Rickard's Run Ruins Rays' Chances Of A Sweep
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Joey Rickard, a former Tampa Bay Rays prospect taken in the Rule 5 draft last December, burned his former franchise with a three-run home run, leading the Baltimore Orioles to a 3-1 victory over the Rays on Wednesday at Tropicana Field.
Rickard's 412-foot rocket in the fifth inning against left-hander Matt Moore was the lone production the Orioles required on a night when Baltimore was out-hit 4-3. The home run complemented Chris Tillman's strong start, which featured two hits allowed and a career-high-tying nine strikeouts in 6 2/3 innings.
The Orioles won the finale of a three-game series, ending a three-game skid while snapping the Rays' three-game winning streak. Tampa Bay outscored Baltimore 5-1 in the first two games of the series.
"It's a great feeling," Rickard said of his home run. "Just given the fact that our pitching's been doing what they've been doing, it's good to finally put a couple runs on them and give them the lead."
Rickard isn't known for his power. He managed a total of three homers the past two years in the minors. The 24-year-old rookie launched his first career major-league home run in a victory over the Minnesota Twins on April 7 at Camden Yards, a 399-foot solo shot against reliever Trevor May.
He had 13 home runs in his minor league career from 2012-15. He had two hits in his past 22 at-bats before the home run Wednesday.
"Good for him," Rays manager Kevin Cash said. "Hopefully, he has a lot of success. Just do it against the rest of the division, not against us."
Tillman continued his success at Tropicana Field, allowing two hits and two walks while striking out nine. He is 3-3 with a 2.61 ERA in 10 career starts at the ballpark. He owns eight quality starts at Tampa Bay.
After Tillman exited, the bullpen combination of Darren O'Day, Brad Brach and Zach Britton closed out the win. Britton allowed a run on two hits in the ninth, but he still picked up his fifth save of the season.
"I look at it as going out there and going as deep as I can, giving (our team) a chance to win," Tillman said. "They were good on defense all series. I think one swing, and we came out on top in that game."
With the victory, the Orioles gained needed momentum before returning home for a 10-game stay that begins Thursday against the Chicago White Sox. Baltimore had lost four of five dating to a 4-2 defeat against the Kansas City Royals on Friday.
Rickard's three-run home run in the fifth inning broke Moore's spell over the Orioles (12-8), lifting Baltimore to a 3-0 lead after five.
The blast to left-center field was only the third hit for the Orioles against the left-hander, who had held Baltimore to one hit with five strikeouts through 4 2/3 innings. After Moore retired Matt Wieters and J.J. Hardy to begin the fifth, Nolan Reimold walked and Jonathan Schoop singled on a line drive to center field. Rickard's homer then gave Baltimore a comfortable cushion.
The lone early threat against Tillman happened in the fourth. Logan Forsythe singled to right field to begin the inning, and Brad Miller walked on five pitches. Tillman escaped when Evan Longoria flied out to center field, Corey Dickerson struck out swinging and Desmond Jennings popped out behind home plate. Forsythe was stranded on third and Miller on second.
"He mixed it up really well," Rays right fielder Steven Souza Jr. said of Tillman. "You've got to tip your cap. We came away with two knocks, but he has got good stuff."
Despite their lack of early offense, the Rays (10-11) enjoyed a defensive moment to remember. In the fourth, Souza might have produced the Rays' best catch of the year when he made a diving grab on Chris Davis' one-out line drive to right field near the warning track, preventing extra bases.
"I just tried to make a play for Matt out there. I looked at (center fielder Kevin Kiermaier), we kind of made eye contact, which in the back of my mind means he's not going to be able to catch it," Souza said. "So I just tried to lay out for it."
But in the end, it was the Orioles' day.
"It was a typical Earl Weaver game tonight," Orioles manager Buck Showalter said. "We'll take it and go home."
