Former Pirate Morton whiffs 12
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Charlie Morton struck out six straight batters and a season-high 12 overall, and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Baltimore Orioles 6-3 on Tuesday night for their fourth straight win.
Morton (9-2) pitched seven innings, giving up four hits and a walk two days after being named to the American League All-Star team. It was the 10th time in 18 starts that Morton has given up one run or fewer.
Chris Davis’ sixth home run accounted for the only run off Morton.
Brandon Lowe had three hits and drove in two for the Rays before leaving the game in the sixth with a leg contusion.
Lowe’s 16th home run drove in the game’s first run, and his two-out single in the third regained a 2-1 lead for the Rays after Davis’ homer. Before leading off the Tampa Bay sixth with another single, Lowe fouled a pitch off his right leg. He was lifted for a pinch-runner after limping to first base.
Avisail Garcia’s two-run single made it 4-1 in the sixth, and Tommy Pham made it 6-1 with a two-run double in the seventh.
Asher Wojciechowski, making his first start for Baltimore, pitched into the sixth inning, giving up four runs and five hits while striking out six. It was the first major league start since Aug. 13, 2017 for the 30-year-old right-hander.
Davis’ opposite-field home run in the third was the first hit off Morton.
