Rays let a big, early lead get away in lopsided loss to Orioles

Marc Topkin, Tampa Bay Times on Jun 27, 2025

Published in Baseball

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BALTIMORE — What started as a fun Friday night with the Rays scoring six runs in the second inning ended with a frustrating and record-setting 22-8 loss to the Orioles.

The loss matched the most runs the Rays ever have allowed in a game over 28 seasons, marked their largest blown lead of the season and featured the pitching debut of infielder/outfielder Jose Caballero, who took over in the eighth after a rough night by starter Ryan Pepiot and five relievers.

The Rays charged to the 6-0 lead on the strength of three home runs — solo shots by Jonathan Aranda and Josh Lowe, and a three-run blast by Brandon Lowe, a University of Maryland product.

But Pepiot, who has been pitching well, had a bad night. He gave four runs right back and was pulled without finishing the second inning, marking his shortest big league start.

The bullpen bullpen didn’t provide much relief, as six relievers combined to give up 18 more runs.

The loss dropped the Rays to 46-36, at least temporarily slowed the momentum from their majors-best runs of 30-14 (since May 9) and 25-9 (since May 20), and halted their streak of winning 10 straight series openers.

After a one-hit first, Pepiot walked Ramon Laureano to start the second, then allowed a double, a walk, a one-out double that scored two and a two-out single that scored two more. One batter later, his night was done, having faced 12 batters, with seven reaching base, and throwing 48 pitches.

The Orioles closed the gap to 6-5 in the third when Mason Montgomery also issued a leadoff walk to Laureano, allowed a one-out single to Gary Sanchez and catcher Danny Jansen made an errant throw to third.

The Rays made it 7-5 with three two-out singles in the fourth, Brandon Lowe logging his fourth RBI of the night.

But the Orioles kept swinging.

Laureano and Colton Cowser hit back-to-back doubles to open the fifth against Eric Orze, and Sanchez, a former Yankee, put the O’s ahead 8-7 with a three-run homer.

They extended the lead to 11-7 in the sixth after reliever Edwin Uceta hit the first batter and walked the third, then allowed consecutive two-out, run-scoring hits — a double by Cowser and a two-run single by Sanchez.

The Rays got back to within 11-8 in the seventh on singles by Brandon Lowe, Aranda and Jake Mangum.

But the Orioles answered right back again against Forrest Whitley, who got the first two out before loading the bases on two singles and a walk. He then allowed a two-run single to Laureano. A walk and a Sanchez grounder that Caballero couldn’t make a play on at short made it 14-8.

Rookie Paul Gervase came in with the bases loaded and walked his first batter for a 15-8 Baltimore lead. He then allowed a Jackson Holliday homer in the eighth.