Big inning gets away from Rays after Cash ejected arguing check-swing call

BALTIMORE -- The question is whether Jackson Holliday swung at Freddy Peralta’s 2-2 changeup in the fifth inning Friday night at Camden Yards.

There’s no doubt that what happened next swung the outcome of the Rays’ series-opening 5-3 loss to the Orioles.

With the Rays ahead by one run, runners on the corners and one out in the fifth, Peralta fell behind Holliday by firing two pitches outside the zone. Holliday promptly fouled off the next two pitches to even the count. Then Peralta delivered another changeup down and away from Holliday, out of the zone but tempting enough for Holliday to offer at it.

The Rays were convinced that Holliday swung. Even Holliday seemed to believe he struck out, as he turned and started walking back to the Orioles’ dugout.

But home-plate umpire Vic Carapazza pointed down to third-base umpire Dillon Wilson, who spread his arms wide to signal that Holliday had checked his swing.

Rays manager Kevin Cash immediately expressed his displeasure with the call, which got him ejected by Wilson. Cash came onto the field to further argue the ruling after being tossed for the first time this season, but it was too late.

Rather than striking out for the second out of the inning, Holliday returned to the batter’s box and lifted Peralta’s next pitch to center fielder Jonny DeLuca for a game-tying sacrifice fly. That brought Pete Alonso to the plate.

After being on the wrong end of his own disputed call Wednesday night, Alonso made sure the Orioles came out on the right side of this one. The right-handed slugger launched a 2-2 fastball from Peralta out to left-center field for a tiebreaking two-run homer.