Saturday night’s game at Camden Yards needed an extra inning to determine a winner. When the smoke cleared and the Gatorade was dumped, the Baltimore Orioles were the winners by a score of 3-2 over the Tampa Bay Rays (76-53). Standing in a vwey wet uniform and among quite a bit of ice for the on-field post-game interview was the night’s hero, Dylan Beavers.
Beavers, pinch-hitting for Carlos Narvaez and having hit a homerun in each of the past three games, hit a ball in the 10th inning that looked like a homerun to MASN play-by-play man Kevin Brown. It wasn’t a homerun but it was a double that was good enough to produce the walk-off win and set off a wild celebration on the Oriole Park infield. Leody Taveras was the ghost runner on second base when Beavers hit a change-up from former Oriole Bryan Baker 386 ft. into center field that bounced off the outfield wall, causing Brown’s confusion and the Rays’ dismay.
The dramatic event would not have happened if it wasn’t for Samuel Basallo. Called upon to pinch hit for Coby Mayo and with Jackson Holliday on first base in the eighth inning, Basallo hit a 411 ft. homerun to center field to tie the game at 2 each.
The bullpen also played a key role by keeping the Rays scoreless. Andrew Kittredge gave up a two-out double to Jonny DeLuca in the ninth inning and Rico Garcia (5-1) with one out in the 10th inning, helped himself secure the win by fielding a ground ball by Taylor Walls and getting it to Narvaez in time to tag the ghost runner, Richie Palacios, out at home plate. Garcia induced a fly out to right field by Yandy Diaz to end the game.
Making his 22nd start of the season, Brandon Young allowed two runs on six hits that included a second inning solo homerun to Liam Hicks, while walking three and striking out three across 5.2 innings, one out shy of a possible quality start. Having already allowed a run in the inning, Young exited the game with runners on first and second base and two outs. Josh Walker recorded the final out by striking out Ryan Vilade.
Trade deadline acquisition Alex Hoppe retired all four batters he faced in the seventh and eighth innings to be the bridge between Walker and Kittredge.
The hope now is that the broom will be needed on Sunday.
2026 Record: 63-67
Next Game: Sun. 8/23 @ 1:35 pm vs. Tampa Bay Rays
