Hicks homers and drives in 4 as the Orioles beat the Rays 8-6 after nearly blowing a 7-run lead
Baltimore Orioles' Aaron Hicks (34) celebrates with Adam Frazier (12), Austin Hays (21), and Anthony Santander (25) after his three-run home run off Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Tyler Glasnow during the first inning of a baseball game Tuesday, June 20, 2023, in St. Petersburg, Fla. Credit: AP/Chris O'Meara
ST. PETERSURG, Fla. — Aaron Hicks homered and had four RBIs as the Baltimore Orioles beat the Tampa Bay Rays 8-6 after nearly blowing a seven-run lead Tuesday night in a matchup of the top two teams in the AL East.
Anthony Santander and Ryan O'Hearn also went deep, and Kyle Bradish (3-3) gave up two runs and four hits over five innings for the Orioles, who moved within four games of the first-place Rays. Félix Bautista, the fifth Baltimore reliever, got four outs to earn his 20th save on his 28th birthday.
Francisco Mejía had an RBI double off Bradish during a two-run fifth before Manuel Margot drove in two with a pinch-hit single in a four-run sixth against three Baltimore relievers as the Rays got within 7-6.
Tampa Bay dropped to 31-8 at home, and has lost three straight overall. The Rays entered as the only team in the majors without a three-game skid this year.
Baltimore’s Austin Hays, who started the day leading the AL in batting, went 3 for 4 and raised his average from .320 to .327. He has a career-high streak of five multiple-hit games.
Gunnar Henderson, who missed Sunday's game at the Chicago Cubs with the flu, doubled on Tyler Glasnow's first pitch and scored on Santander's single. Hicks made it 4-0 with his three-run drive.
Hicks gave Baltimore an 8-6 advantage on his RBI single in the eighth off Robert Stephenson.
Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher Kyle Bradish delivers to the Tampa Bay Rays during the first inning of a baseball game Tuesday, June 20, 2023, in St. Petersburg, Fla. Credit: AP/Chris O'Meara
Hicks, released by the New York Yankees on May 26 and signed by Baltimore four days later, has three homers and seven extra-base hits in 17 games with the Orioles. The outfielder had one homer and three extra-base hits over 28 games with the Yankees.
The Orioles took a 6-0 lead on Santander's two-run shot in the second. O’Hearn hit a solo homer off reliever Shawn Armstrong in the fifth.
Glasnow (2-1), making his fifth start after beginning the season on the injured list with a strained left oblique, allowed six runs and six hits in 4 1/3 innings.
LONG BALLS
Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Tyler Glasnow delivers to the Baltimore Orioles during the first inning of a baseball game Tuesday, June 20, 2023, in St. Petersburg, Fla. Credit: AP/Chris O'Meara
Rays OF Randy Arozarena, expected to be an AL All-Star this year, would like to participate in the Home Run Derby.
“I would love to go out there and put on a show in the derby,” Arozarena said through a translator. "Hopefully they invite me."
When Arozarena struck out against Bradish in the third, he lost his grip on the bat, which ended up near shortstop.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Orioles OF Cedric Mullins (groin) and INF Ryan Mountcastle (vertigo) were set to start rehab assignments with Triple-A Norfolk, but the game was postponed by rain.
Rays: 2B Brandon Lowe (herniated disc) has resumed on-field baseball drills. ... CF Jose Siri got an injection Monday for his ailing right shoulder and might return to the lineup Wednesday.
UP NEXT
Baltimore RHP Tyler Wells (6-2) and Rays RHP Taj Bradley (4-3) are Wednesday's starters.
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