The Baltimore Orioles rolled to a 4-3 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays at Charlotte Sports Park on Thursday in spring training action. Will Robertson paced the offense, going 1-for-3 with a home run and two RBI, giving the coaching staff plenty to be encouraged about as the exhibition schedule continues. Zach Eflin worked 2.0 innings on the mound, allowing 0 earned runs on 1 hit. The Rays out-hit the Orioles 10-5 on the day. It was an encouraging performance for the Orioles as they continue sharpening the roster for the regular season. Games like these serve as a valuable measuring stick for where the team stands heading into the campaign.
Key Performers
Will Robertson was the top performer at the plate, going 1-for-3 with a home run and two RBI. The long ball provided a major boost to the offensive attack. It was the kind of day at the plate that suggests good things ahead for the Orioles offense.
José Barrero provided support, going 1-for-4 with a home run and an RBI, Dylan Beavers also contributed, going 1-for-2 with a triple, and Samuel Basallo chipped in, going 1-for-4. It was a balanced attack that kept the pressure on from the first pitch to the last.
On the other side of the diamond, Gregory Barrios led the Rays offense with a 3-for-4 with a double and an RBI day. Nicandro Aybar also contributed, going 1-for-2 with an RBI. Jose Perez added a 1-for-1 with an RBI effort as well. Despite those contributions, the Orioles pitching staff did enough to limit the damage and secure the victory.
On the Mound
Zach Eflin got the start, having a rough go of it, working 2.0 innings while allowing 0 earned runs on 1 hit with three strikeouts. He threw 40 pitches in the outing. His outing provided the coaching staff with another data point as rotation and bullpen decisions loom.
The bullpen combined for 6.3 innings of work, allowing 3 earned runs while striking out six. The relief corps did its job in protecting the lead after the starter departed. Managing the bullpen workload is a key priority during the spring, and every outing helps the coaching staff gauge who is ready for high-leverage situations. Carlos Tavera recorded the save to close out the game.
Among the relievers, Eric Torres stood out with 0.2 innings of 2-run work, striking out two. The outing gave the coaching staff confidence in his ability to contribute this season.
How It Happened
The Orioles struck first, scoring two runs in the fifth inning. The Orioles pushed across two runs in the sixth. Rays struck back with two runs in the eighth. Rays added a run in the ninth. Rays out-hit the Orioles 10-5, with 1 error committed between the two clubs. A crowd of 3,305 was on hand to take in the action.
Looking Ahead
It was a productive day for the Orioles, who continue to put the pieces in place ahead of the regular season. The coaching staff will take the positives from this outing and use the remaining spring games to finalize the roster. Days like this one suggest the Orioles are heading in the right direction as Opening Day draws closer.