Tony’s Loaded Tater Fuels Win
The Baltimore Orioles bounced back from Thursday’s anemic 6-0 loss to the Houston Astros with a 7-5 win on Friday night. The win took a while as the Orioles entered the home half of the eighth inning trailing Houston 5-2. Through seven innings the Birds were limited to three hits (the same amount of hits produced in Thursday’s shutout), and then in the eighth the offense looked like it had during the first half of the season, scoring five runs on five hits.
The eighth started with back-to-back singles by Colton Cowser (2 for 4, HR, 2 R, RBI) and Adley Rutschman (1 for 3, R, RBI, BB). Gunnar Henderson (0 for 4, R) loaded the bases on a fielder’s choice with a Crew Chief review of Cowser’s safe call at third (it was upheld). Anthony Santander (2 for 4, HR, 2 R, 4 RBI) then blasted his 38th homerun, a grand slam, 403 ft. to right center to put the Orioles ahead 6-5.
The final run scored when Ramon Urias (1 for 4, 3B, RBI, SB) tripled, scoring Austin Slater (1 for 2, R), who had singled on a ball that hit Houston pitcher Bryan Abreu. Slater entered the game as a replacement for Cedric Mullins (0 for 1, BB) in the fifth inning. Mullins exited the game due to left quad tightness.
The win went to struggling closer Craig Kimbrel (7-3) who gave up 2 hits and struck out 2 pitching in the eighth. Seranthony Dominguez earned his 5th save for the Orioles by retiring the side in the ninth.
Cade Povich made his 10th start of the season and was tagged for 5 runs on 8 hits, 2 of which were homeruns, while walking 2, striking out 3 and hitting a batter over 5.0 innings of work.
Burch Smith (2.0 IP) relieved Povich in the sixth inning and retired five straight batters to form the bridge to Kimbrel.
2024 Record: 75-55
Next Game: Sat. 8/24 vs. Houston @ 4:05 pm