Junior Caminero recorded his second RBI single of the game in the seventh inning to cap a four-hit performance, helping the host Tampa Bay Rays overcome an early eight-run deficit in a 12-8 victory over the Baltimore Orioles on Wednesday.
Tampa Bay’s Jonathan Aranda collected three hits and matched Brandon Lowe, Jake Mangum and Caminero with two RBIs.
Taylor Walls, Christopher Morel, Yandy Diaz and Josh Lowe each drove in a run for the Rays, who banged out 18 hits to overcome an 8-0 deficit in the second inning.
Baltimore’s Colton Cowser and Ramon Laureano each launched a three-run homer and Cedric Mullins also went deep. Gunnar Henderson had an RBI single for the Orioles, who did not record a hit after the second inning.
The Rays scored their first eight runs over the third through fifth innings before taking over the lead by scoring four runs with two outs in the seventh.
Caminero’s infield single off Andrew Kittredge (1-1) plated Diaz and Josh Lowe scored Brandon Lowe with an RBI single to right field. Aranda’s two-run single to center extended Tampa Bay’s lead to 12-8 and ultimately saddled the loss on Kittredge, who permitted four runs on four hits in one inning.
The uprising enabled Mason Montgomery (1-1) to pick up his first career win. He struck out one batter and did not allow a hit in one scoreless inning.
Forrest Whitley bridged the gap to Pete Fairbanks, who retired the side in the ninth to secure the win.
Tampa Bay halved its eight-run deficit following Morel’s RBI double and Mangum’s two-run single in the third and Caminero’s RBI single in the fourth.
Walls tripled and came around to score in the fifth to cut Baltimore’s lead to 8-6 before Brandon Lowe crushed a 3-2 fastball from Yennier Cano over the wall in right-center field to forge a tie. Lowe’s homer was his 15th of the season and second in three games.
Baltimore bolted out of the blocks as Cowser belted his second homer in as many nights after depositing a 2-2 offering from Taj Bradley over the wall in center field.
Mullins’ team-leading 12th homer gave the Orioles a 4-0 lead and the next two batters reached before Henderson’s RBI single chased Bradley. Laureano greeted Kevin Kelly by powering a 2-1 sinker over the wall in right-center field.
–Field Level Media
