Trey Mancini hit an infield homer in what may have been his last plate appearance at Camden Yards as a member of the Orioles, and Baltimore shut out the Tampa Bay Rays 3-0 on Thursday.
Jordan Lyles pitched dominantly into the sixth inning for the Orioles, who took three of four against Tampa Bay.
Baltimore secured a positive record in consecutive months for the first time since 2016 and moved within three games of Tampa Bay for the final AL wild card, an unexpected position as the trade deadline approaches.
Lyles (7-8) and Mancini could be traded by a team that was looming to continue rebuilding. However, with the Orioles deep in the fight for the playoffs, uncertainty reigns.
Some fans stood up to applaud Mancini when he went to bat with a runner on and two out in the eighth, and the Orioles led 1-0. He hit a routine fly ball to right, but the sun seemed to keep Josh Lowe from spotting the ball. It hit him on the left side of the face, and Mancini ended up running all the bases.
The Orioles went ahead in the third after an RBI double by Venezuelan Anthony Santander.
Felix Bautista retired all four batters he faced, striking out three, for his third save.
For the Rays, the Mexican Isaac Paredes 4-0. The Venezuelan Rene Pinto 3-0. Cuban Randy Arozarena 2-0.
For the Orioles, the Venezuelans Santander 4-2, one RBI; and Robinson Chirinos 3-0. The Mexican Ramón Urías 3-0. Dominican Jorge Mateo 3-0.
