The Baltimore Orioles defeated the Arizona Diamondbacks (9-8) by a score of 9-7 Monday night. The game played out in two distinct acts. The first act starred the Diamondbacks while the Orioles were the star of the second act.
Act one opened with Arizona’s Ketel Marte homering on the first pitch thrown by Baltimore starter Dean Kremer. Marte homered again in the third inning. Not to be outdone, Nolan Arenado touched Kremer for a fourth inning two-run homerun. These three homers were the impetus for Arizona rushing out to a 7-1 lead after 5.5 innings. Kremer was gone at the fifth inning and produced a line of 4 runs allowed, 2 earned, on 6 hits (3 HR) with 9 strikeouts across 5.0 innings.
Albert Suarez (1-0) was brought in for the sixth inning and surrendered a three-run homerun to Arenado.
The second act began in the bottom of the sixth inning and featured a Pete Alonso double, a Dylan Beavers single and a Leody Taveras RBI single. Colton Cowser walked to load the bases for Jeremiah Jackson who deposited a Taylor Rashi slider 406 ft. to left field for a grand slam homerun.
Alonso hit a two-run homerun in the seventh to give the Orioles an 8-7 lead. Ironically, the homerun ball landed at Mr Splash’s feet while he was wearing a polar bear mask. Alonzo finished the night 2 for 3 with a double, a homerun, 3 runs scored, 2 RBI and a walk.
Leading off the eighth inning, Jackson hit his second homerun, a 427 ft. blast to center field. He finished his night 3 for 4 with 2 homeruns, 2 runs scored and 5 RBI.
Gunnar Henderson hit a RBI triple in the third inning.
Ryan Helsley struck out 2 in the ninth to record his 5th save of the season and to make Suarez the winning pitcher.
Keeping with the injury theme, Manager Craig Albernaz was struck in the right cheek by a Jackson foul ball in the fifth inning. He returned to the dugout with a visible rash on his right side.
2026 Record: 9-7
Next Game: Tues. 4/14 @ 6:35 pm vs. Arizona Diamondbacks
