Machado, Jones homer as O's rally past Rays

June 24th, 2016

BALTIMORE -- Manny Machado homered in his return from a four-game suspension as the Orioles used a four-run sixth inning to rally in Friday's 6-3 series-opening win over the Rays at Oriole Park at Camden Yards.
Tampa Bay (31-40), in last place in the American League East, has now lost eight straight. Baltimore (42-30) kept its hold on first place with its Major League-leading 28th win at home.
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"Our pitchers just need to keep us in the game, keep us close and we're going to take care of the rest, of scoring runs however we need to score them, driving guys in in key situations when we need to be driving guys in," Machado said. "Honestly, I think it was just a great job by [Yovani Gallardo] and our bullpen, keeping us where they needed to keep us."
Machado hit a solo shot in the eighth inning, while Adam Jones went deep in the sixth. Chris Davis hit a bases-loaded single that scored three runs (one of which came on an error) with Rays starter Matt Moore charged with five runs over 6 2/3 innings.

Tampa Bay jumped out to a three-run lead before Orioles starter Gallado could record an out, with Corey Dickerson belting a two-run homer and Logan Morrison singling in a run.
"Another tough one, got off to a hot start in more ways than one," Rays manager Kevin Cash said. "Matt Moore was outstanding early on. The bats came out and really got things going early, really early. But Gallardo looked like he found a pretty good rhythm that kept us off base. There wasn't a lot of hard contact after that."
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Welcome back: Machado, playing for the first time since Saturday, showed no signs of rust. He went 2-for-4 with two runs, including the homer off Steve Geltz.
"It felt like forever. Like not playing for a couple weeks," Machado said of his suspension. "It's totally different watching the game on TV versus being on the field or even watching from the dugout on the field. It was kind of weird, but at the same time, it was good to get off my feet a little bit. Recuperate and work on some things I needed to do. Overall, it was a good week for the team and a good week for myself." More >

Outfield defense outstanding: One of the iconic defensive plays of 2015 saw Kevin Kiermaier make a leaping grab at Camden Yards' center-field wall to rob Machado of a home run. With two outs in the first and Kiermaier on the shelf with a fractured left hand, Desmond Jennings jumped at the wall to steal a home run from -- you guessed it, Machado. Jaff Decker added a sliding catch in foul territory to retire Nolan Reimold in the third. Taylor Motter then robbed Jones of a home run in the fourth. More >

Gallardo struggles early: The righty was able to rebound from that 28-pitch first inning and pitch into the sixth. Gallardo didn't allow another run after the first, scattering seven hits and two walks.
"The guys are going to put up some runs. When there were runners on first and second and nobody out …You're one pitch away. I threw a good curveball and got a double play," Gallardo said. "The next thing you know, I was able to limit them to three runs. It could have been a lot worse. The job of the starting pitcher is go out there in the first or second inning, you've got to put up zeros. Put up zeros, and give the guys a chance to swing the bats."

Dickerson goes deep: Dickerson has not hit for a high average this season, but he has shown the power the Rays coveted, which prompted them to deal Jake McGee to the Rockies. The Rays OF/DH got the offense kick-started in his first at-bat when he homered to right on the first pitch he saw from Gallardo. Dickerson's 13th homer of the season came with a man aboard and put the Rays up 2-0.

QUOTABLE
"When you have a lead, you have to keep it." -- Moore, who was staked to a 3-0 lead
"I think mine's better [than manager Buck Showalter's was]. I think I'm better looking. It's nice. It's a good … I thought it was going to be worse, and it came out pretty good. I'm just excited about that." -- Machado on his giveaway gnome, which he got in advance on Friday night
REPLAY REVIEW
The Orioles won their challenge in the top of the third inning with Evan Longoria, who was originally ruled to be hit by the pitch, instead given a foul ball. The overturned call took 3:40.

REHAB ROOM
Orioles catcher Caleb Joseph will begin a rehab assignment for Class A Advanced Frederick and could rejoin the O's at some point this week. O's manager Buck Showalter said Joseph is an option as early as Wednesday.
WHAT'S NEXT
Rays: Tampa Bay will get its first look at outfielder Oswaldo Arcia, whom the club acquired from the Twins on Friday. Rays manager Kevin Cash plans to have him in the lineup. The Rays announced after the game that right-hander Danny Farquhar will be the 26th player added to the roster for the day-night doubleheader. Matt Andriese starts Game 1 at 1:05 p.m. ET, while Jake Odorizzi pitches in the nightcap at 7:05 p.m. ET.
Orioles: Baltimore will add lefty T.J. McFarland as their 26th man for the doubleheader, giving them some insurance in the bullpen. Kevin Gausman, looking for his first win, will start Game 1 and Chris Tillman will get Game 2.
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