BALTIMORE — Apparently, the Rays were right.
You can get your butt kicked in ugly and record-threatening ways, then flush the frustration, come out the next day, grab an early lead and get back to what you were doing right.
The result was an 11-3, series-evening win over the Orioles, a good salve for the sting of Friday’s 22-8 loss.
The Rays improved to 47-36, moving a season-high matching 11 games over .500 and back to within a half game of the American League East-leading Yankees. They improved their majors-best record since May 20 to 26-10.
Saturday’s game started somewhat similarly, with the Rays grabbing an early lead, this one 4-0 in the first, and they kept on adding.
“I’ve been on teams in the past where if you get your teeth pushed in a little bit like we did (Friday) and you kind of fold up for a few games,” said starter Zack Littell, who worked seven strong innings. “So to come out there and just immediately jump on the other guys is incredibly impressive and super cool to watch.”
Josh Lowe led off against ex-teammate Zach Eflin with a double, and Brandon Lowe singled him in. With one out, Jonathan Aranda came up big — a 467-foot homer to right that ranks as the third longest of the Statcast era (since 2015), both in Rays history and at Camden Yards.
The combination of a Junior Caminero single, another well-placed Jake Mangum single and Chandler Simpson beating out the back end of a potential double play made it 4-0.
Unlike Friday, the Rays not only hung on to the lead, they added on.
After Simpson created a run by reaching on a walk, stealing second, going to third on an errant throw and scoring on a sacrifice fly, Yandy Diaz did the heavy lifting in the fourth, swatting a three-run homer.
The Rays got to nine runs when Caminero walked to open the fifth, moved up on the second of Mangum’s three hits, went to third on another Simpson fielder’s choice grounder and scored on Taylor Walls’ second sacrifice fly.
They made it 11- in the seventh, when Mangum and Simpson singled and Matt Thaiss delivered a two-run triple.
Littell won’t get much attention in the game recaps, but his efforts were much appreciated. He allowed one run on three hits and two walks with five strikeouts, lightening the load for the taxed bullpen.
Lefty Joe Rock gave up a two-run homer in the ninth as part of his MLB debut.
Stat of the day
Aranda joined some impressive Statcast era (since 2015) company on Saturday:
Longest homers by a Ray
Avisail Garcia, 485 feet, 5/14/2019
Mike Zunino, 472 feet, 5/11/2021
Aranda, 467, 6/28/2025
Longest homers at Camden Yards
Carlos Correa, 474 feet, 8/10/2019
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Ryan Mountcastle, 474 feet, 8/8/2023
Aranda, 467, 6/28/2025
Sunday: at Orioles
1:35, Camden Yards, Baltimore
Pitchers: Rays — RH Taj Bradley (5-5, 4.57); O’s — RH Dean Kremer (6-7, 4.60)
TV/radio: FanDuel Sports Sun; 95.3-FM, 620-AM, 106.7-FM (Spanish)
Info: raysbaseball.com
On deck
Monday: vs. A’s, 7:35. Rays, RH Drew Rasmussen (7-5, 2.45); A’s, LH Jacob Lopez (2-4, 3.56)
Tuesday: vs. A’s, 7:05. Rays, RH Shane Baz (8-3, 4.37); A’s, LH Jeffrey Springs (6-6, 4.30)
Wednesday: vs. A’s, 12:10. Rays, RH Ryan Pepiot (5-6, 3.36); A’s, RH Mitch Spence (2-3, 3.82)
Thursday: Off
Friday: at Twins, 4:10. Rays, RH Zack Littell (7-7, 3.61); Twins, TBA
Saturday: at Twins, 2:10. Rays, RH Taj Bradley (5-5, 4.57); Twins, TBA
Sunday: at Twins, 2:10. Rays, RH Drew Rasmussen (7-5, 2.45); Twins , TBA