Tampa Bay Rays vs Baltimore Orioles Match Player Stats On Aug 07, 2021

Brandon Lowe hit a grand slam off the foul pole in left field, and Nelson Cruz, Wander Franco and Yandy Diaz also homered as the visiting Tampa Bay Rays defeated the Baltimore Orioles 12-3 on Saturday night.

Left-hander Shane McClanahan (6-4) -- a Baltimore native -- threw seven strong innings, allowing three runs, five hits and a walk while striking out eight.

Baltimore starter Spenser Watkins (2-3) went six innings. He gave up five runs (four earned) on eight hits with four strikeouts and no walks.

Diaz gave the Rays a 1-0 lead with a home run to left center to lead off the second inning. Tampa Bay added another run in the inning on Kevin Kiermaier's fielder choice grounder.

The Orioles responded by taking a 3-2 lead in third. Rookie Jorge Mateo doubled, then stole third and scored on catcher Mike Zunino's throwing error.

After Richie Martin walked, Cedric Mullins belted a two-run homer. Mullins extended his career-best hitting streak to 15 games.

But Cruz, a former Orioles player, put the Rays in front with a two-run shot in the fifth. Brett Phillips then made it 5-3 on an RBI double in the sixth.

Lowe hit his slam and Franco added a solo shot for a five-run eighth and a 10-3 lead. Tampa added two in the ninth.

Baltimore starting catcher Pedro Severino left early with a knee contusion before the start of the fourth inning. Kiermaier left before the bottom of the third began with what the team said was a knee injury.

The Orioles made three more pitching moves before the game to help their thin bullpen. They recalled right-hander Isaac Mattson from Triple-A Norfolk and reinstated lefty Ryan Hartman from the injured list.

Baltimore also designated right-hander Conner Greene for assignment.

Before the game, the Orioles inducted superfan Mo Gaba (who died of cancer last year), long-time former announcer Joe Angel, shortstop J.J. Hardy and outfielder Mike Devereaux into the team's Hall of Fame.

--Field Level Media