Glasnow throws 7 sharp innings to help Rays beat Orioles 7-0

BALTIMORE (AP) — Tyler Glasnow pitched seven innings of three-hit ball to earn his major league-leading sixth win, and the Tampa Bay Rays got a slump-breaking homer from Mike Zunino in a 7-0 rout of the Baltimore Orioles on Friday night.

Glasnow (6-0) struck out eight, walked none and lowered his AL-best ERA to 1.47. It’s been an impressive turnaround for the right-hander, who entered this season with a 4-16 lifetime record.

The first time Glasnow went up against Baltimore this season, he retired the last 10 batters he faced in a 4-2 victory. This time, Glasnow started with 11 straight outs before Dwight Smith Jr. beat out an infield grounder.

Glasnow gave up a single in each of the next two innings but did not allow a runner past first base. He is the first pitcher in franchise history to begin the season with seven consecutive starts of at least five innings without yielding more than two runs.

On this occasion, Glasnow received ample offensive support from a variety of teammates. Zunino snapped an 0-for-17 skid with a three-run homer off Dan Straily (1-2) to make it 4-0 in the fourth inning, Tommy Pham had three hits and two RBIs and rookie Nate Lowe picked up his first big league RBI with a sacrifice fly in the sixth.

In an AL East matchup between the first place Rays and the last place Orioles, Tampa Bay got the only run it needed before Straily recorded the first out.

Brandon Lowe and Pham opened the game with successive doubles for a 1-0 lead. The Rays wasted a leadoff triple by Kevin Kiermaier in the second but batted around in a four-run fourth that including a sacrifice fly by Ji-Man Choi.

Baltimore finished with five hits, all of them singles, in falling to 3-11 at home.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Rays: INF Matt Duffy (hamstring tightness) began his rehabilitation assignment Friday night with Class A Charlotte., going 0 for 3 and playing third base. “We’ll just kind of take it day to day and see what we’re hearing from him,” manager Kevin Cash said. … RHP Jose De Leon (Tommy John surgery) is slated to pitch two inning for Charlotte on Saturday, his first outing since August 2017. … OF Austin Meadows (right thumb sprain) had the cast removed and has started to hit off a tee.

Orioles: LHP Richard Bleier (left shoulder tendinitis) has been throwing well in extended spring training and “coming out of games healthy,” according to manager Brandon Hyde. Bleier’s velocity is on the rise but Hyde said there is no timetable for his return. … Eager to get back to the big leagues after a 20-game debut in 2017, minor league OF Austin Hays (thumb injury) began his rehab assignment with a six-inning stint in extended spring training.

UP NEXT

Rays: RHP Yonny Chirinos (4-0, 3.48 ERA) plays the role of the opener Saturday, making his fourth start and seventh appearance of the season. He’s averaged six innings in his three starts.

Orioles: RHP Dylan Bundy (0-4, 6.67) starts for the seventh time, still looking for his first win of 2019. He’s allowed nine HRs in 28 1/3 innings and has lost four straight starts.