The homestand continued Friday night at Camden Yards and the Baltimore Orioles were able to snap a four game losing streak with a 5-3 win over the Tampa Bay Rays (76-52). A crowd of 25,963 fans were there to celebrate “I Love The 90’s Night” and with Vanilla Ice in the house, it was fitting that the Polar Bear was able to say “Ice, Ice, Baby”.
It was a Pete Alonso (2 for 4, R, 3 RBI) two-run homerun in the fifth inning that proved to be the difference in the game. The homerun, a 443 ft. shot to left center field with Colton Cowser (2 for 3, R) on base, was the Polar Bear’s 30th of the season as well as his longest so far this season. Alonso now sits fourth on the American League homerun leader board and is tied for eighth in MLB. He also joined Kyle Schwarber and Shohei Ohtani as the only players to hit 30 or more homeruns in each of the past six seasons.
Alonso also put the Birds on the score board in the first inning with his single to center field that plated Jackson Holliday (1 for 3, R, RBI) who was on base via a lead-off double.
In the second inning, Dylan Beavers (1 for 3) hit his sixth homerun of the season and his third in as many games, a 396 ft. shot to center field.
Coby Mayo was hit by a pitch to open the fifth inning and subsequently scored on a Holliday sacrifice fly to center. Holliday’s at-bat was kept alive by a check swing that was upheld by the third base umpire, Dillon Wilson, and led to the ejection of Tampa Bay manager Kevin Cash.
Reaping the benefits of those five runs was starter Trevor Rogers (9-8), who produced a 7.0 inning quality start. Now tied with Brandon Young for the team lead in wins, Rogers allowed 3 runs on 6 hits while walking 1 and striking out 6. He did give up a MLB first homerun to Kenny Piper in the second inning.
Rico Garcia struck out 2 batters in the ninth inning to record his 6th save of the year.
Buckle up O’s fans and keep your hands inside the car because it looks like the roller coaster ride will continue.
2026 Record: 62-67
Next Game: Sat. 8/22 @ 7:05 pm vs. Tampa Bay Rays
