ST. PETERSBURG — Take a have a look at the MLB standings proper now and also you’ll see one thing that hadn’t occurred this late right into a season since 2016.
That’s proper. The Rays — who acquired off to a historic 13-0 begin and stormed out of the gate with 30 wins of their first 39 video games — have fallen out of first for the primary time in 2023. And it occurred due to how issues unfolded in a Thursday evening matchup between the AL’s high two groups.
A day after transferring right into a first-place tie, Baltimore stored its momentum going by rallying for a 4-3, 10-inning win over Tampa Bay within the opener of a four-game sequence at Tropicana Field. In doing so, the Orioles (59-37) surpassed the Rays (60-40), ending the day in sole possession of first within the division after the All-Star break for the primary time since Aug. 12, 2016.
This is new territory for these O’s. Many of the children who fill this roster had by no means earlier than performed in a sport wherein the end result would decide an MLB division chief in late July.
“It definitely felt like the stakes were like playoff baseball,” stated 23-year-old outfielder Colton Cowser, the membership’s No. 2 prospect (per MLB Pipeline) who drove within the successful run with a sacrifice fly within the tenth. “You know, I’ve never played playoff baseball. But it was definitely one of those games where it was like it could have gone either way.”
Before Baltimore notched its MLB-high thirty fifth comeback victory of the season, the sport went backwards and forwards. The Orioles tagged right-hander Tyler Glasnow for 3 runs to take a 3-1 lead within the fourth, earlier than the Rays’ Yandy Díaz tied the sport with a two-run double within the seventh.
With how the extraordinary contest unfolded, it was solely proper for an additional inning to resolve the victor. Everything that transpired within the tenth confirmed why Baltimore is best constructed to win these kinds of video games than it was for many of the earlier 4 years of supervisor Brandon Hyde’s tenure.
The O’s used small ball to take a 4-3 lead. Automatic runner Aaron Hicks moved to 3rd on a wonderfully positioned sacrifice bunt by Adam Frazier after which scored on a sac fly by Cowser, a rookie taking part in in his eleventh huge league sport.
“That’s how you compete for a division,” stated veteran right-hander Kyle Gibson, who allowed three runs and struck out eight over six-plus innings. “That’s how you put yourself in a position to make a postseason run … you do the little things really well and consistently against a really good team.”
Baltimore’s technique to play for one run could not have labored if it didn’t have right-hander Félix Bautista — the overwhelming 6-foot-8 All-Star nearer who’s constructing a authentic case to be within the working for the AL Cy Young Award.
After needing solely 9 pitches to maintain the sport tied with a 1-2-3 ninth, Bautista returned to the mound to complete off the victory. He hit Luke Raley with a pitch to open the tenth — giving Tampa Bay runners on first and second — however Bautista then struck out Randy Arozarena and acquired Brandon Lowe to floor right into a game-ending 4-6-3 double play.
“How about Félix Bautista?” Hyde stated. “I’m so lucky to have him.”
Hyde typically states how the most important distinction between guiding the Orioles the previous two seasons from earlier in his time with the membership is that he now has authentic shutdown relievers on the again finish of the bullpen. The better of the bunch is Bautista, who has a 0.96 ERA with 26 saves and 91 strikeouts in 47 innings over 43 video games this season.
Get a lead heading to the ninth (or in extras), and Bautista does precisely what he did Thursday.
“This is something we’ve worked for all year long,” Bautista stated by way of staff interpreter Brandon Quinones. “Since the start of the season, this is what we wanted — trying to play good games and trying to dethrone Tampa for the first spot in the division.”
The high two AL groups have been trending in reverse instructions this month, which is what allowed this swap atop the East to occur. The Orioles have gained 10 of their previous 12 video games, whereas the Rays have misplaced 12 of 15.
But Tampa Bay supervisor Kevin Cash issued a reminder shortly after his staff slipped into second: “It is July.”
“Look, they deserved to win. They beat us, and they beat us in many facets of the game today,” Cash stated. “I’d like to think that we can come out and play better.”
Meanwhile, Hyde himself said, “It’s just July.” His staff didn’t win a division crown — or safe its first postseason berth since 2016 — with a victory in its 96th sport, even when it was a powerful one.
The Orioles should proceed to fare nicely for two 1/2 extra months to carry onto their new AL East lead, win the division title for the primary time since 2014 and play deep into October. But they’ve put themselves in an excellent place to doubtlessly accomplish all of these lofty targets.
“I’m proud of our record and what these guys have accomplished so far,” Hyde stated. “But we have so far to go, and our goal isn’t to be in first on July 20, but to be there at the end of the season.”
Content Source: www.mlb.com