BALTIMORE (AP) — As rumors of potential trades and possible deals swirl around the Baltimore Orioles and Tampa Bay Rays, Adam Jones and Chris Archer are trying the best they can to simply play baseball and await their fate.
Jones hit a three-run homer, Jonathan Schoop connected in a fifth consecutive game and Baltimore beat Archer and the Rays 15-5 on Friday night.
The rebuilding Orioles are looking to deal Jones before the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline, and he put on quite a show for any potential suitor. Jones hit an RBI single in the first inning, singled and scored in the fourth and homered off Austin Pruitt in an eight-run seventh that turned a 4-3 game into a rout.
“We all know what’s going on with the trade rumors and stuff but we still bring it every day,” Jones said. “We have an opportunity and an obligation to ourselves and our teammates to come out here and play the game hard every day. It’s great that everyone is still being a consummate pro.”
Because Archer’s name has cropped up in trade rumors, there was speculation this could be his final start with Tampa Bay. It was hardly a memorable performance: The right-hander allowed seven hits and three runs in six innings, had just three strikeouts and took the loss.
“I haven’t really had a chance to think about it a lot. The next four days is going to be, I don’t know what the right word is, but there’s a lot of curiosity,” Archer said.
“It’s a great clubhouse, and everybody in here has expressed the concern. If nothing happens at 4:01, we’re all going to know at the same time. It’s hard to put energy into something I literally have no control over.”
Archer (3-5) is signed through 2019, and his contract includes team options in 2020 and 2021. While that could make the 29-year-old appealing to some clubs, he’s won only three of 17 starts and has a 4.31 ERA.
“I thought Arch was pretty efficient there or a while, but once they saw him they started making some adjustments,” manager Kevin Cash said. “He left a couple sliders up in the zone, and they made him pay. Then it snowballed from there.”
Schoop put the Orioles up 4-1 with a fifth-inning drive off Archer that carried deep into the left-field seats. It was his 16th homer of the season, and tied a major league record for home runs in consecutive games by a second baseman.
Schoop also had two RBI singles in the seventh, Baltimore’s biggest inning of the season.
Andrew Cashner (3-9) gave up two runs in six innings to earn his first win in 10 starts since May 21. It was his first victory in 13 career starts at Camden Yards, including 11 this season.
Right fielder Carlos Gomez pitched the eighth for the Rays. He walked four of the five batters he faced and committed two balks.
He was replaced by catcher Jesus Sucre, who gave up a hit but retired the side.
