Rays at Orioles (Game 1)
The Baltimore Orioles have put together a season-high three-game winning streak with offense taking the lead and look to extend the run when they host the Tampa Bay Rays for a doubleheader Saturday. Manny Machado launched a two-run homer and a grand slam Friday as the Orioles recorded a 9-4 victory in the series opener, giving them 32 runs over the last four contests.
Machado owns three homers and eight RBIs in the past two contests, while teammate Adam Jones takes a seven-game hitting streak into Saturday and Mark Trumbo - batting .325 in 10 outings since returning from the disabled list - belted his first home run of the season Friday. The Rays have lost four straight and are just 3-7 since building a season-best eight-game winning streak after giving up seven runs in Baltimore’s last three at-bats during the series opener. Tampa Bay catcher Wilson Ramos singled Friday to extend his hitting streak to 17 games, two short of the franchise record set by Jason Bartlett in 2009. The Rays are 7-10 on the road after dropping three in a row away from home and have scored just seven times during their four-game slide.
TV: 3:05 p.m. ET, FS Sun (Tampa Bay), MASN2 (Baltimore)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Rays RH Chris Archer (2-2, 5.32 ERA) vs. Orioles RH David Hess (NR)
Archer has recorded three quality starts in his last four outings but went 0-2 in those appearances after posting a no-decision Sunday with seven innings of one-run ball versus Toronto. The two-time All-Star gave up four runs on 11 hits over 5 1/3 innings in a win at Baltimore on April 26. Jonathan Schoop is 10-for-27 with three homers against Archer, who is 6-8 with a 4.92 ERA in 18 career appearances (17 starts) versus the Orioles.
Hess makes his major-league debut after limiting Tampa Bay’s Triple-A affiliate Durham to one hit over seven scoreless innings with 10 strikeouts on Tuesday. The 24-year-old Tennessee native has been impressive with Triple-A Norfolk in the early season, going 2-0 with a 2.12 ERA in six starts after spending the last two years at Double-A Bowie. Hess, a fifth-round pick in the 2014 draft, has struck out 29 in 29 2/3 innings this year with the Tides while permitting 20 hits and 12 walks.
WALK-OFFS
1. Tampa Bay SS Adeiny Hechavarria had two hits Friday, including a double, after missing one game due to an eye injury.
2. Baltimore placed RHP Chris Tillman (lower back strain) on the 10-day disabled list Friday and recalled RHP Jimmy Yacabonis.
3. The Rays recalled LHP Anthony Banda, acquired this offseason in the Steven Souza trade, to be the 26th man for the doubleheader.