Field Level Media
Sep 19, 2020
Yoshi Tsutsugo homered early, and Randy Arozarena added a tie-breaking two-run shot later as the visiting Tampa Bay Rays defeated the Baltimore Orioles a 3-1 Saturday night.
The Rays (35-18) have won the first four games of this five-game weekend series and will try to finish the sweep Sunday afternoon.
Charlie Morton (2-2) pitched five solid innings to get the win. He squirmed out of trouble a few times, allowing one run on five hits. He struck out six and walked two.
The Rays' bullpen came through once more, throwing four shutout innings. Ryan Thompson got the final two outs for his first career save.
Jorge Lopez (2-1) took the loss, giving up all three runs over six innings. He surrendered eight hits and one walk while striking out five.
The Orioles took a 1-0 lead in the first when Morton hit Chance Sisco with a pitch with the bases loaded. Baltimore had three more good scoring opportunities in the first five innings, but the slumping offense scored no more.
Tsutsugo tied the game when he led off the third inning with a solo homer. Arozarena's two-run blast to right field gave the Rays the lead for good at 3-1 in the fifth inning.
The Orioles (22-31) also were helped by some good defense, especially from second baseman Hanser Alberto, who twice threw runners out at home on infield grounders with less than two outs. That kept Baltimore in the game.
But the Orioles lost shortstop Jose Iglesias when he was hit on the left wrist by a Morton pitch in the second inning. He left with what the team called a wrist contusion.
Also, Baltimore manager Brandon Hyde said before the game that Chris Davis will not be returning this season. Davis has been on the injured list twice due to left knee patellar tendinitis and was eligible to come back next week, but Hyde said that won't happen.
--Field Level Media