After a disappointing series loss to the Kansas City Royals, the Tampa Bay Rays lost a crucial game 5-1 to the Baltimore Orioles on Monday at Oriole Park...much to the delight of the Blues. Toronto Jays.
• Read also: MLB: the Blue Jays on the hunt for the Cardinals
By virtue of this defeat, the Florida team is now one game behind the Jays and second in the American East Division.
The Duel of the Day hosts, who enjoyed an irresistible streak earlier this month to rekindle their hopes of making the playoffs, came into their own in the fifth inning.
Ryan Mountcastle got the ball rolling by hitting a Corey Kluber (6-6) offering to safety to allow Ryan McKenna and Cedric Mullins to cross home plate. Adley Rutschman scored a few moments later, thanks to an option from Anthony Santander. Then, Austin Hays hit a sacrifice fly to triple the lead for his team.
The day did not go as planned for Kluber. He allowed seven hits and five runs - four of which were earned - in five innings of work.
The Orioles employed five different gunners, and Austin Voth fulfilled his tenure as the starting pitcher. However, the victory went to Nick Vespi (3-0), who struck out four batters in less than two innings.
The Rays and Orioles will meet three more times by Friday.
The Ruthless Reds
At Great American Ball Park, Jonathan India's first career grand slam propelled the Cincinnati Reds to an 11-2 win over the Miami Marlins.
The winners, dead last in the Central section of the National, have had good times for some time. After winning their series against the St. Louis Cardinals, they beat another team better ranked than them.
India sent a Zach Pop offering into the stands in the fifth inning to add four runs to the board. The Reds, however, already held a 6-2 lead, in particular due to the largesse of Trevor Rogers (4-10). The Marlins gunner allowed six earned runs on eight hits over three and two-thirds innings.
Brandon Drury particularly hurt Rogers' cause by hitting a three-run homer at his expense in the fourth.
Nick Londolo (3-3) was imperative in six innings on the mound for the hosts. He passed nine batters in the mitt and allowed just two earned runs on five hits.
