Since reaching the .500 mark on the season, the Baltimore Orioles have dropped three games in a row. They are not exactly on the trajectory they should be on if they hope to be a Wild Card team, especially with 21 games remaining in the season. The latest loss was a 6-5 defeat at the hands of the Boston Red Sox (76-65) Thursday night at Camden Yards.
The game marked the return of Adley Rutschman, who was traded to Boston at the trade deadline, to Baltimore. Rutschman’s familiarity with Oriole Park was on display as he hit a pair of solo homeruns, one in the first inning and another in the sixth, both off of Baltimore starter Brandon Young.
Young, who lasted 6.2 innings, allowed 3 runs on 4 hits with 2 walks, 7 strike outs and a hit batter. The third run he allowed came on a double by Eli White and a RBI single by Isiah Kiner-Falefa, both with two outs in the seventh. Young was relieved by Grant Wolfram following that run.
The game was tied at three apiece after seven innings, mainly because Luis Robert Jr (1 for 3) and Pete Alonso (1 for 3, 2 RBI) hit back-to-back solo homeruns to open the fourth inning. Alonso also accounted for the Orioles’ first run with a sacrifice fly that allowed Coby Mayo to score in the first inning.
Boston took the lead in the eighth on a two-run homerun by Nick Sogard that was surrendered by Yennier Cano. Cano was called upon to get the final out of the inning in relief of Luis De Leon (0-2) with Rutschman on second base. De Leon, tagged with the loss, has had a rude introduction to the big leagues since being called up when the rosters expanded at the beginning of the month.
The Red Sox added an insurance run in the ninth on a two-out homerun by Roman Anthony off of Albert Suarez. That run was crucial to the outcome of the game as Christian Encarnacion-Strand (2 for 3, 2 RBI, BB) hit a homerun to left center field with Gunnar Henderson on base and one out. Leody Taveras flew out to center and Dylan Beavers struck out on a foul tip to end both the O’s comeback and the game.
Although the American League is mediocre at best this season, with all the teams looking to replace the Cleveland Guardians (70-70) as the third wild card team possessing a record below .500, the Orioles are 1.5 games back with three teams to overcome. Not inspiring much confidence is the fact that the Orioles have recently had trouble getting the third out of an inning without allowing a run to score.
2026 Record: 69-72
Next Game: Fri. 9/4 @ 7:05 pm vs. Boston Red Sox
