DeLuca's Late Single Lifts Rays Past Orioles 7-6, Avoids Sweep

Pinch-hitter Jonny DeLuca delivered a two-run single in the seventh inning to put the Tampa Bay Rays in front, and the American League-best club rallied for a 7-6 win over the Baltimore Orioles on Monday night, avoiding a four-game sweep at Tropicana Field.

Yandy Díaz, Ryan Vilade and Jorge Mateo homered for Tampa Bay. Mateo's two-run shot with two out in the fourth inning was his first as a Ray and gave the team a 4-3 lead.

Coby Mayo hit a 468-foot home run, and Pete Alonso and Christian Encarnacion-Strand also went deep for Baltimore (61-64), which had moved into the American League's third wild-card spot by winning the first three games of the series.

Jonathan Aranda's RBI single against reliever Yennier Cano (2-3) pulled the Rays within 6-5 in the seventh inning. After Junior Caminero's infield single loaded the bases, reliever Josh Walker surrendered DeLuca's go-ahead single to center field, the last of four lead changes in the game.

All-Star closer Bryan Baker recorded the final five outs for his major league-leading 35th save. Left-hander Cam Booser (1-0) struck out the side in the seventh inning and earned his first win with the Rays.

Alonso had tied the game at 4-4 with his home run in the fifth inning, and Encarnacion-Strand put Baltimore ahead 6-4 with a two-run homer in the sixth. He finished with three hits and four RBIs.

Rays starter Shane McClanahan, reinstated from the injured list Monday, made just one costly mistake — a fastball down the middle that Mayo hit for a home run in the second inning. Manager Kevin Cash removed McClanahan with one out in the fourth inning rather than push the left-hander further. Reliever Casey Legumina allowed two inherited runners to score on a single by Encarnacion-Strand.

The Orioles host the New York Yankees on Tuesday, with right-hander Shane Baz (4-12, 4.00 ERA) facing left-hander Carlos Rodón (4-2, 3.30 ERA). The Rays host the Toronto Blue Jays, with right-hander Nick Martinez (12-3, 2.74 ERA) starting against right-hander José Soriano (9-6, 3.17 ERA).