ST. PETERSBURG http://www.dodgersfanproshop.com/authentic-yasiel-puig-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,” Cash said. “His family in the stands Hyun-Jin Ryu Jersey , 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,” 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 Jose Fernandez Jersey , 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) — The New York Mets are shutting down right-hander Zack Wheeler for the rest of the season as a precaution, ending a career-best year in which he logged nearly 100 more innings than 2017.Manager Mickey Callaway said before Wednesday night’s game at Philadelphia that they’d be “probably taking the best care of him” by holding him out of his final two starts.“I feel like I had a good season,” Wheeler said. “I would have liked to have finished it out, but getting 100 more innings than last season without doing that much the past 2½ years, I think it makes sense to kind of shut it down and not really push it.”Wheeler missed two full seasons after undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2015. He returned last season and was 3-7 with a 5.21 ERA in 17 starts. After beginning this season in Triple-A following a difficult spring training, Wheeler was called up in April and went 12-7 with a 3.31 ERA in 29 starts while throwing 182 1/3 innings.“He always knew he could be this guy. But when you’re actually that guy it kind of opens your eyes to, OK, I’ve got this and I’m going to move forward with it,” Callaway said. “So hopefully this is a big stepping stone for him in his career.”The 28-year-old Wheeler was dominant after the All-Star break, going 9-1 with a 1.68 ERA and solidifying his hold as the No. 3 starter behind Jacob deGrom and Noah Syndergaard.Wheeler allowed four runs and three hits in seven innings while earning the win in his final start on Monday against the Phillies http://www.marlinsfanproshop.com/authentic-martin-prado-jersey , the same night New York was eliminated from postseason contention.Wheeler said ending his season early was a collective decision made between he and his agent, Callaway and pitching coach Dave Eiland.“I feel good for the most part,” Wheeler said. “The body, after this long, was kind of wearing down a little bit. But if I really needed to like for a playoff push, I could go out there and finish it up. That’s not why I’m stopping. It’s just being smart.”Wheeler’s emergence has brought confidence that the Mets will have a solid rotation in 2019.“I think we all made strides,’ Wheeler said. “Jake’s going for the Cy Young. I had a good second half. Steve (Matz) is looking like a new and better pitcher and I’m happy to see that. Noah has been hurt for the most part this year, but he’s taken some great strides lately to get back to where he was. And (Jason Vargas) has turned his season around. So hopefully we can all stay on this path.”Callaway said Corey Oswalt will start in Wheeler’s place on Saturday at Washington.