Glasnow first pitcher to 6 wins after another gem

BALTIMORE -- One day after being named AL Pitcher of the Month for April, Tyler Glasnow started to make his case for the month of May on Friday night.

Glasnow became the first six-game winner in the Majors thanks to a dominant performance in the Rays’ 7-0 victory over the Orioles at Oriole Park. The tall right-hander mixed his high-90s fastball with a curve and a changeup that kept the Orioles off-balance during the game and had people shaking their heads after it was over.

“He just picked up right where he left off ... and was just tremendous for us,” Rays manager Kevin Cash said. “He’s on a really good run. It’s impressive. It’s fun to sit and watch him. He just continues to impress.”

• Box Score

Glasnow improved to 6-0 on the season and leads qualified AL pitchers in ERA, with his dropping from 1.75 entering the game to 1.47 afterwards. Glasnow has yet to give up more than two runs in any of his seven starts.

Glasnow allowed just three hits in seven shutout innings. He struck out eight without issuing a walk and threw 62 strikes on 92 pitches, mesmerizing the Orioles with his control, command and the way he used his pitches.

In fact, Glasnow felt he was right on the money from the start. He struck out the side in the first inning, throwing fastballs past hitters and freezing them with his curveball and change. The rest of the night went on that way as the Orioles never advanced a runner into scoring position against him.

“Just felt good from the start, had all three pitches working, just stayed on the attack, tried to stay locked in,” Glasnow said. “I’m just continuing to put my head down and keep working [and] stay locked in.”

Glasnow retired the first 11 Orioles he faced, and they only hit two balls out of the infield against him during his seven innings on the mound. That’s why Baltimore manager Brandon Hyde spouted several superlatives when describing Glasnow’s stuff.

“On a night like that, you have to tip your hat to a really, really good pitcher who had his stuff,” Hyde said. “That was electric stuff. I liked his presence and how he attacks guys. The whole package. I haven’t seen many like that in a long time.”

Glasnow also became the fourth starter in franchise history to start a season by going 6-0. Matt Moore (8-0, 2013) James Shields (6-0, 2007) and Jeff Niemann (6-0, 2010) are the other Tampa Bay pitchers to do it.

The Rays took a quick 1-0 lead with back-to-back doubles from Brandon Lowe and Tommy Pham off Orioles starter Dan Straily (1-2, 7.43) in the first. Mike Zunino snapped an 0-for-17 stretch with a three-run blast to center field in the fourth inning that gave the Rays a 4-0 lead and broke the game open.

Zunino caught Glasnow Friday night and said that the pitcher’s new changeup just makes his stuff that much more effective. The catcher said it’s kind of a “new toy” for Glasnow, one he’s learning to play with nicely.

“I would put his stuff against anybody in the league,” Zunino said. “That’s not a hard statement to make, because it’s up there. He works extremely hard, and I think pitching is coming to him now.”