Orioles outlast Athletics 4-3 in 10 innings behind Mayo, Encarnacion-Strand
By Brian Hradsky
The Baltimore Orioles needed extra innings Friday night, but Coby Mayo and Christian Encarnacion-Strand delivered when Baltimore needed them most.
Mayo and Encarnacion-Strand each drove in a run with two outs in the top of the 10th inning, lifting the Orioles to a 4-3 victory over the Athletics at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento, California. Baltimore improved to 66-69 and moved within two games of Cleveland for the final American League wild-card position.
The Orioles did not overpower the Athletics offensively. Baltimore managed only six hits and saw its streak of 15 consecutive games with at least one home run come to an end. Instead, the Orioles survived behind another excellent start from Brandon Young, timely hitting and a tense finish from rookie reliever Alex Hoppe.
Orioles strike first
Baltimore took control in the second inning against Athletics starter Jacob Lopez.
Mayo was hit by a pitch to begin the inning before Leody Taveras drew a walk. Dylan Beavers then delivered a two-out RBI single that brought Mayo home and gave Baltimore a 1-0 advantage.
The Orioles added another run when Taveras scored on a fielding error by Lopez, pushing the lead to 2-0. Lopez eventually escaped without further damage and finished five innings having allowed two runs, only one earned, on three hits and three walks.
Those two early runs looked like they might be enough because Young was once again outstanding.
Brandon Young continues impressive stretch
Young gave Baltimore exactly what it needed.
The right-hander worked seven innings while allowing only one run on five hits and one walk. He struck out four and left with the Orioles protecting a 2-1 advantage.
Young kept the Athletics off the scoreboard through the first six innings before Jonah Heim finally broke through with a two-out solo home run in the seventh. Heim’s 12th homer of the season cut Baltimore’s advantage to 2-1.
Even with the homer, it was another encouraging outing from Young. He pitched deep into the game, limited traffic and gave the Orioles seven innings without forcing the bullpen to carry a heavy workload.
For a Baltimore rotation that has dealt with inconsistency throughout the season, Young continues to make a strong case that he deserves an extended look.
Athletics rally in the eighth
Baltimore could not hold the lead after Young departed.
Rico Garcia hit Henry Bolte in the helmet to begin the bottom of the eighth inning. Jeff McNeil followed with a single before Zack Gelof moved both runners into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt.
Lawrence Butler then tied the game with a single to left field.
But the play also produced one of the most important defensive moments of the night. Beavers threw McNeil out at home plate, preventing the Athletics from taking the lead.
Yennier Cano followed by retiring pinch hitter Donovan Walton on a fly ball to center, and Baltimore escaped the inning tied 2-2.
That throw from Beavers became enormous considering how tight the game remained.
Neither club scored in the ninth, sending the Orioles to extra innings.
Mayo and Encarnacion-Strand deliver in the 10th
Automatic runner Carlos Narváez began the top of the 10th inning at second base.
Athletics rookie Brady Basso intentionally walked Pete Alonso with one out before Gunnar Henderson entered to pinch run for Alonso. Jackson Holliday struck out, leaving Baltimore down to its final out of the inning.
That was when Mayo came through.
Mayo lined a two-out RBI single that scored Narváez and gave the Orioles a 3-2 lead.
Encarnacion-Strand immediately followed with another RBI single, bringing Henderson home and extending Baltimore’s advantage to 4-2.
The second run proved critical.
What initially looked like insurance became the difference in the game.
Hoppe earns first major league save
Baltimore handed the two-run advantage to rookie Alex Hoppe in the bottom of the 10th.
The Athletics immediately made things uncomfortable.
Gelof singled home the automatic runner, cutting Baltimore’s lead to 4-3 and putting the tying run into the equation.
Hoppe did not unravel.
The rookie worked through the pressure and ultimately retired Butler on a ground ball to Jackson Holliday, who threw to first to end the game.
Hoppe earned the first save of his major league career, allowing the inherited automatic runner to score but no earned runs over his inning of work.
Andrew Kittredge earned the victory after striking out two during a scoreless ninth inning, improving to 3-3.
Orioles stay alive in wild-card race
The victory carried more significance than a normal late-August win.
Baltimore improved to 66-69 and pulled within two games of Cleveland for the final American League wild-card position.
That makes every game increasingly important.
The Orioles remain below .500, but the expanded wild-card race has kept them within striking distance despite an inconsistent season.
Friday’s victory also showed a different way Baltimore can win.
The Orioles entered the night having homered in 15 consecutive games, but that streak ended against the Athletics. Instead of relying on the long ball, Baltimore manufactured two early runs, received seven strong innings from Young, made a critical defensive play and delivered two-out singles in extra innings.
Those are the types of wins teams need when trying to stay alive in a postseason race.
MSB Take
This was not the prettiest Orioles win of the season, but it might have been one of the more important ones.
Baltimore had several chances to let this game slip away.
The Orioles blew a 2-0 advantage. Their offense went quiet for most of the night. The Athletics tied the game in the eighth and then pulled within one run during the bottom of the 10th.
Baltimore still found a way.
Brandon Young deserves a ton of credit. Seven innings and one run is exactly the kind of performance the Orioles need from their starting rotation, and his continued development has been one of the more encouraging stories of Baltimore’s season.
Coby Mayo also continues to show why Baltimore has remained patient with him. Getting a two-out RBI hit in extra innings is exactly the type of moment young players can build upon.
Then Encarnacion-Strand provided the insurance run that ultimately became the winning run.
The Orioles are still fighting uphill at 66-69, but being only two games out of a wild-card position means this season is not finished.
At this point, style points do not matter.
Baltimore just needs wins.
Friday night, the Orioles got one.
Final: Baltimore Orioles 4, Athletics 3 — 10 innings.
