Kevin Kiermaier’s 3-run blast secures Rays’ series-opening win over Orioles
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Kevin Kiermaier‘s three run home run lifted the Tampa Bay to a 6-3 win over the Baltimore Orioles on Monday night in a game in which two-way player Brandon McKay went 0 for 4 in his major league debut as a hitter for the Rays.
Kiermaier’s 10th homer came off Branden Kline in the sixth inning after a walk and a single by Avisail Garcia.
McKay, who gave up one hit in six scoreless innings Saturday night in his major league pitching debut against the Texas Rangers, grounded out four times and was picked off second base on a throw from catcher Pedro Severino.
Adam Kolarek (3-2) got the win and Jose Alvarado pitched the ninth for his first save since May 26. Alvarado is 7 for 9 in save opportunities.
Tom Eshelman made his major league pitching debut for the Orioles, giving up two runs on six hits in five innings without recording a strikeout.
The 25-year-old right-hander avoided a disastrous first inning by getting McKay to ground out with the bases loaded after RBI singles by Ji-Man Choi and Garcia.
After giving up four hits and a walk in that inning, Eshelman sailed through the next four innings, retiring 12 of 14 batters. Eshleman left the game with a 3-2 lead, but it was erased quickly by Kiermaier’s three-run homer off Kline (1-4).
Renato Nunez had two hits for Baltimore, and Rio Ruiz put the Orioles ahead 3-2 with a pinch-hit single in the sixth.
The crowd of 20,441 included about 10,000 fans who purchased $2 tickets, a policy that will be in effect for the entire three-game series.
MEANS’ ALL-STAR NOD SHUFFLES ORIOLES
After LHP John Means was named to the All-Star team, the Orioles reshuffled their pitching rotation, scratching RHP Dylan Bundy from Tuesday night’s start. Bundy will pitch Friday at Toronto, then pitch Baltimore’s first game after the All-Star break on July 12. Means’ first start after the break will be determined partly by the extent of his All-Star activity. “I know what that four days feels like,” said manager Brandon Hyde, “and I don’t want to pitch him the game after. It’s just too much.”
TRAINER’S ROOM
Orioles: RHP Nate Karnes (right forearm strain) pitched a scoreless inning and OF D.J. Stewart hit a home run while rehabbing in a Gulf Coast League game.
Rays: RHP Diego Castillo (right shoulder inflammation) is likely to come off the injured list July 12, for the first game after the All-Star break.
UP NEXT
RHP Asher Wojciechowski, acquired from Cleveland in a trade on Tuesday, will probably start Tuesday night’s game for the Orioles against RHP Charlie Morton (8-2, 2.43). It will be Wojciechowski’s 12th major league start and his first since 2017.
