BALTIMORE (AP) - Hanser Alberto doubled in the tiebreaking run in the seventh inning, Renato Núñez and Pat Valaika homered, and the Baltimore Orioles beat Tampa Bay Rays 5-1 Sunday to complete a three-game sweep.
After the final out, the Orioles celebrated (with proper social distancing) their first series sweep since Aug. 27-29, 2018, against Toronto, and first against Tampa Bay since 2016.
“It’s still real early in the season, but we beat a good club,” manager Brandon Hyde said. “Very happy with the sweep, for sure.”
For a team coming off successive 100-loss seasons, there’s no downplaying the feeling of taking three in a row from a club that went to the playoffs last year.
“It’s huge anytime you can get a sweep, no matter how often it comes or how often it doesn’t come,” Orioles starter Tommy Milone said. “I said before the season started that we’re going to surprise some people, and we’re doing that right now.”
Brandon Lowe homered for the Rays, who have dropped five straight to fall two games under .500 (4-6) for the first time since June 28, 2018 (39-41).
Tampa Bay scored only eight runs in the series. It had all sorts of trouble over the weekend trying to hit the off-speed pitches from Wade LeBlanc and Milone.
“Our approach can certainly be better,” manager Kevin Cash said. “We just have to come together a little better as a group.”
With the score 1-all in the seventh, Cedric Mullins reached on a bunt against Jalen Beeks (0-1). Chaz Roe entered and Mullins stole second before Alberto hit an opposite-field liner to right. Núñez followed with an RBI single, and José Iglesias added a run-scoring double into the left-field corner.
Valaika made it 5-1 with a solo shot in the eighth.
“Things are happening really good for us,” Núñez said. “Pitchers are throwing really good - starters, relievers. Everybody’s swinging the bat well. We’re bonding.”
Evan Phillips (1-0) pitched the seventh to earn his first major league win, and Cole Sulser picked up his third save as part of a Baltimore bullpen that held the Rays hitless over four innings.
“Just some bad situational hitting,” Tampa Bay outfielder Hunter Renfroe said. “We’ve got a day off tomorrow, so we’ll get a breather and get our feet back under us.”
Tampa Bay starter Yonny Chirinos allowed one run and four hits over 4 2/3 innings, the lone glaring flaw a drive by Núñez in the third. That’s the only earned run Chirinos has given up this season, leaving him with a 1.04 ERA in two starts.
The Rays trailed 1-0 when Lowe led off the sixth with a drive to center that chased Milone.
Using a variety of off-speed pitches, Milone struck out eight and allowed six hits. It was a vast improvement upon his opening-day performance, when the lefty gave up four runs in three innings against Boston in his Orioles debut.
WHIFFS
Orioles pitchers struck out 10 to set a new club record of five straight games with at least 10 strikeouts.
SOUND OF SILENCE
The Orioles won Saturday night’s game on a single in the bottom of the 11th, a scenario that in normal times would be marked by the roar of the crowd and a hands-on celebration in the dugout.
None of that happened, of course, because the stadium was empty and the players are well aware of baseball’s emphasis on social distancing.
“Usually in that kind of situation the crowd goes nuts, our team is going nuts, we’re high-fiving everywhere in the dugout. A lot of positive emotion is going on,” Hyde said. “To not know what to do with your hands was definitely odd. It’s tough. I’m looking forward to the day when the crowd goes crazy again.”
TRAINER’S ROOM
Rays: C Kevan Smith was expected to rejoin the team after being placed on the COVID-19 injury list as a precaution Saturday because he was experiencing symptoms despite not testing positive. “Credit to him for coming forward,” Cash said Sunday morning. “He’s fine. He had two negatives, and we’re waiting for clearance.”
Orioles: 1B Chris Davis (knee soreness) and Iglesias (sore left quad) were not in the starting lineup.
UP NEXT
Rays: Following a day off, right-hander Charlie Morton (0-0, 8.00 ERA) gets the ball when Tampa Bay visits the New York Yankees on Tuesday night.
Orioles: Off Monday before hosting Miami on Tuesday night to launch a four-game, three-day series - if the Marlins have fully recovered from their COVID-19 outbreak.
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