Phillips' slam caps Rays' comeback in 9-6 win over Orioles

BALTIMORE (AP) — Brett Phillips capped his first career two-homer game with a tiebreaking grand slam in the eighth inning, and the Tampa Bay Rays rallied to beat the Baltimore Orioles 9-6 Sunday for a three-game sweep.

After Orioles starter Jorge López flustered Tampa Bay's potent offense for six innings, the AL East-leading Rays feasted on Baltimore's shoddy bullpen to erase a 5-2 deficit and soar a season-high 24 games over .500 (68-44).

“All good teams find a way to put together got ABs and come back,” Phillips said. “That's what we've been doing all year. It's a testament to the guys in the clubhouse and their mentality. We want to win. Luckily, I was the hero today but anyone on this team can be the hero on any given day.”

Phillips launched the turnaround with a solo homer off Cole Sulser in the seventh, and Tampa Bay punished two more Orioles relievers in the eighth. Paul Fry (4-5) gave up a leadoff single and three straight walks to force in a run before Dillon Tate entered and allowed a sacrifice fly to pinch-hitter Yandy Díaz.

Tate then walked Manuel Margot to load the bases for Phillips, who sent a 1-2 pitch deep into the seats in left-center to make it 9-5. As he circled third base, his teammates in the nearby dugout cheered him on.

“We were all pumped,” manager Kevin Cash said.

“That was more exciting than the home run itself, seeing everyone fired up for me,” Phillips said.

JT Chargois (2-0) got the win with 1 1/3 innings of relief after starter Michael Wacha yielded five runs and 10 hits in five innings.

Tampa Bay is 11-1 against the last-place Orioles this season, outscoring them 94-48. At Camden Yards, the Rays are 6-0 with 63 runs and 19 homers.

Cedric Mullins homered on the first pitch from Wacha and Anthony Santander connected in the third inning...

source https://www.chron.com/sports/article/Phillips-slam-caps-Rays-comeback-in-9-6-win-16373190.php