Shane Baz strikes out season-high 9, Basallo hits 3-run homer as Orioles top Rays 6-1

BALTIMORE (AP) — Shane Baz struck out a season-high nine and Samuel Basallo hit a three-run homer as the Baltimore Orioles beat the Tampa Bay Rays 6-1 on Tuesday night.

Baz (2-5), who joined the Orioles in a trade from Tampa Bay in December, pitched seven innings of one-run ball. The 26-year-old right-hander allowed seven hits and walked two.

Jackson Holliday reached on a single in the fifth and advanced to second after Gunnar Henderson beat out a throw to first base. Holliday was originally ruled out at second, but that call was overturned when the Orioles challenged. Basallo followed with his eighth homer of the season, a 405-foot shot to right-center field.

Basallo scored in the second inning on a fielding error by Rays second baseman Richie Palacios. Holliday added an RBI single, and Taylor Ward knocked in another run with a sacrifice fly to make it 3-1.

Chandler Simpson scored on Jonathan Aranda's RBI single in the first inning for Tampa Bay.

Rays starting pitcher Griffin Jax (1-3) was hit by a 107-mph line drive in his back off the bat of Leody Taveras in the second inning. He completed the inning but didn't return for the third. He finished two innings, allowing three hits with three strikeouts and is day to day with a bruised back. Reliever Garrett Cleavinger pitched the next two innings with three strikeouts. Trevor Martin pitched three innings, giving up three hits and three earned runs, two walks, and a strikeout.

Craig Kimbrel made his Rays debut in the eighth inning after being signed earlier in the day. He struck out two and allowed a hit.

RHP Chris Bassitt (4-3, 5.51 ERA) will start for the Orioles in the series finale Wednesday against LHP Steven Matz (4-1, 3.70).

Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Griffin Jax is examined by a trainer after an injury during the second inning of a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles, Tuesday, May 26, 2026, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Griffin Jax (22) reacts after an injury during the second inning of a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles, Tuesday, May 26, 2026, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Craig Kimbrel delivers during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles, Tuesday, May 26, 2026, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

Baltimore Orioles second baseman Jackson Holliday (7) and left fielder Taylor Ward, right, celebrate their team's victory over the Tampa Bay Rays in a baseball game, Tuesday, May 26, 2026, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher Shane Baz (34) delivers during the first inning of a baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays, Tuesday, May 26, 2026, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

BALTIMORE (AP) — Tampa Bay Rays right-hander Griffin Jax is day to day with a bruised back after leaving his start in a 6-1 loss to the Baltimore Orioles a few batters after being hit by a 107 mph line drive in the second inning Tuesday night.

With a runner on first base after a fielding error by Jax and the Rays leading 1-0, Leody Taveras hit a liner that struck the pitcher in his back. Jax immediately went down near the mound while the ball bounced to third baseman Junior Caminero, who couldn't make a diving play. Second baseman Richie Palacios recovered it, but Tavares was safe with a hit.

Meanwhile, Jax grabbed at his back while on the ground as head athletic trainer Joe Benge and manager Kevin Cash rushed to check on him. After a few moments, Jax was helped back to his feet, he threw a warmup pitch and stayed in the game.

After giving up a single to Jeremiah Jackson to load the bases, Jax struck out Colton Cowser for the first out. Blaze Alexander reached on a fielder's choice grounder that Palacios couldn't handle, tying it at 1. Jackson Holliday followed with an RBI single and Taylor Ward's sacrifice fly made it 3-1 before Jax got Gunnar Henderson on a flyout for the final out.

Garrett Cleavinger replaced Jax to start the third inning. Jax (1-3) took the loss after allowing three runs — none earned — and three hits with three strikeouts on 26 pitches in his two innings.

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Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Griffin Jax delivers during the first inning of a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles, Tuesday, May 26, 2026, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Griffin Jax reacts after committing a fielding error that allowed Baltimore Orioles' Samuel Basallo to reach first base during the second inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, May 26, 2026, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Griffin Jax is examined by a trainer after an injury during the second inning of a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles, Tuesday, May 26, 2026, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)