[Art Deco]

Game 1: A pretty good pitchers' duel between Daniel Lynch and Kevin Abel was decided in the 7th inning when Brandon Nimmo took Lynch deep for a 2-run HR and the Orioles beat the Rays 5-2 to move back within 3 1/2 games of the division lead and 2 in the loss column. Lynch had given up a first inning HR to Bryson Stott and another in the 4th but the Rays came back both times to equalize, first on Patrick Bailey's first MLB homer (and hit) and then on Spencer Torkelson's RBI single. But with 1 out and a man on in the 7th, the lefty Nimmo homered off the lefty Lynch to decide the game. Liam Hendriks came on and was great, retiring all 5 Orioles he faced including 3 via strikeout, but Aaron Ashby allowed Baltimore an insurance run in the 9th. The Rays were playing without Keibert Ruiz and Keston Hiura, who both needed to be rested, and then Austin Meadows had to leave the game in the 4th with quadriceps soreness after hitting a double. He's DtD for 3 more days after this, so he'll probably be limited to pinch-hitting the rest of this series. The two 1B who can't hit, Renato Nunez and Triston Casas (who played 3B today), were each 0-3 and are now hitting .169 and .174 respectively. Alec Bohm can't come back soon enough (he's still out for another 8 days).

Game 2: The Rays continue to have their problems with Baltimore, losing this one in the 9th 5-3. Today's loss was the 4th straight to Baltimore, all at the Trop, and the O's lead the season series 7-4, which is why they're now within 2 1/2 games and 1 in the loss column. They were done in by Baltimore rookie Druw Jones, son of the legendary Andruw. Jones homered to lead the game off against Matt Manning and then delivered the game-winning hit, a triple off Jose Alvarado in the 9th. The Rays rallied from a 3-0 deficit to tie the game before the 9th, first on a 2-run HR from Brandon Marsh (#12) in the 5th and then on a Vidal Brujan RBI single in the 7th. Both times Bramdon Perez came in to score as the rookie RF filling in for Austin Meadows went 3-4 with a triple. The triple came in the bottom of the 9th but the Rays couldn't get him home. Matt Manning wasn't his best, as his recent not-so-great run sees his ERA rise from just below 2 to now just below 3 at 2.98 after today's 6 8 3 3 0 8. Aaron Ashby pitched a scoreless 7th, Nick Anderson got two outs in the 8th before Alvarado came in and ended up losing it in the 9th.

July 16: Optioned P Dustin May to AAA Durham, activated P Asa Lacy from his rehab assignment at AAA Durham.

Lacy will get the start tonight with Tyler Glasnow out one more day with his back spasms, and will take over May's long relief role afterwards.

Game 3: Talk about seizing your opportunity. That's what Asa Lacy did today in his spot start for the Rays, pitching 8 shutout innings in a critical 4-0 win over Baltimore to avoid getting swept and to keep the Orioles from getting with 1 1/2 games and level in the loss column. Instead it's 3 1/2 and 2, thanks to Lacy's brilliant 8 5 0 0 1 8 performance on 106 pitches. He got into some trouble off the bat with two men on in the first inning but got out of it and was never in danger after that. Keibert Ruiz did assist him by throwing out a couple of runners trying to steal but this was Lacy's gem. Overlooked before he got hurt was the fact he had pitched well before this and for the season he has a 4/28 BB/K ratio in 26 innings. He got all the offense he would need in the 1st when the Rays scored on a Ruiz single and Bramdon Perez's sac fly. Keibert came through again in the 2nd with an RBI knock to make it 3-0, and Perez got his 2nd RBI when he singled in Keston Hiura in the 7th after Hiura singled and stole second. Wander was 3-5 with 2 runs scored and a steal. Renato Nunez started against a RHP today as Hunter Bishop needed a rest and he was 0-4 and left 6 men on base as he dropped to .163. He's a very good candidate to be DFA'd when Alec Bohm comes back.

Team record: 58-37. Next up: An off-day followed by 3 games at home vs Seattle before we head into the All-Star break.