Rays never get into stride in series finale loss to Orioles
BALTIMORE (AP) -- Just back from the minor leagues, Joey Rickard helped the Baltimore Orioles break out the bats.
Rickard had his first big league multihomer game and drove in four runs. The Orioles scored their most runs in three years in a 17-1 rout over the Tampa Bay Rays on Sunday.
"It was a great feeling to contribute in that way," Rickard said. "I just have to go out there and improve every day."
Danny Valencia and Trey Mancini also homered for the Orioles, who have scored 58 runs in their last seven games. Valencia tied career highs with four hits and four RBIs.
"It was a good win for the boys," Valencia said. "Very meaningful -- also it being Mother's Day. Glad I had a good game, because she's definitely watching."
Baltimore, last in the AL East at 13-28, has five victories in six games and won consecutive series for the first time this season. The Orioles had their best scoring day since an 18-2 win over Oakland on Aug. 16, 2015.
Rays rookie right fielder Johnny Field pitched a hitless eighth, getting three flyouts around a walk. Tampa Bay gave up its most runs since a 17-11 defeat at Toronto on Aug. 7, 2010.
The 26-year-old Rickard played a pair of games for the Orioles in late April, then was sent back to Triple-A Norfolk. Brought back, he hit a solo homer in the second off Blake Snell (4-3) and a three-run drive in the fourth against Andrew Kittredge. Rickard's only prior multihomer game in pro ball was for Class A Bowling Green on May 29, 2013.
Dylan Bundy (2-5) allowed two hits and four walks in seven scoreless innings, dropping his ERA from 5.31 to 4.53. He was coming off a 7-0 loss to Kansas City in which he gave up four home runs and failed to get an out.
"It's just all about playing better baseball," Bundy said. "I think we've done that the past four, five, six games."
Snell gave up five runs and six hits in 5 1/3 innings.
"I just was fighting myself the whole time," Snell said. "It's just frustrating. But at the same time, it's a good lineup. They're hot right now."
Tampa Bay optioned Kittredge to Triple-A Durham after he game. He allowed six runs, six hits and one walks, failing to get an out as his ERA rose from 6.48 to 9.72. The Rays did not announce a call-up.
"We've got our work cut out," Rays manager Kevin Cash said.
Adam Jones extended his hitting streak to 10 games with a fourth-inning single.
Valencia and Rickard hit consecutive homers in the second, Mancini homered later in the inning, and Valencia made it 4-0 when he hit into a run-scoring forceout in the third.
Bundy did not allow a hit until Matt Duffy doubled with two outs in the fourth. Baltimore boosted the lead with a seven-run bottom half that included Manny Machado's RBI double and run-scoring singles by Jonathan Schoop and Valencia.
Denard Span singled in a run in the eighth off left-hander Donnie Hart.
"We knew coming in that they were hot," Cash said. "Any time a team scores 17, that's a lot of runs. Our pitchers definitely didn't do us any favors."
STREAKS
Snell had not allowed more than five hits in 12 starts, a Rays record. ... Wilson Ramos went 0 for 4, ending his hitting streak at 18 games, one shy of tying a franchise record.
MOVES
Rays: RHP Austin Pruitt was recalled from Triple-A Durham and RHP Ryne Stanek was optioned to the Bulls.
Orioles: INF Renato Nunez was claimed off waivers from Texas. ... To make room for Rickard and Hart, OF Anthony Santander was optioned to Double-A Bowie and RHP Jimmy Yacabonis was optioned to Norfolk.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Orioles: RHP Darren O'Day (hyperextended right elbow) could be activated from the DL by Thursday. ... INF Tim Beckham (left groin strain) was transferred to the 60-day DL.
UP NEXT
Rays: Rookie LHP Ryan Yarbrough (2-2, 4.30 ERA) is to make his third start of the season Monday against Kansas City.
Orioles:Andrew Cashner (1-4, 4.84 ERA) is slated to open a series against visiting Philadelphia on Tuesday. He has not won since April 5.
