the win.

Wells was not what Orioles fans have come to expect this season. Lasting just 4.1 innings, he allowed 3 runs on 1 hit, a two-run homerun to Yandy Diaz, walked 4, struck out 5 and hit 2 batters.

Gunnar Henderson went 2 for 4 with a homerun, 2 runs scored and 2 RBI. His second inning homerun traveled 446 ft. and hit the D-Ring catwalk 59 ft. above the playing field in center at Tropicana Field.

Anthony Santander (1 for 4, 1 RBI) provided an insurance run with a RBI single in the seventh inning.

Adley Rutschman (1 for 5, 1 RBI) and Adam Frazier (1 for 2, 1 R) each doubled in the game.

Baumann’s outing allowed Yennier Cano (1.0 IP, 1 K) and Felix Bautista (1.0 IP, 2 H, 2 K) to do what they do, shorten the game for the opponents. Bautista recorded his 28th save this year.

BOX SCORE

2023 Record: 61-38

Next Game: Sun. 7/24 @ 6:40 pm vs. Phillies in Philadelphia

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