BALTIMORE — The Rays went down somewhat quietly to the Orioles on Sunday, losing 5-1.
Starter Taj Bradley, coming off his dazzling bounceback outing in Kansas City, was not as sharp, charged with five runs and allowing eight hits over 5 ⅓.
The loss dropped the Rays to 47-37.
The Rays were shut out into the ninth, when Brandon Lowe led off with his 18th homer.
Otherwise, the offense, which has been best in the majors for more than a month and had scored 19 runs over the previous two games, was shut down by the O’s.
The Rays managed only three hits and a walk in seven innings against starter Dean Kremer, and only a little better against relievers Keegan Akin and Felix Bautista.
Their best early scoring opportunity was probably in the first inning, where they have had much success lately. Josh Lowe led off with a single, and Yandy Diaz delivered another with one out. But Jonathan Aranda flied to left and Jake Mangum grounded to shortstop for a force out.
They didn’t get another runner to second until Jake Mangum singled with two outs in the fourth and stole second.
What looked to be their only other chance came in the eighth, when Chandler Simpson singled with one out and Danny Jansen drove a ball to deep left that Colton Cowser leaped and caught.
The Orioles took a 1-0 lead in the second inning off Bradley and kept adding on.
Ramon Laureano, a thorn all series, led off with a double and scored when Cowser lashed a hard single on the next pitch. A leaping catch by Jake Mangum in left kept them from getting more later in the inning.
The O’s added two more runs in the fifth as the Rays failed to get an out on a bunt.
Gary Sanchez led off with a single, then No. 8 hitter Cedric Mullins dropped a bunt that Bradley fielded but couldn’t get to first in time. Coby Mayo then singled to center, bringing Mullins home. A one-out fly to center by Ramon Urias made it 3-0.
The Orioles came right back to get two more in the sixth, with the key hit going off the glove of second baseman Brandon Lowe.
Ryan O’Hearn led off with a double, then Laureano reached again with a slow grounder to short that became an infield single. Bradley was lifted after Cowser flied out, but reliever Kevin Kelly allowed both of Bradley’s runs to score.
Sanchez’s 102.6 mph grounder went off Lowe’s glove and into rightfield, scoring O’Hearn. Mullins followed with a sac fly to left to make it 5-0.
Monday: vs. A’s
7:35, Steinbrenner Field
Pitchers: Rays — RH Drew Rasmussen (7-5, 2.45); A’s — LH Jacob Lopez (2-4, 3.56)
TV/radio: FanDuel Sports Sun; 95.3-FM, 620-AM, 106.7-FM (Spanish)
Stay updated on Tampa Bay’s sports scene
Subscribe to our free Sports Today newsletter
We’ll send you news and analysis on the Bucs, Lightning, Rays and Florida’s college football teams every day.
You’re all signed up!
Want more of our free, weekly newsletters in your inbox? Let’s get started.
Info: raysbaseball.com
On deck
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, TBA
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