Orioles end skid, ride Rogers to 5-3 win over Rays

Nairavoice | Aug 22, 2026 3h ago 295 0 5 min read

Orioles end skid, ride Rogers to 5-3 win over Rays

All the Orioles needed to break their four-game skid was another game against the Rays. They took the opener of the weekend series with their division foe 5-3 on Friday night as Trevor Rogers twirled a gem, Pete Alonso hit the go-ahead homer, and the bullpen locked things down late.

The Orioles came out swinging, literally. Jackson Holliday doubled to left field on the very first pitch in the bottom of the first inning. And mere moments later he came in to score on a Pete Alonso single up the middle. Gunnar Henderson followed with a five-pitch walk, and it seemed like something big could be brewing for the Birds. But that momentum quickly dissipated when Tyler O’Neill struck out and Samuel Basallo hit into a double play to end the inning after just one run being scored.

Rogers was unable to put together a shut down inning in the top of the second. In fact, he put forth his only bad frame of the entire game. The Rays scored three times. Junior Caminero led off with a double down the third base line and then scored on a Chandler Simpson single. A few batters later, Kenny Piper hit his first career home run to put the Rays up 3-1.

That would end up being the only runs that Rogers gave up all night long. He got into a little trouble in the third inning, allowing three singles before escaping unscathed, but was otherwise pretty dominant. The lefty tied a season high with seven innings in which he gave up the three runs on six hits, a walk, and six strikeouts. It seemed as though he was getting stronger as the game wore on. His fastball got into the upper nineties in his seventh and final frame. That’s impressive for anyone, but particularly Rogers who has occasionally run out of gas late in a few of his other outings this season.

Baltimore chipped away at the Tampa lead in the bottom of the second inning. Dylan Beavers led off with a solo homer to center field, his sixth long ball of the season.

But most of the action came in the fifth inning. Coby Mayo was hit by a pitch to open the inning, then advanced to third on a Colton Cowser single followed by a Jorge Mateo throwing error. After a strikeout of Leody Taveras, Jackson Holliday came to the plate.

Holliday worked a 2-2 count against Rays starter Freddy Peralta. Then, it seemed like he failed to check his swing for strike three down and out of the zone. Holliday even started walking back to the dugout, but on the appeal to the third base umpire Dillon Wilson it was determine that Holliday had not swung. Rays manager Kevin Cash did not disagree, and after a chat with Wilson was ejected from the game. It was an understandable position to have since it did look like Holliday had gone too far, but the Orioles were due some favoritism after recent events. Holliday stayed in the game and drove in a run on a sac fly to center to tie the game.

Alonso made sure none of that really mattered anyway when he came up next and launched his 30th home run of the season to left-center. The two-run bomb to made it a 5-3 advantage for the Orioles, which would prove to be all they needed for the win here.

It wasn’t the busiest night on the bases for the O’s. They had just four at-bats with runners in scoring position, but that didn’t matter much thanks to the two long balls. As usual, when the Orioles hit home runs they win games. It’s how the team was built to win, it just hasn’t happened as often as they hoped it would this season.

Rogers was brilliant on the mound yet again. If the Orioles haven’t approached him about a long-term deal by now, they probably should. There is enough data to suggest he has figured something out about himself since joining the club. Maybe he would like to keep that going for a while longer. It’s something that will probably wait until the uncertain offseason that lays ahead.

Andrew Kittredge and Rico Garcia were called on out of the bullpen. They worked one scoreless inning each, striking out two apiece in the process. It’s been an up-and-down couple of weeks for the Baltimore relievers, but we will take the good performances when they come.

The Orioles continued success against the Rays is illogical. It’s also one of those oddities of sports. Perhaps having all of those former Orioles on your roster does make those matchups with their former team just a touch more difficult. The Rays are probably OK with that swap given their spot in the standings.

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These two teams will be back in action on Saturday night. Brandon Young (9-3, 3.52 ERA) will be on the bump to face Shane McClanahan (9-6, 3.25 ERA). First pitch is set for 7:05.

Who do you think was the Most Birdland Player in this Orioles win? Here are some nominees for your consideration, but feel free to name your own in the comments.