The Orioles kept the pressure on in West Sacramento Saturday night, outlasting the Athletics 5-3 and backing up Friday’s win with another game that came down to the final inning. Baltimore again carried a two-run lead into the bottom of the last, and this time that cushion held.
The biggest storyline belonged to Shane Baz, who finally got back in the win column. Baz earned his first victory since June 12, ending a stretch of 13 starts without one. Over 27 starts this season, he has now picked up just two wins in his last 14 outings, even though his starts have come with an average of about 3.7 runs of offensive support against a 4.01 ERA.
Baz’s night was far from clean, but it was enough. He gave up two runs on five hits, walked three, struck out four and hit a batter over 5.2 innings. His outing ended after he issued a bases-loaded walk with one out and then hit another batter with the bases loaded and two outs.
Baltimore needed a full bullpen effort after that. Cam Sanders was charged with a run in the eighth after allowing a hit and two walks, and Andrew Kittredge closed it out for his second save in as many games despite giving up two hits and working around runners on first and third with two outs. Kittredge now has eight saves, which ties him with Ryan Helsley, who is on the 60-day IL, for the team lead.
The Orioles did their damage in a few clean bursts. They struck first in the third when Leody Taveras ripped a one-out RBI double, scoring Coby Mayo, who had opened the inning with a walk.
Colton Cowser added to the lead in the fifth, launching his 13th homer of the season - a 386-foot shot to center.
In the sixth, Dylan Beavers and Mayo put together back-to-back singles before Taveras drove them both in with a two-RBI double and two outs.
Baltimore’s final run came with help from the Athletics. Cowser reached on a fielding error by Zack Gelof at second, then advanced to third when Lawrence Butler’s throw got away and left the field of play. Elvis Alvarado finished the sequence with a wild pitch that brought Cowser home.
Taveras finished 2 for 3 with two doubles, three RBI, a walk and a stolen base. Cowser scored twice and drove in a run, while Mayo added a run scored and a walk.
A sweep on Sunday would push the Orioles to one game below .500, a spot they have reached before.
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 🡒]