Henderson, Beavers Lift Orioles Past Rays, 6-5, to Snap Tampa Bay’s Nine-Game Winning Streak

The Baltimore Orioles opened a critical American League East series with one of their biggest wins of the season Friday night.

Gunnar Henderson went 4-for-4, Dylan Beavers delivered a go-ahead two-run single off the bench and the Orioles survived a ninth-inning scare to defeat the Tampa Bay Rays, 6-5, at Tropicana Field. The victory snapped Tampa Bay’s nine-game winning streak and improved Baltimore to 59-63.

Baltimore finished with 12 hits, including home runs from Henderson and Colton Cowser, while Chris Bassitt gave the Orioles 5 1/3 solid innings in his first major league start since early June following back surgery.

For an Orioles team trying to keep its season alive, it was a win they badly needed.

Henderson Breaks Out

Henderson has endured an unusually difficult offensive season by his standards, but Friday looked much more like the version of Baltimore’s shortstop that Orioles fans have become accustomed to seeing.

Henderson collected four hits, including two singles, a double and his 20th home run of the season. He scored twice and drove in two runs while raising his batting average to .221.

Manager Craig Albernaz dropped Henderson to fifth in the lineup as Baltimore stacked right-handed hitters near the top against Tampa Bay left-hander Steven Matz. It marked the first time this season Henderson had hit below third in the batting order.

The change certainly did not hurt.

Henderson singled in the second inning before Baltimore opened the scoring. Tyler O’Neill drew a walk, Henderson followed with a hit and Christian Encarnacion-Strand brought O’Neill home with a sacrifice fly for a 1-0 Orioles lead.

Tampa Bay immediately answered in the bottom half when Richie Palacios doubled home a run.

Cowser put Baltimore back in front in the third inning, launching a 420-foot solo home run to center field for his 10th homer of the season.

Again, Tampa Bay responded.

Junior Caminero walked, stole second and scored on Victor Mesa Jr.’s single to center, tying the game at 2-2.

Bassitt Solid in Return

Bassitt’s return to the rotation was another encouraging development.

The 37-year-old right-hander was activated from the 60-day injured list before Friday’s game after missing more than two months with a back injury. He had not appeared in a major league game since early June.

Bassitt allowed two runs on five hits over 5 1/3 innings. He walked three, struck out three and threw 88 pitches, 53 for strikes.

Most importantly, he kept Baltimore in the game.

Tampa Bay had opportunities to do more damage, particularly in the second when Bassitt escaped a bases-loaded situation after Palacios’ game-tying double. He retired the next two hitters to strand three runners.

Josh Walker replaced Bassitt in the sixth and recorded two outs without allowing a hit. Walker ultimately earned his first major league victory.

Beavers Delivers Off the Bench

The game remained tied until Baltimore finally broke through against the Tampa Bay bullpen in the seventh.

Henderson collected his third hit, Encarnacion-Strand doubled and Tampa Bay issued an intentional walk to load the bases.

Albernaz then turned to Beavers.

The rookie delivered.

Beavers lined a two-run single into right field, scoring Henderson and Leody Taveras to give Baltimore a 4-2 advantage.

Beavers finished 2-for-2 after entering off the bench and supplied what ultimately became the game-winning hit.

Henderson Adds Insurance

Baltimore appeared to put the game away an inning later.

O’Neill reached base and Henderson drove a pitch to right-center field for a two-run home run. Statcast measured the blast at approximately 400 feet, giving Baltimore a 6-2 advantage.

It was Henderson’s fourth hit of the night and his 20th homer.

The four-run cushion turned out to be absolutely necessary.

Ninth-Inning Scare

Andrew Kittredge and Rico Garcia helped Baltimore navigate the seventh and eighth innings without allowing a run, but Tampa Bay made things uncomfortable in the ninth.

Yennier Cano entered trying to protect the 6-2 advantage but struggled to close the door.

Jonathan Aranda lined a two-run single into right field to make it 6-4. Caminero then brought another run home on a ground ball, suddenly cutting Baltimore’s advantage to 6-5.

Cano allowed three runs on three hits and a walk over two-thirds of an inning.

With the tying run in scoring position, Albernaz turned to Cam Sanders.

Sanders needed only one pitch.

Ryan Vilade lifted the first offering into the outfield for the final out, allowing Baltimore to escape with the 6-5 victory. Sanders earned his second save.

Alonso Gets Unusual Assignment

One of the more interesting parts of Baltimore’s lineup came before the game even started.

Pete Alonso hit leadoff for the first time in his major league career as Albernaz tried to take advantage of Tampa Bay opening with the left-handed Matz.

Alonso responded by going 2-for-5.

O’Neill also reached base three times with a single and two walks and scored twice, while Encarnacion-Strand recorded a hit and an RBI.

Baltimore went 12-for-35 overall and outhit Tampa Bay 12-9.

A Big Win in the Wild Card Race

The Orioles are still below .500, but they are very much alive.

Friday’s victory moved Baltimore to 59-63 and, because of losses elsewhere around the American League, left the Orioles only one game outside a playoff position entering Saturday.

That makes this stretch particularly important.

Baltimore has started a run of 10 consecutive games against the Rays and New York Yankees, two of the strongest teams in the American League.

Taking the opener from a Tampa Bay club that entered the night 74-46 and riding a nine-game winning streak was an encouraging beginning.

The Rays fell to 74-47 but still hold first place in the American League East. Baltimore remains tied with Toronto at 15.5 games behind Tampa Bay.

MSB Take

This was exactly the type of game the Orioles have to win if they are going to make a serious late-season playoff push.

Baltimore received quality starting pitching, contributions from the bench and, most importantly, a huge night from Henderson.

Henderson has not produced at the superstar level Orioles fans expected for most of 2026, but there is still enough time for him to change the direction of his season. A four-hit performance against the best team in the division is a pretty good place to start.

Beavers also continues to show why he belongs in the Orioles’ plans. Coming off the bench with the game tied and the bases loaded is not an easy assignment, and Beavers delivered the biggest hit of the night.

The ninth inning was far more stressful than necessary. Baltimore cannot consistently turn four-run leads into one-run nail-biters, particularly against teams it could eventually see in meaningful September games.

But at this point in the season, style points do not matter.

The Orioles need wins.

Friday night, they got one.

Final: Orioles 6, Rays 5

WP: Josh Walker (1-0)
LP: Garrett Cleavinger (4-4)
Save: Cam Sanders (2)

Baltimore and Tampa Bay continue their four-game series Saturday at Tropicana Field.