Beavers’ 2-run pinch-hit single sparks the Orioles’ 6-5 win over the Rays

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Dylan Beavers hit a two-run, pinch-hit single in the seventh to put Baltimore ahead to stay, Gunnar Henderson and Colton Cowser homered, and the Orioles beat Tampa Bay 6-5 on Friday night to snap the Rays' nine-game win streak.

Chris Bassit, activated off the 60-day IL before the game, allowed two runs and five hits in 5 1/3 innings in his first appearance since June 3.

Josh Walker (1-0) earned the win with 2/3 innings in relief and Cam Sanders got the final out to end Tampa Bay's three-run ninth-inning rally for his second save.

Garrett Cleavinger (4-4) took the loss as Tampa Bay used six relievers behind opener Steven Matz. The Rays, who returned home following a 9-0 road trip, maintain a 6 1/2-game lead over the New York Yankees in the AL East.

Beavers greeted reliever Kevin Kelly with a base hit to right field with the bases loaded to break a 2-2 tie. Henderson hit a two-run home run off Chris Roycroft in the eighth, which proved to be the difference after the Rays scored three times in the ninth.

Cowser led off the third inning with a home run to right-center field to put Baltimore up 2-1.

Tampa Bay tied the game in the third after benefiting from a rare ABS challenge situation. Junior Caminero was running from first on a full-count pitch to Liam Hicks that was originally called ball four. But Orioles’ catcher Carlos Narváez challenged the call and it was overturned to strike three for the second out of the inning.

Caminero was originally sent back to first but was then awarded second on a stolen base before Victor Mesa Jr. followed with an RBI single.

Baltimore will send RHP Kyle Brandish (7-11, 3.69 ERA) to the mound on Saturday against Tampa Bay LHP Ian Seymour (9-3, 4.08)

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Tampa Bay Rays' Liam Hicks celebrates in the dugout after scoring on an RBI double by Richie Palacios off Baltimore Orioles pitcher Chris Bassitt during the second inning of a baseball game Friday, Aug. 14, 2026, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Baltimore Orioles' Gunnar Henderson (2) celebrates his two-run home run off Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Chris Roycroft with Tyler O'Neill (9) during the eighth inning of a baseball game Friday, Aug. 14, 2026, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Baltimore Orioles pitcher Josh Walker delivers to the Tampa Bay Rays during the sixth inning of a baseball game Friday, Aug. 14, 2026, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Tampa Bay Rays second baseman Richie Palacios corces Baltimore Orioles' Jackson Holliday (7) at second base and relays the throw to first in time to turn a double play on Coby Mayo during the sixth inning of a baseball game Friday, Aug. 14, 2026, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Baltimore Orioles' Dylan Beavers watches his two-run single off Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Kevin Kelly during the seventh inning of a baseball game Friday, Aug. 14, 2026, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

TORONTO (AP) — Six-time All-Star Vladimir Guerrero Jr. was evaluated for a possible concussion after leaving the Toronto Blue Jays' 3-1 victory over the Yankees on Friday night following a collision with New York rookie shortstop George Lombard Jr. on a chaotic play at third base.

With Guerrero at first and Nathan Lukes at second in the sixth inning and the Blue Jays trailing 1-0, George Springer hit a bouncer to third baseman Ryan McMahon, who stepped on the bag to force out Lukes for the second out.

McMahon threw to first in a bid to retire Springer, but New York first baseman Luis García Jr. couldn’t scoop the throw, losing his glove in the process. Guerrero broke for third and García threw toward Lombard, who was trying to get to the bag. The throw got away as Lombard tried to leap over the sliding Guerrero, and his left knee and thigh struck Guerrero’s head.

Guerrero’s helmet was dislodged. He got up and ran home to score the tying run, but looked dazed after crossing the plate.

Manager John Schneider said Guerrero had “a little bit of a headache” after the collision.

“Kind of precautionary right now,” Schneider said of the decision to remove Guerrero. “We'll see how he is tomorrow.”

Charles McAdoo took over at first base in the top of the seventh.

Guerrero is batting .263 with seven homers and 46 RBIs.

McMahon and García were both charged with throwing errors.

“Just didn't work out, man,” McMahon said of the play. “Obviously led to a couple of runs for them and that hurts.”

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Toronto Blue Jays Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (27) grimaces as he crosses the plate after scoring following a throwing error by New York Yankees first baseman Luis García Jr. (26) during the first inning of a baseball game in Toronto, Friday, Aug. 14, 2026. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)