Orioles-Rays game makes history with all-women broadcast team

A game between the Baltimore Orioles and the Tampa Bay Rays is the first in MLB history to feature an all-female broadcast team.

The game, which will be played at Tropicana Field on Tuesday, is part of the league's "MLB Game of the Week on YouTube."

“While (it’s) great and you want to bring awareness, you want to connect with a little girl at home, who loves any sport or anything where they don’t feel like they’re represented for them to see that they can pursue these types of roles,” Orioles radio play-by-play announcer Melanie Newman told the Baltimore Sun. “But at the end of the day, we just want this to be a good broadcast — quality broadcast — and setting gender aside and everything else that does not determine your ability to do a job.”

Newman, who is in her second season calling O's games, will be joined on the broadcast by MLB.com writer Sarah Langs, who will give in-booth analysis. MLB Network's Heidi Watney and Lauren Gardner will co-host the pre- and postgame shows, while Alanna Rizzo serves as on-field reporter.

"This, of course, should’ve happened a long time ago," Langs told the Sun. "The fact that this will be on display will help more young women who are interested and not just women, but anybody who is part of a minority group."

Rizzo, who spent seven seasons reporting on the Los Angeles Dodgers prior to joining MLB Network, sees Tuesday's event as just one stepping stone.

“The fact that it is a historic event in 2021 shows you how much work we still have left to do,” Rizzo said.

The Rays host the Orioles on the MLB Game of the Week on YouTube at 7 p.m. EST.