Jorge Mateo hit a tiebreaking, two-out double in the sixth inning as the Baltimore Orioles defeated the visiting Tampa Bay Rays 3-1 on Friday night to open a three-game series.
Ryan Mountcastle, Anthony Santander and Mateo each had two hits for the Orioles, who’ve won seven of their past eight games.
The Rays were held to five hits and five walks, losing their fourth consecutive series opener and failing in a bid to return to a .500 record.
Orioles starter Albert Suarez gave up one run on four hits in five innings. He struck out five and walked two, throwing 95 pitches.
Cionel Perez (1-0) threw one shutout inning in relief to earn the win. Four relievers followed him, with Craig Kimbrel working the ninth for his 13th save.
Rays starter Aaron Civale allowed one run on six hits with one walk and three strikeouts in 5 1/3 innings. He took a shutout into the sixth and left with one out and one runner on base. The Orioles got their first run on Austin Hays’ pinch-hit single off Richard Lovelady, with the run charged to Civale.
Mateo’s double came off Phil Maton, with both runs the responsibility of Lovelady (1-4), who lasted only one-third of an inning.
Tampa Bay took the early lead when Richie Palacios led off the second with a double. He moved to second on a sacrifice bunt and scored on Ben Rortvedt’s one-out single. It was the first RBI for Rortvedt since May 6.
Justin Sterner made his major league debut, pitching the seventh and eighth innings for the Rays. He didn’t allow a run despite yielding two hits and an intentional walk. He struck out two.
Tampa Bay left eight on base and went 1-for-6 with runners in scoring position. The Rays also wasted Isaac Paredes’ one-out double in the third.
Baltimore finished with 11 hits and drew three walks but stranded 11 runners.
–Field Level Media
