The Baltimore Orioles ended their six-game losing streak Monday afternoon with a 6-4 win over the Cleveland Guardians (73-72). The win was not only significant for breaking the season’s longest losing streak but also for coming against the team that currently holds the third AL Wild Card spot. Before Birdland goes crazy with what ifs, the O’s are 3.0 games behind the Guardians with two games remaining to be played between them. It should also be pointed out the both the Texas Rangers (71-73) and the Toronto Blue Jays (72-72) stand between the O’s and the Guardians.
Monday’s game saw the Orioles draw seven walks against Cleveland pitching, get hit by two pitches, and launch a pair of home runs.
The Orioles started the game with a pair of back-to-back walks in the first inning but unfortunately stranded those runners. The second inning saw Samuel Basallo (2 for 3, 2 R) walk to first in a bit of pain after being hit in the left wrist/forearm area by a 80.7 mph changeup from Joey Cantillo. He advanced to second when Rece Hinds (2 for 2, 2 BB) drew a walk and scored on a Dylan Beavers (1 for 4) RBI-double. Pete Alonso (0 for 2, RBI, 2 BB) walked to first to load the bases with two outs after being hit by a pitch as well. Just like in the first inning, those three runners were left stranded.
Coby Mayo (2 for 5, 2 R, 3 RBI) led off the third with a 426 ft. homerun to left field, his 20th of the season. He had time to walk around the bases if he so desired. A walk to Christian Encarnacion-Strand (0 for 4, R), a Basallo single and a Hinds walk loaded the bases with one out. Back-to-back walks to Blaze Alexander (0 for 3, RBI, 2 BB) and Alonso with two outs gave the O’s a 4-0 lead.
Once again, Mayo could have taken a leisurely walk around the bases in the sixth inning when he hit his 21st homerun of the season, 411 ft. to left center field that also allowed Jackson Holliday (1 for 5, R), who had singled in front of Mayo, to score.
At that point, even though he allowed back-to-back singles and a RBI double in the top of the sixth, the game certainly looked like a walk in the park in Trevor Rogers (10-9) neighborhood. Rogers was firmly in control on his way to a 7.1 inning, 104 pitch (78 K’s) outing. He left the contest with one on and one out after producing a 1 run, 6 hit and 6 strikeout outing.
The seemingly easy 6-1 victory turned into a gluteus maximus tightening affair in the ninth inning. Andrew Kittredge came in to pitch the ninth and immediately gave up back-to-back singles to Jo Adell and Jose Ramirez. With one out he surrendered a three-run pinch-hit homerun to Nathaniel Lowe on a two-strike, 85.1 mph slider. Kittredge then induced a groundout to end his relief appearance.
Josh Walker was called upon to finish the game with the tying run on deck. He ended it by getting Patrick Bailey to fly out to right field and earned his first career save in doing so.
Now if only the O’s would follow the immortal words of deceased Raiders owner Al Davis and “just win baby”.
2026 Record: 70-75
Next Game: Tues. 9/8 @ 6:35 pm vs. Cleveland Guardians
