All-Star Charlie Morton deals 12 strikeouts in Rays’ 6-3 win over Orioles

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Charlie Morton struck out six straight batters and a season-high 12 overall, and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Baltimore Orioles 6-3 on Tuesday night for their fourth straight win.

Morton (9-2) pitched seven innings, giving up four hits and a walk two days after being named to the American League All-Star team. It was the 10th time in 18 starts that Morton has given up one run or fewer.

Chris Davis‘ sixth home run accounted for the only run off Morton.

Brandon Lowe had three hits and drove in two for the Rays before leaving the game in the sixth with a leg contusion.

Lowe’s 16th home run drove in the game’s first run, and his two-out single in the third regained a 2-1 lead for the Rays after Davis’ homer. Before leading off the Tampa Bay sixth with another single, Lowe fouled a pitch off his right leg. He was lifted for a pinch-runner after limping to first base.

Avisail Garcia‘s two-run single made it 4-1 in the sixth, and Tommy Pham made it 6-1 with a two-run double in the seventh.

Asher Wojciechowski, making his first start for Baltimore, pitched into the sixth inning, giving up four runs and five hits while striking out six. It was the first major league start since Aug. 13, 2017 for the 30-year-old right-hander.

Davis’ opposite-field home run in the third was the first hit off Morton. It was Davis’ first homer since May 12.

Chance Sisco hit a two-run homer, his fifth, off reliever Chaz Roe in the ninth for Baltimore’s final two runs.

The loss dropped the Orioles to 24-61, the same record they had after 85 games last year on their way to a 47-115 finish.

YARBROUGH BACK DOWN

The Rays optioned LHP Ryan Yarbrough and recalled RHP Austin Pruitt from Triple-A Durham. Despite Yarbrough’s three trips to the minors this year, the left-handed reliever has 23 wins over the last season and a half. Only Max Scherzer (26), Justin Verlander (26), Blake Snell (26), Jon Lester (25), Zack Greinke (24), J.A. Happ (24) and Morton (24) have won more games in 2018-19.

MORE MCKAY

Rays two-way player Brendan McKay talked at length with pitching coach Kyle Snyder about arm mechanics during a bullpen session in preparation for the left-hander’s second appearance as a pitcher Friday night against the AL East-leading New York Yankees. McKay allowed one hit over six scoreless innings in a win Saturday over Texas in his debut.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Orioles: RHP Josh Lucas (strained right shoulder) was reinstated from the 10-day IR. RHP Tom Eshelman, who started Monday night’s series opener, was optioned to Triple-A Norfolk.

Rays: X-Rays on Lowe’s leg were negative. … RHP Diego Castillo (right shoulder inflammation) had a short bullpen session and is expected back after the All-Star break. … INF Matt Duffy, out all season with a strained left hamstring, had an intensive baserunning session.

UP NEXT

All-Star LHP John Means (7-4, 2.50 ERA) will get his final start before the All-Star break for the Orioles on Wednesday night against a Rays opener to be named.