TAMPA, Fla. — The Rays matched their largest comeback win in franchise history Wednesday, rallying from an eight-run deficit to beat the Baltimore Orioles 12-8.

Starter Taj Bradley, who was pulled one out into the second inning, and reliever Kevin Kelly put them in the huge hole.

But the offense slowly got them back in the game, scoring three in the third inning, one in the fourth and four in the fifth to get even. And the Rays bullpen held the Orioles down.

The Rays went ahead in the seventh, starting a four-run rally with a two-out single by Yandy Diaz and a Brandon Lowe walk. Junior Caminero, rapping his fourth hit of the night, singled in Diaz. Josh Lowe then singled in Brandon Lowe. And Jonathan Aranda delivered a two-run single.

The Rays improved to 41-33 with the win, winning for the 11th time in their last 15 games, and 20th in 27.

By winning after being down eight, they matched comebacks on Aug. 18, 2012, at the Angels and July 25, 2019, at the Blue Jays. This was their largest comeback in a home game, having twice rallied from seven-run deficits.

The Orioles knocked the ball around Steinbrenner Field and Bradley out of the game during an eight-run, 11-batter second inning.

The rally started innocently enough, with Ryan O’Hearn drawing a leadoff walk and Gary Sanchez singling. Colton Cowser struck the first big blow with a three-run homer.

Bradley struck out Colby Mayo, then allowed another homer to Cedric Mullins that made it 4-0.

Jackson Holliday followed with a single, and Jordan Westburg reached on an error by third baseman Caminero. When Gunnar Henderson delivered an RBI single on Bradley’s 32nd pitch of the inning (and 47th of the short night), manager Kevin Cash decided he had seen enough.

Bradley’s line for the day: 1 1/3 innings, six hits, seven runs (six earned), one walk, two strikeouts, 47 pitches, 25 strikes.

The Rays quickly shifted to bullpen mode, using Kelly to finish the second and work the third, then Edwin Uceta, Garrett Cleavinger, Mason Montgomery, the newly-acquired Forrest Whitley and Pete Fairbanks.

While they were holding the O’s down, the Rays hitters started coming back.

They got three in the third off Orioles starter Trevor Rogers. Curtis Mead walked, Caminero singled Christopher Morel doubled in one run. Then, with one out, Jake Mangum singled in two.

They got one in the fourth off reliever Scott Blewett, when Mead laced a two-out triple and Caminero singled him in.

And they got four, and back to even, in the fifth.

Jose Caballero started that rally with a one-out walk in which ball four was the result of reliever Yennier Cano’s pitch clock violation.

Taylor Walls laced a two-out triple to score Caballero, and then Diaz singled in Walls to make it 8-6. Cash turned to lefty swinger Brandon Lowe, who wasn’t in the lineup with Rogers starting, and he delivered a two-run pinch-hit homer to make it 8-8.

Number of the day

— 80: Pitches thrown by Rays and Orioles in the second inning.

Thursday: vs. Orioles

7:35 p.m. ET, Steinbrenner Field

Pitchers: Rays — RH Drew Rasmussen (6-4, 2.55); Orioles — Charlie Morton (2-7, 6.05)

Info: raysbaseball.com

On deck

Friday: vs. Tigers, 7:05 p.m. Rays — RH Shane Baz (6-3, 4.54); Tigers — TBA

Saturday: vs. Tigers, 12:10 p.m. Rays — RH Ryan Pepiot (4-6, 3.11)’ Tigers — TBA

Sunday: vs. Tigers, 12:10 p.m. Rays — RH Zack Littell (6-7, 3.88); Tigers — TBA

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