Taken by Patrick Cavey
Taken by Patrick Cavey

The magic number is down to a mere one after the Baltimore Orioles win over the Washington Nationals on Wednesday. The AL East crown can be claimed as early as tonight; now is the time to put the number one out of its misery. Additionally, the Birds are one win away from their 100th win of the season.

While the Baltimore Region, and all of baseball for that matter, mourns the passing of Brooks Robinson, his number 5 was everywhere during the game. A large orange number 5 draped the warehouse wall, the number 5 was on the field near his home at third base, the Orioles uniforms had a number 5 patch on the sleeve and finally the number 5 was in the score; the Orioles defeated the Nationals 5-1.

Once again, it started on the mound. Grayson Rodriguez (7-4) made the start, his 23rd of the season, and allowed just 1 run on 6 hits and struck out 5 over 5.2 innings. The bullpen took over from there and kept the Nats off the board and hitless for the final 3.1 innings. Danny Coulombe (1.1 IP, 1 K), Jacob Webb (1.0 IP, 2 K) and Tyler Wells (1.0 IP, 2 K) preserved the win for Rodriguez.

The scoring started in the third inning when Adley Rutschman (2 for 4, 1 HR, 1 R, 3 RBI, 1 BB) hit a two-run homerun into the Baltimore bullpen, scoring Austin Hays (2 for 3, 1 R, 1 RBI, 1 BB, 1 SB, HBP), who walked to open the inning. Rutschman was there again in the fifth inning with a RBI-single that scored Jorge Mateo (1 for 2, 1 R, 1 BB, 1 SB).

Jordan Westburg (1 for 3, 1 RBI, 1 BB) drew a bases loaded walk that saw Anthony Santander (1 for 5, 1 R) score the second run of the fifth inning.

Hays knocked in Cedric Mullins (1 for 4, 1 2B, 1 R), who had doubled and advanced to third on a Mateo sac bunt, for the fifth and final run in the sixth inning.

BOX SCORE

2023 Record: 99-59 Magic Number: 1

Next Game: Thurs. 9/28 @ 6:35 pm vs. Boston Red Sox @ OPACY

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