O’s Overcome Rough Start To Beat A’s

Despite allowing a four run first inning, the Baltimore Orioles chipped away throughout the game to, in the end, defeat the Athletics 7-4 on Saturday night. Interim Manager Tony Mansolino used six relievers to keep the A’s in check while the offense steadily put runs on the board.

The Orioles loaded the bases (walk, walk, single) to open the game and scored a run on a Ryan O’Hearn (1 for 4, R, RBI) sac. fly. The Athletics immediately countered by scoring four runs off starter Charlie Morton. A lead-off double by Lawrence Butler followed by a combination of four singles and two walks resulted in a four run inning.

Morton managed to get into the third inning and was removed from the mound after hitting Max Schuemann with a pitch in the third, leaving runners on first and second with one out. His final line was 4 runs, 6 hits, 4 walks, 5 strikeouts and a hit batter over 2.1 innings pitched.

Ramon Laureano (3 for 5, HR, R, 3 RBI) hit a two-run homerun in the fourth to draw the Orioles within one run.

Adley Rutschman (1 for 4, 2B, R, BB) doubled and scored on a Gunnar Henderson (3 for 4, R, RBI, SB, HBP) single to tie the game in the fifth. Henderson also scored the Orioles final run on a Laureano RBI-single in the seventh; he used a head-first slide to get his oven mit to touch the plate ahead of the tag.

Colton Cowser (2 for 5, HR, R, RBI) blasted a 455 ft. homerun in the sixth.

The defensive play of the night happened in the bottom of the fifth when Dylan Carlson (0 for 3, BB), Henderson and Maverick Handley (0 for 4) combined to throw JJ Bleday out at the plate on another double by Butler.

Matt Bowman (2.1 IP, 2 BB, 2 K), who many think will be the odd man out when reacquired Scott Blewett is added to the roster, started the Orioles parade of relievers. The six pack of bullpen arms combined to cover 6.2 innings, limiting the A’s to just 2 hits with 4 walks and 9 strikeouts.

Felix Bautista (1.0 IP, BB, 3 K) earned his 12th save in support of winning pitcher Keegan Akin (1-0) who allowed 1 hit in 0.1 inning of work, ending the fifth inning.

BOX SCORE

2025 Record: 26-37

Next Game: Sun. 6/8 @ 4:05 pm vs. Athletics in Sacramento, CA