BALTIMORE — Zach Eflin and two relievers mixed on a two-hitter, Brandon Lowe and Harold Ramírez homered, and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Baltimore Orioles 7-1 on Friday night time to drag right into a digital tie atop the AL East.

Tampa Bay, which has gained 9 of 11 and 18 of 24, has erased a season-high four-game deficit in a span of six days thanks partly to profitable the primary two of a four-game sequence in opposition to Baltimore.

Heston Kjerstad homered main off the sixth - his first main league hit - for the Orioles, who've dropped 4 in a row to match their longest skid of the season. Baltimore (91-56) nonetheless leads the Rays (92-57) by proportion factors within the division race.

Eflin (15-8), who leads the AL in victories, allowed only one baserunner within the first 5 innings. Gunnar Henderson reached on third baseman Isaac Paredes’ fielding error to guide off the primary, however was erased two batters later when Anthony Santander grounded right into a double play.

Eflin’s bid to throw the second no-hitter in Rays historical past and first since Matt Garza’s in 2010 ended when Kjerstad smashed a cutter to proper subject. It was the primary large league begin for Kjerstad, who made his debut Thursday as a pinch-hitter.

The homer was the one hit allowed by Eflin, who struck out eight in seven innings.

Jake Diekman walked Aaron Hicks and yielded Cedric Mullins’ single to start the eighth however struck out the subsequent three batters. Chris Devenski pitched an ideal ninth.

The groups mixed for 2 baserunners within the first three innings earlier than Tampa Bay obtained to Baltimore starter Jack Flaherty. Lowe led off the fourth with a homer to right-center, and Manuel Margot later added an RBI single.

Flaherty (8-9) was lifted after surrendering back-to-back singles to start the fifth. Jacob Webb allowed Lowe’s sacrifice fly, however escaped additional injury.

Baltimore reliever DL Hall gave up three consecutive hits to open the sixth, together with Margot’s RBI double. Ramírez, pinch hitting for Luke Raley, then blasted Bryan Baker’s first pitch to left-center to make it 7-0.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Orioles: RHP Félix Bautista (elbow) performed catch earlier than the sport. … Manager Brandon Hyde was “hopeful” 1B Ryan Mountcastle (shoulder) could be out there off the bench. Hyde mentioned Mountcastle was feeling higher after leaving Wednesday’s recreation with a shoulder problem and sitting Thursday.

JONES HONORED

Former Baltimore OF Adam Jones was honored earlier than the sport, hours after ceremonially retiring with the franchise with which he spent the majority of his profession.

Jones performed 11 of his 14 seasons with Baltimore, incomes 5 All-Star appearances, 4 Gold Gloves and one Silver Slugger award. He was a key a part of playoff groups in 2012, 2014 and 2016. Since the franchise moved to Baltimore in 1954, Jones ranks fourth amongst Orioles in hits (1,781) and fifth in homers (263), RBIs (866) and runs (875).

UP NEXT

Rays: RHP Tyler Glasnow (9-5, 3.15 ERA) is 0-1 with a 6.35 ERA in two begins in opposition to Baltimore this season.

Orioles: RHP Grayson Rodriguez (5-4, 4.88) is 3-2 with a 2.95 ERA in 10 begins since returning to the majors July 17.

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