Nick Martinez

Jonny DeLuca's 2-run single completes Rays' rally for 7-6 win over Orioles to avoid sweep

ZAK GILBERT, Associated Press

Aug 18, 2026


ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Pinch-hitter Jonny DeLuca put the Rays in front with a two-run single in the seventh inning, and AL-best Tampa Bay rallied for a 7-6 win over the Baltimore Orioles on Monday night to avoid a four-game sweep.

Yandy Díaz, Ryan Vilade and Jorge Mateo homered for Tampa Bay. Mateo's two-run shot with two out in the fourth was his first for the Rays and gave them a 4-3 lead.

Coby Mayo hit a 468-foot homer, and Pete Alonso and Christian Encarnacion-Strand also went deep for Baltimore (61-64), which moved into the AL's third wild-card spot by taking the first three games against its division rival at Tropicana Field.

Jonathan Aranda's RBI single against Yennier Cano (2-3) got the Rays within 6-5 in the seventh. After Junior Caminero hit an infield single to load the bases, Josh Walker came in and gave up DeLuca's go-ahead single to center, the last of four lead changes in the game.

All-Star Bryan Baker got the final five outs for his majors-leading 35th save. Left-hander Cam Booser (1-0) struck out the side in the seventh and earned his first win in a Rays uniform.

Alonso tied it at 4-all with his homer in the fifth, and Encarnacion-Strand made it 6-4 with his two-run shot in the sixth. He finished with three hits and four RBIs.

Reinstated Monday from the injured list, Rays starter Shane McClanahan made just one big mistake, a fastball down the middle that Mayo crushed to left in the second. Manager Kevin Cash lifted McClanahan with one out in the fourth, opting not to push the left-hander. Casey Legumina came in and allowed two inherited runners to score on a single by Encarnacion-Strand.

Orioles: Welcome the New York Yankees to Camden Yards on Tuesday, with RHP Shane Baz (4-12, 4.00 ERA) meeting LHP Carlos Rodón (4-2, 3.30).

Rays: RHP Nick Martinez (12-3, 2.74) starts Tuesday against visiting Toronto and RHP José Soriano (9-6, 3.17).

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MLB 2026 Standings

NL EastWLPCTGB
85
60
.586
81
64
.559
4.0
72
74
.493
13.5
67
78
.462
18.0
67
80
.456
19.0
NL CentralWLPCTGB
90
56
.616
81
65
.555
9.0
72
73
.497
17.5
72
74
.493
18.0
69
76
.476
20.5
NL WestWLPCTGB
88
57
.607
78
68
.534
10.5
77
68
.531
11.0
61
85
.418
27.5
55
89
.382
32.5
AL EastWLPCTGB
86
58
.597
82
62
.569
4.0
80
66
.548
7.0
73
73
.500
14.0
70
76
.479
17.0
AL CentralWLPCTGB
75
69
.521
74
72
.507
2.0
69
76
.476
6.5
66
79
.455
9.5
64
82
.438
12.0
AL WestWLPCTGB
74
71
.510
72
73
.497
2.0
67
78
.462
7.0
58
88
.397
16.5
55
90
.379
19.0

MLB 2026 Scores & Schedule

Scores

DATEMATCHUPSCORE
Tue
8/25
@
7-3
Tue
8/25
@
1-4
Tue
8/25
@
5-3
Tue
8/25
@
2-3
Tue
8/25
@
7-11

Schedule

DATEMATCHUPTIME (ET)
Wed
9/9
@
1:10 PM
Wed
9/9
@
3:05 PM
Wed
9/9
@
3:45 PM
Wed
9/9
@
4:10 PM
Wed
9/9
@
4:10 PM