Rays Beat Orioles 2-1 with Mead's Key Fly
- Curtis Mead's key sacrifice fly in the eighth inning led the Tampa Bay Rays to a 2-1 victory over the Baltimore Orioles.
- The win helped the Rays avoid a three-game sweep by the Orioles.
- An intense baseball match ends with a game-changing play by Curtis Mead.
In a thrilling matchup, Anthony Santander's 35th home run propelled the Baltimore Orioles to a narrow victory over the Tampa Bay Rays, maintaining their slim lead in the American League East. Starting pitcher Albert Suárez delivered an impressive performance, allowing just four hits over 6 2/3 scoreless innings, as the Orioles began the day with a one-game advantage over the New York Yankees. The game took a turn in the eighth inning when Brandon Lowe walked and stole second base against struggling reliever Craig Kimbrel. Following a series of strategic plays, including a double steal, the Rays managed to score a run on a sacrifice fly by Mead, narrowing the score to 2-1. Kimbrel, who has struggled recently with a 13.50 ERA in July, did not pitch the ninth inning for the fourth consecutive game. Despite the late rally from the Rays, the Orioles' defense held strong, with Manuel Rodríguez navigating a tough eighth inning and Pete Fairbanks securing his 23rd save of the season. Gunnar Henderson continued his hot streak with three hits, marking his second consecutive game with three or more hits, further solidifying his role in the lineup. In injury news, the Orioles are set to evaluate infielder Jorge Mateo's elbow, while the Rays welcomed back RHP Ryan Pepiot from a knee infection. Looking ahead, the Rays will face the Houston Astros with RHP Taj Bradley on the mound against LHP Framber Valdez.