Perez Homers In 8th, AL East-leading Rays Beat Orioles 4-3

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.: Michael Perez hit a go-ahead solo homer in the eighth inning and the AL East-leading Tampa Bay Rays beat the Baltimore Orioles 4-3 on Wednesday night.

Perez homered to center off Mychal Givens (0-1). It was his first long ball since Aug. 10, 2018.

Ryan Sherriff (1-0) worked a perfect eighth in his first big league game since May 7, 2018, due to Tommy John surgery.

Diego Castillo pitched the ninth to get his first save. Ten Tampa Bay relievers have a save this season.

Brandon Lowe hit his 10th homer for the Rays, who have won nine of 11. Oft-injured center fielder Kevin Kiermaier left with back spasms in the fifth.

The Orioles are 8-3 on the road after losing the first two games of the series. Their only other defeat away from home came opening day at Boston.

One day after his 18-game hitting streak ended, Anthony Santander pulled the Orioles even at 3 on an RBI single in the seventh.

Lowe tied it at 2 on a two-run drive in the third. It was his seventh homer over his last 14 games.

Pinch-hitter Yandy Daz put the Rays up 3-2 in the fifth with a fielders choice.

Cedric Mullins opened the first inning with his major league-leading sixth bunt single and scored when Rays right fielder Hunter Renfroe misplayed Hanser Albertos single. Renato Nezs fielders choice made it 2-0.

Kiermaier grabbed his back while running to second on double-play grounder in the fourth and departed one inning later while batting. He didnt start, but entered as a defensive replacement Tuesday after departing Mondays game after getting hitting by a pitch on the right foot.

TRAINERS ROOM

Orioles: SS Jos Iglesias (left quadriceps) took grounders, hit and ran the bases and should be ready to come off the IL in the next day or two. … C Pedro Severino (hip flexor) is also close to coming back. Thats a big deal for us, manager Brandon Hyde said. Were a lot deeper with both those guys taking at-bats.

Rays: RHP Charlie Morton (right shoulder) will throw to hitters Thursday. … LHP Jalen Beeks (left elbow strain) was placed on the 45-day IL. Tampa Bay has nine pitchers on the IL.

UP NEXT

Orioles: LHP John Means (0-2, 10.13) and Rays LHP Ryan Yarbrough (0-2, 4.45) are Thursday nights starters. Means has yet to exhibit the form he showed as a rookie last year, in part because he started season on the IL with arm fatigue and spent time on the bereavement list earlier this month after his father passed away

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