ST. PETERSBURG Chipper Jones Jersey , Fla. (AP) — The Tampa Bay Rays have found an ace.Blake Snell tied for the major league victory lead with his 18th, Nick Ciuffo and Kevin Kiermaier hit early three-run homers and the Rays beat the Baltimore Orioles 14-2 on Friday night.“He’s performed like one,” Rays manager Kevin Cash said. “Blake was really good, again.”Snell (18-5) matched Cleveland’s Corey Kluber for the major league lead, after allowing two runs, five hits and striking out nine over 5 1/3 innings.“I felt like I was around the zone for the most part,” Snell said. “The offense did very well. Gave me a quick lead. All credit goes to them.”Tommy Pham had a fifth-inning solo homer and Ji-Man Choi hit a grand slam in the sixth to help the Rays run their home winning streak to nine. Tampa Bay has won 14 of 17 overall, outscoring opponents 93-49.The loss marks the third time Baltimore (41-100) has had at least 100 losses (1988 and 1954) since relocating from St. Louis following the 1953 season. The franchise had eight 100 or more loss seasons as the St. Louis Browns.Snell’s major league-best since 1913 of giving up one or fewer earned runs in 14 consecutive home starts ended when Joey Rickard hit the lefty’s 104th and final pitch for a two-run homer in the sixth.Rickard, a one-time Tampa Bay minor leaguer, has 17 of 23 RBIs this season in nine games against the Rays.Ciuffo hit his first major league homer off Dylan Bundy (7-14) in the second before Kiermaier made it 6-0 one inning later on his third homer over his last two games.“Really cool http://www.bravesfanproshop.com/authentic-john-smoltz-jersey ,” Cash said. “His family in the stands, and friends. His best buddy had a full Rays uniform on.”Cuiffo, playing in his fourth big league game, got his fourth RBI on a sacrifice fly in a three-run seventh.Bundy gave up six runs, four hits and five walks in four innings. The righty has allowed a single-season team record and major league-leading 37 homers.Bundy said his frustration level is a “10 out of 10 for sure.”“It’s been the second half and it showed tonight,” Bundy said. “I really had no clue where the ball was going and wasn’t executing my pitches. Going through adversity is tough but I just have to keep my head up and keep working in between starts. I think in the end it’ll make me stronger and a better pitcher.”Bundy is 0-4 with 10.67 ERA in his last six starts.ERRANT PASSOrioles RHP David Hess, Saturday’s scheduled starter, was hit in the left eye while playing catch with a football before the game. After being examined by a specialist, he appeared in the dugout wearing an LSU football helmet.MR. JONESBaltimore RF Adam Jones was out of the lineup. “Adam would be the first to tell you, this is the best he’s felt in a long time physically Matt Kemp Jersey ,” Orioles manager Buck Showalter said. “Being careful with him physically, I’m not going to tell you that’s the complete reason. We’ve got some people we want to see play.”TRAINER’S ROOMOrioles: RHP Alex Cobb (blister) is expected to miss his start Sunday. … OF/DH Mark Trumbo underwent right knee cartilage repair surgery. “No complications, no surprises,” Showalter said.Rays: INF Daniel Robertson had the cast for his surgically repaired left thumb removed Wednesday and is increasing his rehab program.UP NEXTHess (3-9) will face a Rays bullpen game Saturday night. PHILADELPHIA (AP) Maikel Franco launched a towering drive, watched the ball clear the left-field wall and flipped his bat high in the air backward before his jubilant trot around the bases.Franco’s three-run homer with two outs in the bottom of the ninth lifted the Phillies to a 5-2 victory over the Miami Marlins on Thursday night and kept Philadelphia a half-game ahead of Atlanta in the NL East.”We never give up. We keep fighting, man,” Franco said after the team’s four-run rally in the ninth.Kyle Barraclough (0-5) walked Rhys Hoskins to start the inning and Scott Kingery ran for him. Carlos Santana reached on an infield single with one out and Asdrubal Cabrera walked to load the bases. Barraclough’s first pitch to Nick Williams was behind him and kicked hard off the backstop. The Phillies challenged but a video review confirmed the ball did not hit Williams. However, he drove in the tying run on a groundout.Franco followed with his 18th homer. After his bat flip, he jogged without a helmet and was swarmed by teammates at the plate.”I got too excited,” Franco said. ”I know I was all over the place. I kept saying `Get out. Get out. Get out’ and finally it did.”Franco has been having a turnaround season.He was benched two months ago for Kingery and then J.P. Crawford http://www.bravesfanproshop.com/authentic-hank-aaron-jersey , but has been one of the team’s best hitters since returning to the lineup.”I just waited for my moment,” Franco said. ”I do whatever I can and take nothing for granted.”The Braves beat the Mets 4-2 and the Phillies were aware of the scoreboard.”Anybody who says they’re not watching is not being genuine,” manager Gabe Kapler said. ”As a group, we are a fighting unit. We’re tenacious. We grind. We just don’t give up.”Tommy Hunter (3-1) earned the win with a scoreless inning in relief. Philadelphia’s Nick Pivetta gave up two runs and four hits, striking out seven in six innings.After J.T. Realmuto lined a single with one out in the fourth, Justin Bour drove his 17th homer deep into the seats in right-center to give the Marlins a 2-0 lead.Hoskins connected in the sixth for the Phillies, sending a drive way out to left. He has hit eight of his 22 homers in 13 games since appearing in the Home Run Derby at the All-Star game.Marlins starter Pablo Lopez allowed one run and five hits, striking out five in his sixth career start.Cabrera was 0 for 3 with a walk in his first home game since coming over from the New York Mets in a trade last week.”Games like this hurt,” Marlins manager Don Mattingly said.STREAK BROKENThe Phillies had been 0-38 when trailing after eight innings.TRAINER’S ROOMMarlins: Right-hander Sandy Alcantara’s rehab start at Single-A Jupiter was rained out. He’s scheduled to pitch Friday. Alcantara (right armpit infection) has been sidelined since earning his first major league win on June 29.Phillies: All-Star catcher Wilson Ramos, acquired from Tampa Bay on Tuesday Deion Sanders Jersey , said he’s ”100 percent sure” he’ll return to action this month. Ramos has been on the disabled list with a left hamstring strain.UP NEXTRHP Vince Velasquez (7-8, 4.02 ERA) goes for the Phillies and RHP Trevor Richards (3-5, 4.06) starts for the Marlins on Friday night. Velasquez is 3-1, 2.63 in seven career starts vs. Miami. Richards is 1-0, 2.70 in two starts vs. Philadelphia.—