Ryan Pepiot strikes out 11 as the Rays dominate the Orioles 7-1 on June 17, 2025. See how Pepiot silenced Gunnar Henderson and Baltimore's potent bats.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
It was another tough night to be an Orioles fan. Hopes for a mid-week turnaround were dashed as the Tampa Bay Rays rolled into Steinbrenner Field and handed Baltimore a decisive 7-1 loss. The story of the game was Rays starter Ryan Pepiot, who put on a pitching clinic, leaving a potent Orioles lineup looking completely overmatched and extending the team's frustrating offensive slump.
Rays starter Ryan Pepiot struck out a season-high 11 batters over 7 dominant innings, allowing just 1 run.
From the first pitch, it was clear Ryan Pepiot was in command. He sliced through the Orioles' lineup with a devastating mix of pitches, racking up a season-high 11 strikeouts over seven brilliant innings. Baltimore's biggest bats were neutralized; Gunnar Henderson, Adley Rutschman, and the rest of the order could only muster five hits all evening. The team's lone run, which came in the third inning, felt like a minor victory in a game where they were thoroughly outclassed. It was a masterclass in pitching that left the O's searching for answers.
While Pepiot was dealing, Orioles starter Dean Kremer (now 5-7) couldn't find his rhythm. He was hit hard early, putting the team in a hole they would never dig out of. This loss marks another chapter in a troubling trend for the Orioles: an inability to generate consistent offense, especially against divisional rivals. The lineup, featuring regulars like Jackson Holliday, Jordan Westburg, and Cedric Mullins, simply couldn't build any momentum. When your pitching struggles and your bats are silent, a 7-1 loss is the unfortunate and predictable result.
For fans hoping for a shake-up, the day brought little comfort. The Orioles remained quiet on all other fronts. There were no significant roster moves, injury updates, or trades announced. The farm system, usually a source of hope, had no major news, and the coaching staff under new manager Tony Mansolino remains unchanged. The lack of external news puts the focus squarely on the players in the clubhouse to solve the current slide.
With the team now sitting at 30-40 and in the AL East cellar, the pressure is mounting. There were no roster moves or major announcements today, meaning the solution, for now, must come from within. The Orioles need their stars to shine and their bats to wake up, and fast. All eyes will be on the lineup tomorrow to see if they can shake off this offensive funk and start climbing back.
