Cobb, Longoria power Rays to series win over Orioles
The Sports Xchange
Jul 26, 2017
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- The Tampa Bay Rays got another stellar start from Alex Cobb, and Evan Longoria's sixth-inning home run helped them to a 5-1 win over the Baltimore Orioles on Wednesday afternoon at Tropicana Field.
The Rays (53-49) took two of the three from the Orioles, bouncing back nicely from a five-game losing streak.
The Orioles (48-53) led 1-0 into the sixth behind starter Ubaldo Jimenez, but Longoria crushed a two-run home run to give Tampa Bay the lead.
The only run from either team in the first five innings came from Baltimore's Jonathan Schoop, who hit a solo home run in the fourth off Cobb (9-6), who pitched seven innings of four-hit baseball to win for the third time in four starts. Cobb struck out six and benefited from stellar defense, like a double play in the sixth as shortstop Adeiny Hechavarria flipped from his glove to Tim Beckham after a Manny Machado single.
Jimenez (4-7), who entered the game with a 7.19 ERA, walked Rays outfielder Mallex Smith in the sixth, and Longoria hit a two-out home run to left field -- his 15th of the season -- for a 2-1 lead. Steven Souza Jr. added a solo home run in the seventh -- his 21st of the year -- off reliever Darren O'Day to extend the lead to 3-1.
Tampa Bay added two insurance runs in the eighth, with Logan Morrison getting an RBI single off Zach Britton and Souza following with an RBI groundout for a 5-1 lead, allowing the Rays to avoid using closer Alex Colome.
The Rays' bullpen, which has struggled of late, got a scoreless eighth from Tommy Hunter and a scoreless ninth from Brad Boxberger.
NOTES: The Rays placed RHP Jake Odorizzi on the 10-day disabled list with a lower back strain. Odorizzi was scheduled to start Friday at the Yankees, but that's now TBA as the team evaluates its options. RHP Andrew Kittredge was recalled from Triple-A Durham, rejoining the bullpen ... The Orioles get Thursday off before continuing on the road with three games at the Texas Rangers this weekend, while the Rays hit the road for an eight-game trek with two tough series ahead at the New York Yankees and Houston Astros. ... Rays C Wilson Ramos was back in the starting lineup Wednesday after taking six staples to close a laceration on his head, sustained Monday night when Ruben Tejada's broken bat hit his helmet on his backswing. Ramos was a pinch-hitter in Tuesday's win.
Jul 26, 2017
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- The Tampa Bay Rays got another stellar start from Alex Cobb, and Evan Longoria's sixth-inning home run helped them to a 5-1 win over the Baltimore Orioles on Wednesday afternoon at Tropicana Field.
The Rays (53-49) took two of the three from the Orioles, bouncing back nicely from a five-game losing streak.
The Orioles (48-53) led 1-0 into the sixth behind starter Ubaldo Jimenez, but Longoria crushed a two-run home run to give Tampa Bay the lead.
The only run from either team in the first five innings came from Baltimore's Jonathan Schoop, who hit a solo home run in the fourth off Cobb (9-6), who pitched seven innings of four-hit baseball to win for the third time in four starts. Cobb struck out six and benefited from stellar defense, like a double play in the sixth as shortstop Adeiny Hechavarria flipped from his glove to Tim Beckham after a Manny Machado single.
Jimenez (4-7), who entered the game with a 7.19 ERA, walked Rays outfielder Mallex Smith in the sixth, and Longoria hit a two-out home run to left field -- his 15th of the season -- for a 2-1 lead. Steven Souza Jr. added a solo home run in the seventh -- his 21st of the year -- off reliever Darren O'Day to extend the lead to 3-1.
Tampa Bay added two insurance runs in the eighth, with Logan Morrison getting an RBI single off Zach Britton and Souza following with an RBI groundout for a 5-1 lead, allowing the Rays to avoid using closer Alex Colome.
The Rays' bullpen, which has struggled of late, got a scoreless eighth from Tommy Hunter and a scoreless ninth from Brad Boxberger.
NOTES: The Rays placed RHP Jake Odorizzi on the 10-day disabled list with a lower back strain. Odorizzi was scheduled to start Friday at the Yankees, but that's now TBA as the team evaluates its options. RHP Andrew Kittredge was recalled from Triple-A Durham, rejoining the bullpen ... The Orioles get Thursday off before continuing on the road with three games at the Texas Rangers this weekend, while the Rays hit the road for an eight-game trek with two tough series ahead at the New York Yankees and Houston Astros. ... Rays C Wilson Ramos was back in the starting lineup Wednesday after taking six staples to close a laceration on his head, sustained Monday night when Ruben Tejada's broken bat hit his helmet on his backswing. Ramos was a pinch-hitter in Tuesday's win.
