For the second consecutive night, the Tampa Bay Rays came back from a multi-run deficit, this time against one of the hottest teams in baseball, ultimately defeating the Baltimore Orioles 5-4.

The Rays open play on Saturday at 50-40 on the season — 10 games over .500 with two left to play before the All-Star Break.

After being activated from the 60-Day Injured List, Luis Patiño made his first appearance since the opening home stand and performed reasonably well, allowing two runs on four hits, a walk, and a hit batsman across 3.1 innings. He threw 38 of 57 pitches for strikes (67% strike rate), however, he only coaxed two swings and misses. In the first inning, Patiño worked out of a bases-loaded jam before he put together an efficient 1-2-3 second. But, Trey Mancini hit a one-out, 1-0 cutter in the third inning, before Ramón Urías hit a one-out homer on a cutter an inning later, chasing the right-hander.

Meanwhile, Tampa Bay plated its first run against Orioles’ starter Tyler Wells in the fourth inning. Isaac Paredes walked on four pitches before Yu Chang doubled down the left field line, scoring Paredes.

Staked to a one-run lead, Wells got the first two batters of the sixth inning, yet much to his chagrin Josh Lowe doubled down the right field line, bringing Chang to the plate. The infielder doubled down the left field line, tying the game at two apiece.

Chang is 6-for-15 since getting picked up by the Rays (a .400 BA) with two doubles and three RBI. This, after slashing just .135 BA/.237 OBP/.212 SLG/.449 OPS in 42 plate appearances in Pittsburgh.

Cionel Perez entered in relief of Wells, and Francisco Mejía, welcomed him with a double to left, scoring Chang for Tampa Bay’s first lead of the night. Then, pinch-hitting for Luke Raley, Christian Bethancourt hit a towering fly ball that snuck over the wall in left. It was originally ruled foul but was called fair after a review. The two-run homer put the Rays up by three, 5-2.

After Shawn Armstrong, who also wiggled out of a bases-loaded jam, Ryan Thompson, and Matt Wisler put zeros on the board, Colin Poche took over in the eighth. Austin Hays hit a double up the left field line on a fastball poorly located in the middle of the zone. And while he got Adley Rutschman to strike out looking, Urías hit his second homer of the night, drawing Baltimore within one. Poche settled down and allowed no more further damage.

Finally, Brooks Raley retired the side on two popouts and a groundout to earn the save, his sixth of the season.

The New What Next

Ryan Yarbrough (0-4, 5.82 ERA), who was on the taxi yesterday, will get the start Saturday, pitching opposite Dean Kremer (3-1, 2.15 ERA).

Ryan Yarbrough will get the start in place of Jeffrey Springs, who was placed on the IL. Given the Rays used six pitchers on Friday, the club will not be using an opener in front of the left-hander. In his last outing, Yarbrough allowed four runs on eight hits, a walk and a hit batsman across 5.1 relief innings. He did not record a strikeout. Yarbrough followed Matt Wisler’s scoreless first by promptly giving up a single and a two-run homer to the first two batters he faced. He held Toronto scoreless over the next four innings, but then allowed another two-run homer in the seventh. It was his first appearance for the Rays after spending the better part of June playing for Triple-A Durham. Through 34 big-league innings, he’s posted a 5.82 ERA and a 5.35 FIP, with a 1.82 K/BB, and a 1.56 WHIP (career high) in a disappointing first half of the season.

Dean Kremer allowed no runs on two hits while striking out seven and walking three over five innings against the Angels on Saturday. Kremer did well against the Angels’ offense, throwing 58 of 98 pitches for strikes (59% strike rate) and limiting Los Angeles to just five baserunners. Aside from his last outing against Texas, when he allowed five runs across 4.2 frames, Kremer has pitched well since he was called up June 5. Saturday’s outing was the fourth time in seven games that the right-hander has not allowed a run. Kremer maintains a 2.15 ERA and a 3.32 FIP, with a 2.50 K/BB, and a 1.25 WHIP across 37.2 innings on the season. He is 0-0 with a 0.00 ERA in one start (6.0 innings) against the Rays this season. Key Matchups: Ji-Man Choi (2-3, 2 BB), Brett Phillips (1-4, 3B, RBI, 2 BB)

You can read about the series in our preview, while the starting lineup and Noteworthiness are below.

TNWN: Rays vs Orioles — another series preview

Rays 7/16/22 Starting Lineup

  1. Díaz DH
  2. B. Lowe 2B
  3. Ramirez RF
  4. Choi 1B
  5. Arozarena LF
  6. J. Lowe CF
  7. Paredes 3B
  8. Walls SS
  9. Bethancourt C

Noteworthiness

— The Rays made a flurry of roster moves on Saturday. Brandon Lowe (low back discomfort) has been reinstated from the 60-day IL, and LHP Ryan Yarbrough has been recalled from the taxi squad. To make room for them on the active roster, the team optioned INF Jonathan Aranda and RHP Ralph Garza Jr. to Triple-A Durham. To make room on the 40-man roster, Kevin Kiermaier (left hip inflammation) has been transferred to the 60-day IL.