Mateo Stings The Rays
Friday’s game between the Baltimore Orioles and the Tampa Bay Rays was a 1-0 nailbiter in favor of the Rays for five and one-half innings. A three-run outburst in the Orioles half of the sixth changed that and propelled the Orioles to a 3-1 win. The win as well as the performance by Albert Suarez may have helped to take the sting out of the news that John Means and Tyler Wells were lost for the season due to elbow injuries.
Suarez started and pitched 5.0 innings, allowing 1 run on 4 hits with 2 walks and 5 strikeouts. He grinded out the five innings, throwing 95 pitches, 58 for strikes. The fourth inning was the only one in which he didn’t have to navigate traffic on the bases.
The sixth inning saw the Birds get on the board with three consecutive singles by Anthony Santander (2 for 4, R), Colton Cowser (1 for 3, R, BB) and Austin Hays (1 for 2, R, RBI) who pinch hit for Cedric Mullins (0 for 2).
A two out double by Jorge Mateo (2 for 4, 2B, 2 RBI) plated two runs, giving the Orioles a cushion.
Yennier Cano (0.2 IP, H, 2 BB), Danny Coulombe (1.0 IP, BB, K), Jacob Webb (0.1 IP) and Craig Kimbrel (1.0 IP, 2 K) took it from there.
Cionel Perez (1-0), who pitched the sixth inning and struck out 1 was the pitcher of record and Kimbrel earned his 13th save of the season.
2024 Record: 36-19
Next Game: Sat. 6/1 @ 4:05 pm vs. Tampa Bay Rays