Yandy Diaz leads way as Rays beat Orioles, take another series

Marc Topkin, Tampa Bay Times on May 19, 2026

Published in Baseball

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TAMPA, Fla. — After leaving the May 1 game due to left oblique tightness and missing the next two, Yandy Diaz returned to the Tampa Bay Rays lineup but didn’t look much like himself over the next week and a half, managing just five hits in 33 at-bats.

But he’s obviously been feeling good over the last week, as he is doing much better.

Tuesday, that included an RBI double and a solo homer to lead the majors-leading Rays to a 4-1 win over the Baltimore Orioles.

Over a six-game hitting streak, Diaz is 11 for 24 with three doubles, three homers and 10 RBIs.

He appeared to get hit on both hands during an eighth-inning at-bat and, after heading to first base in obvious pain, was removed for a pinch-runner.

The Rays improved to 32-15, moving to a season-high 17 games over .500 and matching the 2010 team for the second-best 47-game start in franchise history, trailing only their 34-13 mark in 2023.

They also won their eighth straight series, two shy of the franchise mark, and ninth straight against American League teams.

The Orioles grabbed a 1-0 lead when Taylor Ward homered on the second pitch from Rays starter Griffin Jax, snapping the Rays’ streak of scoring first at eight games.

The Rays answered right back with a two-out run in their half of the first.

Jonathan Aranda worked a 10-pitch walk off Kyle Bradish, then Diaz waded through six pitches before doubling hard to center.

The Rays took a 2-1 lead in the sixth when Diaz led off with a homer, his eighth of the season.

The Rays added two runs in the eighth after Diaz was hit. Richie Palacios laced a double to right, scoring pinch-runner Carson Williams, and taking third on the throw home. Palacios then scored on a Jonny DeLuca single.

Jax became the latest pitcher the Rays transitioned from reliever to starter during the season, joining Drew Rasmussen, Jeffrey Springs and Zack Littell, and did so in four starts. Jax progressed from 2 1/3 innings and 31 pitches on April 26, to 2 2/3 and 45 on May 2, to 4 and 59 on May 7, to 5 and 66 on May 13.

Tuesday, he worked five innings in 62 pitches, allowing just two singles and a walk after the leadoff homer.

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