The Baltimore Orioles went into Monday night’s game hoping to complete a four-game sweep of the Tampa Bay Rays (75-49). A 7-6 loss to the Rays prevented the O’s from securing a four-game sweep and kept Baltimore’s broom in the closet.
With the Orioles holding a 6-4 lead, the bullpen surrendered three runs in the bottom of the seventh to give the Rays a 7-6 lead. That lead held up as the Orioles wasted a runners on first and third with one out situation in the eighth as well as a runner on first with two outs situation in the ninth.
Tampa Bay hit three consecutive singles with runners on first and second and no one out to plate three runs. Yennier Cano (2-3), who allowed those three runs on three hits, took the loss for the Orioles.
Monday was not a typical outing for starter Brandon Young. The righty lasted just 4.0 innings and allowed 4 runs on 8 hits, which included three homeruns, walked 1 and struck out 3 on 82 pitches (57 K’s).
Aside from Cano, the trio of relievers, Cam Sanders (2.0 IP, 3 K), Josh Walker (1.0 IP, H, BB) and Rico Garcia (1.0 IP, BB, 2 K) were effective.
The Orioles matched Tampa Bay’s three homeruns with three of their own. Coby Mayo (2 for 5, 2B, 2 R, RBI) hit a solo one in the second inning as did Pete Alonso (2 for 5) in the fifth. Christian Encarnacion-Strand (3 for 5, R, 4 RBI) was the offense’s star and added a two-run homerun in the fifth inning as well as a 2-RBI single in the fourth. Both the Alonso and CES homeruns came off of former Orioles pitcher Tyler Wells.
Christian Franklin went 2 for 2 with a stolen base. Tyler O’Neill and Gunnar Henderson each had a pair of hits as well.
Once again, the Orioles could not move to one game under .500.
2026 Record: 61-64
Next Game: Tues. 8/18 @ 6:35 pm vs. New York Yankees
