BALTIMORE (AP) — The Baltimore Orioles set the major league record for home runs allowed in a season, giving up drives to Austin Meadows and Willy Adames in a rain-delayed, 5-2 loss to Tampa Bay that ended shortly before 1 a.m. Friday.
About 200 fans were left at Camden Yards when the Rays closed out the win.
Meadows hit the record-setting 259th home run off Baltimore this year — the last-place Orioles began the day tied with the 2016 Cincinnati Reds for the dubious mark.
Adames, who finished with three hits, later connected for No. 260 against the O's. Baltimore still has 34 more games remaining.
The teams were tied at 2 when a downpour sent the game into a rain delay in the fifth inning.
When play resumed after 2 hours and 16 minutes, Adames had a two-run single off Miguel Castro (1-2) in the sixth.
Oliver Drake (2-1) earned the win by throwing 12/3 scoreless innings with a hit and two strikeouts. Emilio Pagan picked up his 14th save in 21 chances with a scoreless ninth.
The Orioles took a 2-0 lead on a double by Trey Mancini that drove in Hanser Alberto in the first. Mancini also scored on a throwing error by Adames.
That ended a streak of 17 2/3 scoreless innings by Tampa Bay left-hander Ryan Yarbrough.
Meadows hit a curveball by Orioles starter Asher Wojciechowski over the right field scoreboard in the third that made it 2-1. Adames tied it two innings later with another homer off Wojciechowski.
Meadows scored on a wild pitch by Gabriel Ynoa in the ninth.
MORE HOMERS
Baltimore likely won't be the only club to pass the 2016 Reds in a historically homer-friendly season. Entering Thursday, the Seattle Mariners, Los Angeles Angels, New York Yankees and Philadelphia Phillies were on track to allow at least 259 homers. The league as a whole is on pace to easily surpass the record of 6,105 homers in 2017.
DAVIS SITS
Orioles struggling first baseman Chris Davis has been out of the lineup the last four games and that's a trend that will continue the rest of the year as the team evaluates younger talent. "I think there are people we want to see and there's at-bats that we want to give to guys," manager Brandon Hyde said. Davis is slashing .179/.270/.312 with 9 HRs and 32 RBIs over 90 games.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Rays: 2B Brandon Lowe (shin) suffered a quad injury during a rehabilitation assignment Wednesday. "He's most likely done for the year," manager Kevin Cash said. "I think that's the best way to say it. If he comes back early, great." Lowe, an All-Star selection, hit .276 with 16 homers and 49 RBIs this season but hasn't played since July 2. ... INF Joey Wendle (right wrist) planned to take 20 swings Thursday.
Orioles: INF Richie Martin has a sore left hand from sliding into first base against Kansas City on Wednesday and was scratched from the lineup. He pinch-ran in the eighth. . OF Mark Trumbo (knee surgery) could join Triple-A Norfolk for a rehab assignment next week. He has not appeared in a game for the major league club this season . OF Dwight Smith Jr. (left calf strain) was reinstated from the 10-day IL and optioned to Norfolk.
UP NEXT
Rays: Tampa Bay did not plan to name a starter for the second game of the four-game series until after Thursday's contest concluded.
Orioles: LHP Ty Blach (0-1, 12.06 ERA) is trying to get on track after struggling in his two starts against the Yankees and Red Sox since being claimed off waivers from San Francisco on Aug. 3.
