Baltimore Orioles’ Colton Cowser hits a three-run home run during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays, Thursday, June 19, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Jason Behnken)
Rays Lose Ground as Baltimore Erupts in the Sixth
Tampa Bay’s nine‑game winning streak feels distant now. A third straight loss — this one a 10–2 defeat in Baltimore — trimmed the Rays’ lead over the Yankees to 5.5 games and underscored how quickly momentum can flip in mid‑August.
Ryan Vilade gave Tampa Bay a brief spark with a solo homer in the fourth, falling a triple shy of the cycle, but the Rays’ offense never found sustained rhythm. Freddy Peralta, making his first home start since arriving from the Mets, allowed just one hit through 4 2/3 innings but still took the loss. He hasn’t recorded a win since June 14.
Baltimore answered immediately in the fifth. Jackson Holliday drove in a run with a sharp RBI single, and Pete Alonso followed with a two‑run double to push the Orioles ahead 3–1.
Baltimore’s Seven‑Run Sixth Buries Tampa Bay
Everything unraveled in the sixth. With two outs, eight straight Orioles reached base as Baltimore piled up seven runs and broke the game open.
Colton Cowser launched a two‑run homer to ignite the surge. Holliday added a two‑run double, and Christian Encarnacion‑Strand capped the inning with a bases‑clearing double — a three‑run shot that turned a tight game into a 10–1 runaway. Encarnacion‑Strand had started the inning with a lineout, only to return as the inning’s dagger.
Jackson Holliday finished with three RBIs, while Trevor Rogers delivered six strong innings, scattering seven hits and striking out six to improve to 8–8. Baltimore has now won three straight as it continues its push for the final AL wild‑card spot.
Rays Searching for Answers
The Rays have dropped three consecutive games after their nine‑game surge, and the offense has cooled at the worst possible time. Tampa Bay managed just two runs Sunday and couldn’t capitalize on early chances against Rogers.
Peralta’s outing showed flashes, but the lack of run support and Baltimore’s sixth‑inning explosion erased any margin for error.
Up Next
The four‑game series concludes Monday. Baltimore turns to Brandon Young (9–3, 3.33 ERA), while Tampa Bay activates Shane McClanahan (9–6, 3.09 ERA) off the injured list for a crucial start as the Rays try to halt their slide and protect their shrinking division lead.
