Rickard’s big night leads O’s to extra-inning win

St. Petersburg — Joey Rickard’s two-out RBI double in the top of the 11th inning proved to be the difference in the Orioles’ 6-5 win over the Tampa Bay Rays on Thursday evening.

With the game tied, 5-5, the first two batters in the Orioles half of the 11th inning were retired by right hander Diego Castillo (L, 0-1). Though, designated hitter Dwight Smith, Jr. battled before grounding out.

Smith, Jr.’s at-bat forced Castillo’s pitch count up, and he started to leave some balls out over the plate.

First baseman Chris Davis, having entering the game as a defensive replacement earlier, would single up the middle in his first at-bat of the game.

Third baseman Rio Ruiz then singled to left, advancing Davis to third, setting up Rickard’s double that scored Davis. Ruiz was cut down at home attempting to score.

Rickard collected four hits on the evening, finishing a home run short of the cycle.

Baltimore used a 15-hit attack and some aggressive base-running to send the Rays to just their fifth loss of the young season.

Andrew Cashner gave the Orioles a decent outing, allowing just two runs and striking out six in five innings of work.

After falling behind, 1-0, the Orioles responded with two runs in the top of the 3rd when first baseman Renato Nunez drove in left fielder Trey Mancini with an RBI single off left hander Jalen Beeks.

Rickard then followed Nunez with an infield RBI single against the shift.

Tampa Bay left fielder Tommy Pham knotted the score at 2-2 in the bottom of the inning with a solo home run to right field.

Orioles catcher Pedro Severino led off the top of the 4th with a long home run to left field, recapturing the lead, 3-2, for Baltimore. It was Severino’s first home run in an Oriole uniform.

The score remained 3-2 until the 7th inning, when Rickard led off with a triple. Shortstop Richie Martin then drove in Rickard with a single, his first RBI in the Major Leagues.

In the 8th, the Birds scored without the benefit of a hit. Second baseman Jonathan Villar walked. Villar then was aggressive on the base paths and advanced to second on a wild pitch.

Mancini pushed Villar to third on a sacrifice fly, and Villar scored on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Smith, Jr., giving the O’s a 5-2 lead.

The Baltimore bullpen, however, couldn’t hold the lead.

Left hander Paul Fry, having gotten the final two outs of the 7th inning, issued a leadoff walk in the 8th to first baseman Ji-Man Choi.

Fry was relieved by right hander Even Phillips who promptly walked designated hitter Yandy Diaz.

Two batters later catcher Mike Zunino doubled in the right field corner, driving in Choi and Diaz.

Right hander Mychal Givens took the mound in the 9th attempting to earn the save, but gave up a long solo home run to center fielder Avisail Garcia, knotting the game at 5-5.

Orioles left hander John Means (W, 2-2) shut down the Rays offense in his two innings of work, keeping the Rays off-balance with his change-up.

With the win, the Orioles avoid the series sweep by the first-place Rays, and sit at 8-12 on the season.

Baltimore returns home tomorrow night to begin a three-games series against the Minnesota Twins.

Alex Cobb (0-0, 3.18) will start for the Orioles. He will be opposed by Jose Berrios (2-1, 2.30).

First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 pm.