Rays Snap Orioles Win Streak And Extend Their Own In A 5-4 Win Friday Night

BY LILY BELCHER

The Rays snapped the Orioles hot 10-game winning streak Friday night, while extending their own win streak to five games in a 5-4 victory at Tropicana Field.

Luis Patino, coming off the 60-day IL with an oblique strain, had a shaky three and one-third inning start, giving up two early runs off four hits and no strikeouts in the 56-pitch outing. Still, Patino hit the pitch count Kevin Cash expected from him in his first start since April.

“I felt good about how I felt about my arm today,” said Patino through translator Manny Navarro.

The Rays trailed the O’s 2-1 heading into the bottom of the sixth with Tampa Bay’s only run coming from an RBI double by Yu Chang to score Isaac Paredes from first. With two outs in the Rays’ sixth frame, Josh Lowe hit a double down the right field line. Yu Chang followed with his second RBI double of the night that painted the right field line to tie the game as Baltimore pulled their starting pitcher, Tyler Wells.

Francisco Mejia hit a third consecutive, double of the inning off Baltimore’s reliever and the Rays took the lead at 3-2 setting up another runner in scoring position.

Christian Bethancourt pinch-hit for Luke Raley and sent a line drive just over the low left field fence by the foul pole. Baltimore left fielder Anthony Santander started to fall over the wall but came up empty handed. Officials waited for review to determine if the ball was, in fact, foul or a two-run homerun for the Rays, who waiting anxiously on the dugout fence. As umpires took off their headphones and announced the homerun, Bethancourt trotted the bases for his first homerun in a Rays uniform while the dugout celebrated.

“In the five days I’ve been here, I learned that this team doesn’t give up no matter the circumstances. We’re going to grind and we’re going to fight and we’re going to get out there and not give up just easily,” said Bethancourt.

Cash’s middle relievers filled in for the rest of the game, with only Colin Poche giving up two runs to Baltimore batters to bring the final score to 5-4.

The Rays will host the O's Saturday at 4:10 with Ryan Yarbrough set to face Dean Kremer on the mound.