Rays Deny the Orioles a Sweep in a 3-1 Camden Yards Finale
- PowerPage Sports Staff
- 9 minutes ago
- 2 min read
The Orioles-Rays series finale ended with Tampa Bay avoiding a sweep and Baltimore settling for a two-games-to-one series win. The Rays scored all three of their runs in the sixth inning and held the Orioles to two hits in a 3-1 victory Sunday afternoon at Camden Yards.
MLB’s official Gameday record shows that Nick Martinez controlled the game for Tampa Bay. The right-hander allowed one hit over six scoreless innings, struck out four and did not issue a walk. Cam Booser and Kevin Kelly each added a clean inning before Bryan Baker worked the ninth for his 37th save.
Shane Baz matched Martinez through five innings before the game turned quickly. Yandy Díaz scored on a wild pitch, Junior Caminero followed with an RBI single and Chandler Simpson added another run-scoring single. Baz was charged with three earned runs on five hits and three walks across 5 2/3 innings.
Colton Cowser accounted for Baltimore’s entire hit total. He doubled against Martinez, then opened the bottom of the ninth with his 12th home run of the season to cut the deficit to two. Baker retired the next three Orioles, including Gunnar Henderson for the final out, before the late spark could become another comeback.
The offensive contrast was the defining issue. Baltimore went 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position, while the rest of the lineup finished 0-for-25. The Orioles’ bullpen kept the game within reach by covering 3 1/3 scoreless innings after Baz departed, but the lineup never produced the traffic needed to pressure Tampa Bay again.
Sunday’s loss does not erase the series result. Baltimore won Friday’s opener and Dylan Beavers delivered Saturday’s walk-off, giving the Orioles two victories in three games against the American League East leaders. PowerPage’s Saturday Orioles-Rays coverage captured the urgency around the matchup; the finale reinforced how small the margin remains when Baltimore’s offense goes quiet.
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