The Baltimore Orioles swept a four game series with the Tampa Bay Rays much to the delight of the home crowd at Oriole Park at Camden Yards.
After winning a three games series with Toronto, they flew to Texas and lost a makeup game 4-3. They then came back home and split a two game series with the Padres before winning their first-ever four game series against the Rays to finish their current home stand at 7-2.
The soaring A.L. first place Birds are now a season-best 15 games over .500 at (45-30). They now have a four game lead over the Boston Red Sox (41-34).
After winning the first three game of the series, the Orioles would not let up and won the series finale 12-5. The tone was set in the first inning when Chris “Crush” Davis blasted a grand slam to give his team an early 4-0 lead. It was his 18th home run of the season.
Mark Trumbo joined the long ball party, smashing his MLB-best 22nd homer, a two-run shot in the fifth inning and Jonathan Schoop added his 13th long ball of the season. Davis finished the game 2 for 4 with four RBIs and Trumbo was 2 for 5 with three RBIs. Trumbo now has a team-high 55 RBIs for the season and Davis has 50. Adam Jones went 4 for 4 with one RBI.
Meanwhile, starter Tyler Wilson allowed 10 hits and five runs while walking two and striking out one in five innings of work. He improved to (4-5) with a 4.50 ERA. The bullpen pitched shutout ball while recording five strikeouts.
The first game of the series saw the Orioles rally from an early 3-0 deficit to win 6-3 on the strength of a four run sixth inning. Davis went 2 for 4 with two RBIs, and Manny Machado, back from a four-game suspension for fighting went 2 for 4 including his 18th home run of the season. Jones chipped in with his 14th homer of the year.
Starter Yovani Gallardo, allowed seven hits and three runs in 5.1 innings of work. He also struck out three and walked two. The bullpen was steady again and closer Zach Britton came on to record his AL-best 22nd save of the season.
Next the Orioles swept a makeup doubleheader. The first game was a 5-0 Baltimore beat down. Starter Kevin Gausman won his first game ever after multiple tries. He struck out seven while allowing four hits and no walks in 7.2 innings of work. He improved to (1-5) with a 3.93 ERA.
Pedro Alverez went 1 for 3 with two RBIs. Jones was 2 for 5 with one RBI and J.J. Hardy and backup catcher Francisco Pena each knocked in a run.
The evening game saw the Birds rally again, this time from a 4-0 deficit in the fourth to win 8-6. Catcher Matt Wieters led the way with two home runs. He finished 3 for 4 with three RBIs. It was his two-run shot in the fourth that paced the comeback. Jones and Davis also homered and had two RBIs each.
Meanwhile, their ace Chris Tillman struggled to find his command and only lasted to the fifth inning. He surrendered 10 hits and allowed six runs while striking out two and walking two.
Relievers T. J. McFarland, who got the win (2-2) and Brad Brach pitched two shutout innings and closer Britton finished the game and recorded his AL-best 23rd save of the season.
