The Baltimore Orioles (62-67) defeated the Tampa Bay Rays (76-52) 5-3 on Friday night at Camden Yards in Baltimore to win the opener of the three-game weekend series.
The Orioles got on the board in the first inning, but in the second the Rays answered with three runs thanks to a RBI single form Chandler Simpson and s two-run homer from Kenny Piper. The Orioles rallied with one in the bottom of the second to pull within 3-2, then took the lead for good with a three-run fifth inning powered by Tampa product Pete Alonso hitting a two-run homer - his 30th of the year - to give the Os a 5-3 advantage that would prove to be the final score of the game.
The Rays and Orioles now meet in the middle game of the three-game series on Saturday night. First pitch Saturday is scheduled for 7:05 PM - Chris Adams-Wall begins pregame coverage at 6:30 PM on 95.7 WDAE & AM 620, your Home of Rays Baseball.
COVER PHOTO COURTESY GETTY IMAGES