The Orioles had a rookie starter making his third major league appearance and a short bullpen after today’s roster move.

They also had an offense that was in full ambush mode.

Ten batters came to the plate in the first inning, with the first seven reaching against Rays left-hander Steven Matz. The result was a fast five-run lead that never threatened to go away.

Swept at Tropicana Field last week, the Orioles turned the tables with tonight’s 11-2 thumping of Tampa Bay before an announced crowd of 16,317 at Tropicana Field.

Gunnar Henderson hit his 12th and 13th home runs, Blaze Alexander homered and had a career-high six RBIs, and the Orioles improved to 26-30. They haven’t been four games below .500 since May 13.

Henderson registered his third career multi-homer game and first since June 21, 2024 in Houston.

Trey Gibson allowed one run and six hits with four walks and a strikeout to earn his first major league win. He kept dodging traffic and lasted until his 100th pitch.

Keegan Akin stranded a runner and tossed a scoreless seventh to lower his ERA to 11.25.

The game didn’t come without a crisis for the Orioles.

Yennier Cano loaded the bases with no outs in the eighth inning, fell behind 3-0 to Ryan Vilade and left the game with right hamstring discomfort.

Bats came out blazing

Matz threw 36 pitches in the first inning, which began with a line drive single by slumping left fielder Taylor Ward. Henderson followed with a 392-foot homer onto the flag court.

Adley Rutschman walked, Pete Alonso singled for his 1,000th career hit, and Coby Mayo walked. Leody Taveras dumped a single into right to score Rutschman, Tyler O’Neill struck out after a long foul ball down the left field line that hinted at a home run, and Alexander drove a two-run single into right.

The Orioles hadn’t tallied five runs in the opening frame since May 17, 2024 against the Mariners at Camden Yards.

Coby Mayo led off the third with a double and scored on O’Neill’s single – his fourth RBI this month and first since May 16. He was 3-for-42 against left-handers before the at-bat.

Matz didn’t return for the fourth. He allowed six runs and seven hits

Mayo’s back must be feeling better. He led off the fifth with a single and took third base on Taveras’ single, and both runners crossed the plate on Alexander’s double down the left field line.

Alexander’s four RBIs at this point were one short of his career high on April 19, 2024 in San Francisco. He launched his first home run in the seventh, a 399-foot shot to left field off former Oriole Jonathan Heasley, after Colton Cowser’s single.

Since going hitless on May 2, Alexander has posted a .367 average, .404 on-base percentage and .531 slugging to warrant more playing time, whether in the infield or outfield.

Henderson led off the sixth with a 419-foot shot to right field against Heasley to give the Orioles a 9-1 lead.

Both managers began substituting by the sixth and seventh innings. Alexander moved to left field, Weston Wilson entered at third base and Jackson Holliday replaced Henderson at shortstop.

Rutschman doubled again in the eighth to give him a three-hit night, plus a walk.

How good was Gibson?

Gibson threw 19 pitches in the first inning and only eight were strikes. Chandler Simpson reached on an infield hit and was erased on a 5-4-3 double play. Jonathan Aranda singled and Yandy Díaz walked, but Richie Palacios grounded out.

The Rays loaded the bases with one out in the third on a single and two walks, but Díaz struck out and Palacios was robbed on a tremendous backhand stop and off-balance throw from Henderson.

The Orioles turned two more double plays in the fourth and fifth innings.

Gibson finished the fifth by snaring Junior Caminero’s 102.9 mph comebacker on one hop.

Two more batters reached in the sixth on a leadoff single and nine-pitch walk. Aranda scored on a fielder’s choice grounder with one out, and Gibson left to a standing ovation.

Injury curse gets Cano

Cano threw his third pitch to Vilade, a sinker, and turned toward third base. He kicked the mound, picked up and slammed the rosin bag, and waited for manager Craig Albernaz and assistant athletic trainer Ben Fraser. Infield coach Miguel Cairo was summoned as an interpreter.

Cano tapped his right leg before walking to the dugout, and Andrew Kittredge finished the plate appearance with a walk.

Kittredge struck out the next three batters.

Losing Cano would be a blow to the bullpen. He began the night with a 1.40 ERA and 0.517 WHIP in 24 appearances.  

Nineteen players have gone on the injured list this season, and Cano would be the 20th.