TAMPA, Fla. — The Baltimore Orioles defeated the Tampa Bay Rays 4-1 on June 19, 2025, at George M. Steinbrenner Field, improving their record to 32-42. Colton Cowser’s three-run homer in the sixth inning powered the Orioles past the Rays, who fell to 41-34 despite outhitting Baltimore 8-6.
The game, delayed briefly by rain, started at 7:45 p.m. before 10,046 fans under cloudy skies with 82-degree weather. Baltimore’s Charlie Morton (4-7) earned the win, allowing one run on six hits over six innings while striking out seven. Félix Bautista secured his 15th save with a scoreless ninth. Tampa Bay’s Drew Rasmussen (6-5) took the loss, giving up two runs on four hits over 5.1 innings.
Tampa Bay struck first in the third when Danny Jansen’s single scored José Caballero, who stole second after being hit by a pitch, making it 1-0. Baltimore tied the game in the fourth on Ryan O’Hearn’s RBI single, driving in Gunnar Henderson, who was hit by a pitch. The Orioles surged ahead in the sixth when Cowser’s sixth home run, off Edwin Uceta, scored Henderson and Ramón Laureano, giving Baltimore a 4-1 lead.
Cowser led the Orioles, going 2-for-4 with a double, a homer, and three RBIs. Henderson scored twice, and O’Hearn added an RBI. For the Rays, Yandy Díaz went 2-for-4 with a double, and Jansen drove in their lone run. Baltimore’s bullpen, including Seranthony Domínguez, Gregory Soto, and Bryan Baker, held Tampa Bay scoreless over the final three innings, stranding runners in the eighth.
The Orioles’ defense was solid despite a pickoff error by Morton, who also picked off Josh Lowe at first. Tampa Bay’s defense turned a double play but couldn’t capitalize on nine runners left on base, going 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position. Baltimore was 2-for-6 in similar situations, leaving seven on base.
Morton’s performance was key, navigating early threats and retiring the side in the fourth. The Rays’ Connor Seabold pitched three scoreless relief innings, but Uceta’s sixth-inning struggles proved costly. The game, lasting three hours, highlighted Baltimore’s clutch hitting and bullpen strength against a Rays team second in the AL East.
The Orioles, fifth in the AL East, snapped a skid with the win, while the Rays missed a chance to gain ground in the division. For more details, visit the official Orioles website.
