Tampa Bay Rays' Yandy Diaz, left, celebrates his three-run home run during the fourth inning of a baseball game as Baltimore Orioles catcher Chadwick Tromp looks on at right, Saturday, June 28, 2025, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Aranada and Díaz go deep to back Littell’s seven strong innings as Rays beat Orioles 11-3

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BALTIMORE (AP) — Jonathan Aranda and Yandy Díaz each homered, Zack Littell pitched seven strong innings and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Baltimore Orioles 11-3 on Saturday.

Littell (7-7) gave up one run and three hits with two walks. It was the fifth time Littell has gone at least seven innings this season. Joe Rock got the last six outs in his major league debut and gave up Ramón Laureano’s 10th home run — a two-run shot in the ninth.

Tampa Bay, which won for the 11th time in 15 games, grabbed the lead two batters into the game against Zach Eflin (6-6) when Josh Lowe doubled and scored on Brandon Lowe’s single that extended his hitting streak to 15 games. One out later, Aranda hit a 467-foot shot out to right field for his 10th home run and a 3-0 lead. Chandler Simpson drove in the final run of the inning with a grounder.

Scott Blewett pitched two scoreless innings after replacing Eflin to begin the second before running into trouble in the fourth. Simpson walked, stole his 22nd base and scored on a sacrifice fly by Taylor Walls for a 5-0 lead. Josh Lowe had a two-out single, Brandon Lowe worked a 10-pitch walk and Díaz hit his 13th homer to make it 8-0.

Walls had another sacrifice fly in the fifth, and the Orioles scored a run in the bottom of the inning on Chadwick Tromp’s first home run to make it 9-1. Matt Thaiss added a two-run triple in the seventh for the Rays.

Tampa Bay Rays’ Jonathan Aranda celebrates his two-run home run as he rounds the bases during the first inning of a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles, Saturday, June 28, 2025, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Key moment

The four-run first helped the Rays put a 22-8 loss in the series opener behind them.

Key stat

Díaz went 2 for 4 with a walk after beginning the day with a .490 on-base percentage in his last 21 games.

Up next

Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Zack Littell throws during the second inning of a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles, Saturday, June 28, 2025, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Rays RHP Taj Bradley (5-5, 4.57) starts Sunday against Orioles RHP Dean Kremer (6-7, 4.60).

Tampa Bay Rays relief pitcher Joe Rock, right, and catcher Matt Thaiss, left, celebrate after a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles, Saturday, June 28, 2025, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Baltimore Orioles’ Chadwick Tromp, right, celebrates his home run during the fifth inning of a baseball game as Tampa Bay Rays catcher Matt Thaiss looks on at left, Saturday, June 28, 2025, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

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