Orioles Head Into All-Star Break on High Note with 8-2 Win, First Four-Game Winning Streak of 2026 Marred by Blaze Alexander Injury

By Brian Hradsky | Maryland Sports Blog

The Baltimore Orioles finally have some momentum.

Baltimore closed out the first half of the 2026 season with an emphatic 8-2 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Sunday afternoon at Camden Yards, completing a three-game sweep and carrying their first four-game winning streak of the season into the All-Star break. It was exactly the kind of stretch the Orioles had been searching for all year.

Unfortunately, the celebration was muted by devastating news in the seventh inning when one of Baltimore’s hottest hitters, Blaze Alexander, suffered a non-displaced fracture in his left hand after being hit by a 95.5 mph fastball from Royals reliever Lucas Erceg. The hit-by-pitch sparked a benches-clearing confrontation, although no punches were thrown and no players were ejected. Manager Craig Albernaz later called the injury a “gut punch” for the club.

A Statement Finish Before the Break

The Orioles entered the series desperately needing momentum after an inconsistent first half. They got exactly that, sweeping the Royals and improving to 46-51 entering the All-Star break.

While Baltimore remains below .500, the club heads into the break playing its best baseball of the season. The Orioles had previously been unable to win more than three consecutive games all year before finally breaking through Sunday.

Taveras Leads the Offense

Veteran center fielder Leody Taveras continued his outstanding stretch in orange and black.

Taveras launched a towering 448-foot two-run homer in the second inning before adding an RBI single during Baltimore’s decisive sixth inning. He finished with three RBIs, once again providing exactly the spark the Orioles have been searching for atop the lineup.

The Orioles’ offense erupted for six runs in the sixth inning, breaking open what had been a tight game.

Samuel Basallo continued his remarkable rookie campaign with his 16th home run of the season, while Gunnar Henderson collected three hits as Baltimore pounded out another productive afternoon offensively. Pinch hitters Tyler O’Neill and Jeremiah Jackson also delivered key at-bats during the game-changing rally.

Baz Flashes Dominance

Although he didn’t qualify for the victory, Shane Baz showed why the Orioles remain excited about his future.

Baz struck out nine Royals over 4.2 innings, allowing just one earned run without issuing a walk. His pitch count climbed quickly, ending his afternoon before completing five innings, but his swing-and-miss stuff was electric.

Baltimore’s bullpen took over from there, combining for 4.1 scoreless innings to slam the door and preserve the victory.

A Painful Blow

The biggest storyline after the game wasn’t the winning streak.

It was Blaze Alexander.

Alexander had already collected two hits and scored twice before being drilled in the left hand during the seventh inning. The utility infielder immediately reacted in pain before exchanging words with Erceg, leading both benches and bullpens to empty.

Medical imaging later confirmed a non-displaced fracture of Alexander’s left hand. The Orioles expect him to meet with specialists during the All-Star break before determining a timetable for his return.

Alexander has quietly become one of Baltimore’s most valuable contributors this season, making the injury especially difficult as the club begins to build momentum.

Heading into the Break

After months of inconsistency, the Orioles finally appear to have found an identity.

Their pitching has stabilized, the bullpen has become more dependable, young stars continue to produce, and role players like Taveras and Alexander have stepped up in big moments.

Baltimore now enters the All-Star break with confidence after sweeping Kansas City and winning four straight for the first time all season.

MSB Take

The Orioles couldn’t have scripted a better finish to the first half—until Alexander was hit.

Winning four consecutive games may not erase the frustrations of the first three months, but it gives this club something it hasn’t had much of in 2026: belief. The offense is beginning to click, Shane Baz continues to show front-of-the-rotation potential, Samuel Basallo is developing into one of baseball’s brightest young stars, and Leody Taveras has been a tremendous addition.

Now the challenge is carrying that momentum into the second half while hoping Alexander’s absence is measured in weeks rather than months.

If Baltimore is going to make a surprise run at an American League Wild Card spot, the first-half finale may ultimately be remembered as the moment the season began to turn—provided they can overcome the loss of one of their most consistent contributors.