Orioles attempt to widen AL East lead on Rays
baltimore orioles Will look to increase their lead in the American League East when they oppose it tampa bay rays again on Friday in St. Petersburg, Florida
orioles (59-37), who entered the four-game series leading rays (60-40) for first place based on percentage points, moved one game ahead with a 4-3, 10-inning win in the opener
Baltimore, looking for its 11th win in 13 games, is playing its best baseball of the season. on Friday orioles will try to finish rays For the fifth time in seven meetings of the teams this season
“Our goal is not to be in first place on July 20, but to be there at the end of the season,” orioles said manager Brandon Hyde. “There’s a lot of baseball left. The players have done a great job this whole season and I’m proud of them. (They) put themselves in the position they’re in now. We still have a few months left.
orioles Will try to earn at least a series split on Friday behind Kyle Bradish (6-4, 3.05 ERA), who has had a stellar season this month.
In his three July starts against the Minnesota Twins, New York Yankees and Miami Marlins, the right-hander is 2-1 with a 0.47 ERA. He has allowed only one run on 13 hits, including 20 strikeouts and four walks in 19 1/3 innings.
He’s almost as good as the last time he faced rays, Bradish allowed two runs on four hits and two walks over five innings with eight strikeouts in an 8–6 victory on June 20.
In his career against Tampa Bay, Bradish is 1–1 with a 7.98 ERA with 16 strikeouts and five walks in three starts over 14 2/3 innings.
raysIn the meantime, falter. They have lost five in a row and 12 out of the last 15 matches
Rookie Colton Couser’s sacrifice fly scored Aaron Hicks to score the run. orioles 4-3 lead in top of 10th Thursday
bottom of innings rays There were runners on first and second after Vander Franco opened the frame as an automatic runner on second and Luke Raleigh was hit by a pitch. However, Baltimore All-Star closer Felix Bautista struck out Randy Arrozarena, who fanned four times in five at-bats on the night before Brandon Lowe grounded into a game-ending double play.
rays 13 dismissals — one less than that orioles — on Thursday
“We don’t have a lot going on right now,” Tampa Bay manager Kevin Cash said before the opening of the series. “We’re not creating chances like we’re capable of, and the things we’re doing well probably aren’t performing at the rate we’d like.”
rays The ball will be handed over to Zach Aflin (10-5, 3.59 ERA), who is coming off his worst start of the season. The right-hander allowed five runs on seven hits with no strikeouts or walks in just three innings of an 8-4 loss to the host Kansas City Royals on Sunday.
The last time he faced Baltimore, Eflin allowed four runs on seven hits with four strikeouts over six innings of a 4–2 loss on May 9.
Aflin is 1–2 with a 4.74 ERA, including two walks in 19 innings over three starts with 20 strikeouts. orioles in his career
–Field Level Media
