Orioles edge struggling Rays in battle for top spot in AL East

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Colton Cowser hit a sacrifice fly in the 10th inning, and the AL East-leading Baltimore Orioles beat the Tampa Bay Rays 4-3 on Thursday night in the opener of a four-game series between the American League’s top teams.

Baltimore started the day in first place for the first time after the All-Star break since Aug, 15, 2016. The Orioles, who started July 6 1/2 games back, now have a one-game lead.

Aaron Hicks opened the 10th at second as the automatic runner. He advanced on pinch-hitter Adam Frazier’s sacrifice bunt and scampered home on Cowser’s fly ball to left against Robert Stephenson (1-4).

Félix Bautista (5-1) worked a perfect ninth for Baltimore and then stayed on for the 10th. He hit Luke Raley and struck out Randy Arozarena before Brandon Lowe bounced into a game-ending double play.

Orioles second baseman Ramón Urías helped keep the game tied in the eighth when he made a diving stop on pinch-hitter Harold Ramírez’s grounder with two on and threw him out at first.

Tampa Bay has lost five in a row. It is tied with Pittsburgh for the majors’ worst July record at 3-12.

The announced crowd, which included a sizable turnout of Orioles fans, was 20,203. Tampa Bay entered averaging 17,849 at home.

The Rays trailed 3-1 before rallying in the seventh. Taylor Walls singled and Christian Bethancourt reached on a bunt hit, ending Kyle Gibson’s night. Yandy Díaz then greeted Yennier Cano with a two-run double.

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Baltimore had been in front since it scored three times in the fourth. Gunnar Henderson sparked the rally with some smart baserunning, racing into third for a leadoff triple when Arozarena lobbed a throw toward the infield after fielding the hit down the left-field line.

Adley Rutschman singled on Tyler Glasnow’s next pitch and later scored on Ryan O’Hearn’s sacrifice fly.

Baltimore took a 3-1 lead when Anthony Santander knocked the ball loose during a tag attempt by catcher Francisco Mejía after Aaron Hicks’ single. Mejía was charged with an error.

Tampa Bay had a runner in scoring position in each of the first five innings but scored just once on Mejía’s second-inning RBI single.

Glasnow struck out nine in seven innings. Gibson struck out eight in six-plus innings.

MORE ON ATTENDANCE

The Rays became the 26th MLB team to hit 900,000 in home attendance this season. Only Detroit, Kansas City, Miami and Oakland have failed to reach the mark.

EN ROUTE

Shintaro Fujinami, who was acquired by Baltimore in a trade with Oakland on Wednesday night, is expected to join the Orioles in the next couple days. The right-hander will work out of the bullpen.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Orioles: RHP Mychal Givens (right shoulder) is lightly throwing off a bullpen mound. … RHP Austin Voth (right elbow) worked a perfect inning for the rookie-level FCL Orioles.

Rays: Mejía departed with left knee discomfort. … RHP Andrew Kittredge (Tommy John surgery) went 1⅓ hitless innings for Triple-A Durham.

UP NEXT

Orioles RHP Kyle Bradish (6-4) and Rays RHP Zach Eflin (10-5) are Friday night’s starters.

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