Leave It To Beavers

For the fourth enthralling time in the last five games. the Baltimore Orioles orchestrated a walk-off win. The latest, a 2-1 win in 10 innings over the Pittsburgh Pirates (64-82) on a drizzly Wednesday night at Camden Yards, was the second game in a row that the Orioles walked it off in extra innings.

Trailing 1-0 for the first seven innings, thanks to a fourth inning homerun by Timonium’s Spencer Horowitz, Baltimore tied the game on an eighth inning Jackson Holliday RBI-single with runners on first and second and two outs.

Neither team threatened in the ninth so the game moved on to extras. Pittsburgh managed to get Oneil Cruz to third with one out but their threat ended there. The Orioles, however, loaded the bases with no outs with Jorge Mateo pinch running for the ghost runner, Samuel Basallo, followed by a Colton Cowser walk and a Daniel Johnson single. The stage was set for Dylan Beavers who immediately found himself in an 0-2 count. Beavers worked the count full, fouling off two pitches to stay alive, before hitting a Kyle Nicolas (1-1) 4-seam fastball down the right field line for the game winner.

The game was as low scoring as it was due to exceptional pitching on both sides. Pirates starter Paul Skenes allowed 2 hits and struck out 8 over 5.0 innings. Skenes’ early exit was planned based on a predetermined innings ramp down. He left with the lead but watched as the Pirates bullpen allowed the game tying and game winning runs.

Matching Skenes was Orioles starter Tyler Wells who allowed just the lone homerun, walked 1 and struck out 6 over 6.2 innings. He left to a standing ovation by the Orioles faithful.

Four Orioles relievers, Shawn Dubin, Kade Strowd, Rico Garcia and Albert Suarez (2-0), covered the final 3.1 innings collectively allowing one hit and one walk with 4 strikeouts. Each pitcher struck out a batter and in the end, Suarez recorded the win thanks to Beavers.

Despite the fact that this series is a matchup of two teams at the bottom of their division, it certainly has not lacked in excitement. In fact, Beavers summed it up this way, “It’s been awesome. It’s the most fun I’ve ever had playing ball. So keep it going. Winning’s fun.” It certainly is.

BOX SCORE

2025 Record: 68-77

Next Game: Thurs. 9/11 @ 1:05 pm vs. Pittsburgh Pirates