Rays rout Orioles 11-1 on July 19, 2025, snapping a 4-game skid. Junior Caminero homers twice, Yandy Díaz adds a grand slam, and Brandon Lowe returns.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
If the Rays were feeling the pressure of a four-game skid, they certainly didn't show it Saturday. In a much-needed display of force, Tampa Bay dismantled the Baltimore Orioles 11-1, powered by a barrage of home runs and the welcome return of a key player. It was a complete performance that felt like a massive exhale for a team needing a spark.
11 runs, two Junior Caminero homers, and one Yandy Díaz grand slam. That's one way to snap a four-game losing streak.
The bats came alive in a way fans have been desperately waiting for. The breakout star was Junior Caminero, who launched two separate rockets out of the park. But the biggest blow came from the ever-steady Yandy Díaz, who broke the game wide open with a thunderous grand slam. The 11-run outburst was a powerful reminder of what this lineup is capable of, pushing the team's season slugging percentage to .405. On the other side of the ball, the pitching staff was just as brilliant, holding a potent Orioles lineup to a single run and keeping the team's season ERA at a solid 3.78.
The good news started even before the first pitch. All-Star second baseman Brandon Lowe was officially reinstated from the 10-day injured list after missing seven games—and the All-Star Game—with oblique tightness. His presence was immediately felt in the dugout and lineup. While he didn't hit one of the homers, his return seemed to energize the entire squad. Lowe, who leads all MLB second basemen with 19 homers and 50 RBIs, provides a massive boost. To make room, the promising infielder Curtis Mead was optioned to Triple-A Durham, a tough but necessary move to get a lineup cornerstone back in the fold.
The front office also made a few key moves to shore up pitching depth. The team selected right-hander Joey Gerber to the 40-man roster, optioning him to Durham. Gerber, 28, has previous big-league experience with the Mariners and adds another viable arm to the system. This move was facilitated by transferring Hunter Bigge to the 60-day IL as he continues his recovery from the scary facial fractures he suffered from a foul ball. It's a bittersweet transaction, but one that shows the team is constantly looking for ways to manage its roster and build for the long haul.
One game doesn't make a season, but this wasn't just any game. It was a statement win against a division rival, fueled by young power and the return of an All-Star. With Lowe back in the lineup and the bats showing serious signs of life, the Rays will look to carry this momentum through the rest of the series against the O's. The losing streak is over; now it's time to build a winning one.
