Holding a 5-3 lead with Ryan Helsley (0-3) on the mound going into the bottom of the ninth, the Baltimore Orioles allowed the win to slip away in a 6-5 walk-off loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers (49-27). The reigning World Champions showed why it takes all twenty-seven outs to finish the job.
Helsley induced Freddie Freeman to ground out to second to open the inning. He then surrendered a homerun to Mookie Betts and gave up a six-pitch walk to Max Muncy. A pop out to the foul side of first base resulted in the second out of the inning. A four-pitch walk put runners on first and second. LA’s Dalton Rushing singled to right and Tyler O’Neill fielded the ball and made an errant throw to home that eluded Samuel Basallo,on the third base side of the plate, allowing both runners to score and defeat the Birds in walk-off fashion. The scene in the Orioles’ dugout was one of somber dejection.
The Dodgers scored two runs in the first and another in the second to take a 3-0 lead. The second inning run was upheld on a challenge by the Orioles. With a runner on first Andy Pages doubled to left center field and the relay throw to home beat the runner but was wide to the first base side of the plate. Basallo lunged to make the tag but upon review it was determined that the runner’s hand touched the plate before the tag.
The Orioles scored three runs in the sixth inning on back-to-back homeruns by Gunnar Henderson (1 for 3, 2 RBI) and Pete Alonso (1 for 4, RBI).
Baltimore tacked on two more runs in the seventh with a bases loaded two-RBI single off the bat of Jeremiah Jackson (1 for 3, 2 RBI). The rest is history.
Trey Gibson started for Baltimore and seemed to get back on track after the first two innings. He escaped a bases-loaded jam in the third by striking out three batters in a row. He finished with a line of 3 runs allowed on 7 hits with 4 walks, 8 strike outs and a wild pitch in 5.0 innings of work.
The bullpen held serve until the meltdown in the ninth.
2026 Record: 35-42
Next Game: Sat. 6/20 @ 10:10 pm @ Los Angeles Dodgers
