The Rays erased a two-run deficit with a four-run eighth inning to defeat the Orioles 5-3 at Tropicana Field. Tampa Bay trailed 3-1 entering the eighth before scoring four times to complete the comeback victory.
Jesse Scholtens earned the win for Tampa Bay, allowing 2 runs on 6 hits over 4.0 innings with 4 strikeouts. Shane Baz pitched effectively for Baltimore, giving up just 1 run on 2 hits over 6.0 innings with 6 strikeouts and 3 walks, carrying a 4.71 ERA.
The decisive eighth inning began when Jonathan Aranda doubled to center, scoring Dunn and Simpson to tie the game 3-3. Richie Palacios then singled to right, bringing Aranda home to give Tampa Bay a 4-3 lead. Ryan Vilade capped the rally by stealing home while Palacios stole second, extending the margin to 5-3.
Pete Alonso drove in both runs during Baltimore's sixth-inning surge, first tying the game 1-1 with an RBI single in the third, then giving the Orioles a 2-1 lead with a solo homer. Samuel Basallo followed with another solo shot to make it 3-1. Anthony Nunez took the loss, allowing 4 runs on 3 hits in just 0.2 innings for his first loss of the season.
Tampa Bay extended its winning streak to three games and improved to 32-15. Baltimore fell to 21-28 with its second straight loss. Alonso, going 2-for-4 with 2 RBI and 1 home run, sits 6 hits away from 1,000 career hits.