The Orioles got exactly the kind of night they’ve been missing behind Shane Baz: enough offense to breathe, and enough defense to survive the mess.
Baltimore beat the Athletics 5-3 on Saturday night at Sutter Health Field in Sacramento, riding a string of key plays in the field after Baz had been excellent for five innings before things started to slip in the sixth. The win gave the Orioles another series victory, and they still have a chance to complete a sweep Sunday against a team they badly need to handle.
Christian Encarnacion-Strand was right in the middle of the clean-up work. The slugger, recalled from AAA and already producing runs since his return, made two huge defensive plays at third base despite that not being his strong suit.
In the sixth inning, with the bases loaded and two outs, he charged a grounder and threw out Max Muncy to end the frame. Earlier in the game, he also threw out speedster Henry Bolte.
Then in the eighth, he started a big double play.
Gunnar Henderson also helped the Orioles hold things together with a strong game at short, as Baltimore’s defense kept coming through for a pitching staff that has had to deal with plenty of damage from its own mistakes. The Orioles lead the majors in unearned runs, and Baz has been especially affected by that.
The right-hander has now seen the Orioles lose seven straight starts of his, even when he has pitched well. Baltimore improved to 7-20 in those games this season.
“I was happy we were able to put some runs up there for him,” outfielder Colton Cowser said of Baz on the MASN postgame show.
The offense finally gave Baz some help. Cowser homered for a solo shot, and Leody Taveras drove in three runs with a single and a two-run double. Taveras has 52 RBIs already this season, and the bottom of the order did its part as well.
"It barely got out, but they all count," Cowser said.
Baltimore built a 4-0 lead, then had to spend the rest of the night hanging on.
Alex Hoppe, who has been excellent since arriving from Seattle in the Taylor Ward trade, got a ground ball to finish the sixth and rescue Baz. Yennier Cano then came on in the seventh with the bases loaded and one out and struck out Zack Gelof and Lawrence Butler.
The Athletics kept poking at the lead in the eighth. Cam Sanders walked two straight batters, Carlos Cortes sent a ball between first and second to drive in a run, and Encarnacion-Strand again stepped up with a chopper that turned into an inning-ending double play.
The Orioles added an insurance run in the ninth in strange fashion. Cowser hit a ball to second base that was scored an error, and he reached first when an ugly throw from the outfield skipped into the dugout. He then scored on a wild pitch.
"I was able to make something happen and score another run there," he noted.
Andrew Kittredge worked the ninth for the second night in a row, and two more Athletics reached before Encarnacion-Strand made one final nice play to close it out.
Baltimore is now a game out of the final Wild Card spot and heads to Colorado to finish the road trip against the Rockies.
In Other News...
Orioles Just Took A Desperate Outfield Gamble For Their Playoff Push
The Orioles added another layer to their outfield search by claiming Luis Robert Jr. off waivers from the Mets, a move that speaks to how urgent the position has become down the stretch. Robert was once an All-Star center fielder and still brings the kind of power-speed mix teams covet, even if his recent seasons have been defined by uneven production and a long list of injury concerns.
For Baltimore, the appeal is obvious: the club needed more depth and more upside in the outfield after injuries and performance issues thinned the group. Robert gives the Orioles a player with real ceiling at a time when they are looking for any edge they can find, but the latest chapter of his career also leaves plenty of uncertainty about how much help he can provide and how quickly. [Read more 🡒]
Orioles Just Took A Costly Flier In The Wild Card Race
The Orioles made a surprising late-season move by claiming outfielder Luis Robert Jr. off waivers from the New York Mets, adding another layer of intrigue to a roster still trying to navigate the Wild Card chase. Baltimore is taking on the rest of Roberts salary and luxury tax obligations, a notable commitment for a team that has been cautious about its margins as the season tightens up.
Robert now has to be added to the 40-man roster, which means the Orioles will need a corresponding move before he can officially settle in. On the Mets side, his departure opens the door for outfielder Nick Morabito to be recalled from Triple-A Syracuse, but the bigger question in Baltimore is how much this waiver claim will matter in the standings and what it says about the clubs willingness to spend for a shot at October. [Read more 🡒]
Orioles Roster Shakeup Puts Spotlight On Baltimores Newest Arrival
A fresh round of roster shuffling has put the Orioles newest addition squarely in the middle of the conversation. Baltimore designated infielder Luis Vzquez for assignment to create room for outfielder Luis Robert Jr., who was claimed off waivers, while also sending right-hander Anthony Nunez to Triple-A Norfolk and bringing back left-hander Cade Povich, who is lined up to start the next game.
For Vzquez, the move leaves his immediate future unsettled after a brief stay on the major league roster and only limited big league experience behind him. If he goes unclaimed, Baltimore could end up with another decision to make, but for now the attention shifts to Robert and how the Orioles plan to use him as they continue to tweak the roster around their latest wave of movement. [Read more 🡒]