The Rays had to battle Mother Nature in Sunday afternoon’s series finale against the Orioles. The temperature at first pitch was 93 degrees, with a heat index of 105, the hottest game the Rays have played at home this season.

Ryan Pepiot takes the blame for the early deficit, but the offense nearly pulls it off at the end of a long day. And the Rays still take the series.

Jackson Holliday, Alex Jackson and Ryan O’Hearn homer to back up another stellar Trevor Rogers start in the Orioles’ 5-3 win over the Rays.

On Friday night, the Rays jumped out to an early lead and never looked back in a lopsided victory over the Orioles. They had to do things the hard way Saturday night, falling behind early and offering little resistance against Baltimore starter Dean Kremer.

BOTTOM LINE: The Tampa Bay Rays host the Baltimore Orioles to begin a three-game series. Tampa Bay is 28-25 at home and 50-47 overall. The Rays have the fifth-ranked team ERA in the AL at 3.78. Baltimore is 43-52 overall and 21-27 in road games. The Orioles have gone 28-9 in games when they scored five or more runs.

The Orioles filled the opening on their 26-man roster by signing reliever Corbin Martin to a one-year major league contract.Martin was designated for assignment Sunday before the Orioles knew that reliever Scott Blewett would go on the injured list with right elbow discomfort.

Fueled by three home runs, the visiting Baltimore Orioles salvaged the final game of a three-game series by holding off the Tampa Bay Rays 5-3 on Sunday.

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The Guardians, who have won eight of their last 10 games, will try to keep the roll going against the Orioles.