Watkins stays hot as O's top Rays

*Photo from the Baltimore Sun*

   Looking for their first win against the Tampa Bay Rays in 2021, the Baltimore Orioles turned to Spenser Watkins, a rookie who had made two starts, and was looking to win his second. Watkins sure helped. Watkins won the start, Pat Valaika drove in two runs, and the Orioles defeated the Rays 6-1 on Monday night. 

   Watkins said "I’ve dreamed my entire career to have success in the big leagues, and to be able to do that three times in a row is incredible. It just pushes me to keep getting better, keep working. Complacency is not an option for me. Continue to work, continue to get better and keep doing it. It’s been an incredible ride so far, and I’m enjoying the heck out of it."

   So far, in 4 games, 3 of which were starts, in his major league career, Watkins now has a 2-0 record with a sparkling 1.65 ERA. He threw 6 innings to get the win, improving to 2-0 in his career. Watkins allowed one run on 4 hits and two walks, racking up 7 strikeouts in his 3rd start. Cole Sulser, Paul Fry, and Tyler Wells pitched in relief of Watkins, and got the job done.

   Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said of Watkins that "He’s going to make his next start. He's a great story, and I like that he’s pitching with confidence. The home plate umpire, who I’ve known for a long time, mentioned to me that he was impressed with his stuff. He was surprised Watkins hasn’t been in the big leagues very long, because of the crispness of his stuff and how he could command."

   In terms of the offense, Baltimore got that going very quickly. In the first, an RBI double from Ryan Mountcastle and a sac fly from Anthony Santander quickly made it 2-0 Baltimore. It stayed that way until a 4 run 6th inning. Valaika hit a two run single, Kelvin Gutierrez hit an RBI single, and Austin Hays added an RBI double to make it 6-0.

   For the Rays, they were snakebitten against Watkins and the Orioles pitching all night long, only mustering 5 hits and drawing 3 walks. Their only run came in the 6th, when Randy Arozarena hit an RBI double that scored Austin Meadows, making it 6-1 Orioles. 

   Ryan Yarbrough got the loss, allowing all 6 runs, on 8 hits and two walks, striking out 5 hitters in 5 2/3 innings pitched, falling to 6-4 on the season. After Yarbrough left, a bullpen combination of Matt Wisler, Diego Castillo, and Drew Rasmussen held the Orioles offense scoreless after Yarbrough departed.

   Yarbrough said the loss was "Really frustrating, especially because nothing really seemed like it was hit really hard today. It's just kind of how my season's gone a little bit at times, where you have these outings where you feel like you're throwing better than the scoreboard dictates. I guess you've got to realize it's a long season, but yeah, not gonna lie, it's starting to get pretty old."

   Baltimore and Tampa Bay continue their series tonight, with John Means returning from the IL to start for the Orioles, and Shane McClanahan starting for the Rays.