Beavers Walks It Off as Brandon Young Delivers Another Gem in Orioles’ 3-2 Win Over Braves
BALTIMORE — Dylan Beavers made sure the Baltimore Orioles would not suffer another late-inning heartbreak.
Beavers lined a two-out, walk-off RBI single into right field in the bottom of the ninth inning Saturday night, scoring Jackson Holliday and lifting the Orioles to a 3-2 victory over the Atlanta Braves at Oriole Park at Camden Yards.
The game-winning hit rescued Baltimore after the bullpen surrendered a late lead for the second consecutive night. More importantly, it rewarded starting pitcher Brandon Young for another impressive performance in what has become a breakout season for the Orioles right-hander.
Young allowed one run on four hits across 6 1/3 innings, walking two and striking out six. The 26-year-old lowered his season ERA from 3.25 to 3.13 and continued establishing himself as one of the most dependable pitchers in Baltimore’s rotation.
The Orioles improved to 51-54 and have won nine of their last 12 games. Baltimore also moved within 2 1/2 games of the third American League wild-card position with seven games remaining before the Aug. 3 MLB trade deadline.
Beavers ends it in the ninth
Baltimore entered the bottom of the ninth tied at 2 after Ozzie Albies homered against Rico Garcia in the eighth inning.
Tyler O’Neill struck out to begin the ninth before Holliday drove a ball toward left field against Atlanta reliever Didier Fuentes. Braves left fielder Mauricio Dubón attempted to make a difficult catch but could not secure the ball, allowing Holliday to reach second with a one-out double.
Colton Cowser followed with a deep fly ball to center field. Cowser’s drive did not leave the ballpark, but it allowed Holliday to advance to third and placed the winning run 90 feet away.
Beavers stepped to the plate with two outs and extra innings looming.
Fuentes attacked Beavers with a first-pitch fastball that registered 100.1 mph. Beavers stayed inside the pitch and sent it through the right side of the infield. Albies made a diving attempt near second base, but the ball slipped past him and rolled into right field.
Holliday crossed home plate easily as Beavers’ teammates rushed from the dugout to celebrate Baltimore’s fourth walk-off victory of the season in front of 37,883 fans at Camden Yards.
The game-winning hit was already the third walk-off hit of Beavers’ young major league career. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Beavers reached three career walk-off hits in only 86 games, the fewest games required by any Orioles player since the franchise moved to Baltimore in 1954.
Beavers also extended a productive stretch at the plate. The 24-year-old is batting .382 with 13 hits in his last 34 at-bats over 12 games. Baltimore has recently moved Beavers into the leadoff spot while Adley Rutschman and Samuel Basallo remain sidelined with injuries.
The opportunity has allowed Beavers to show more than his power. Beavers has demonstrated patience, bat-to-ball ability and a willingness to use the entire field.
Saturday’s winning hit came on one of the hardest pitches he will see, but Beavers did not attempt to do too much. The rookie shortened his swing, handled the inside velocity and placed the ball where Atlanta could not make a play.
Young continues breakout season
The walk-off provided the dramatic finish, but Young gave Baltimore an opportunity to win.
Young held one of the National League’s strongest teams to one run while pitching into the seventh inning. Atlanta managed only four hits and two walks against him, and Young did not allow a run through his first five innings.
The Braves created their first serious scoring opportunity in the second. Austin Riley singled and Jarred Kelenic walked, placing two runners aboard with one out.
Young responded by striking out Jim Jarvis and Drake Baldwin to end the inning. That sequence established the tone for his night. Atlanta occasionally reached base, but Young repeatedly made pitches when the situation became dangerous.
Young allowed no more than one baserunner in four of his first six innings. He mixed his pitches, remained around the strike zone and prevented Atlanta’s lineup from producing the type of multi-run inning that had hurt Baltimore the previous night.
The Braves finally scored in the sixth.
Matt Olson drew a one-out walk before Michael Harris II doubled down the right-field line, moving runners to second and third. Mauricio Dubón grounded out to bring Olson home and cut Baltimore’s lead to 2-1.
Young limited the damage by retiring Albies on another ground ball. Instead of allowing Atlanta to tie the game or take the lead, Young escaped the inning with Baltimore still in front.
Manager Craig Albernaz sent Young back to the mound for the seventh at 89 pitches. Young rewarded that decision by striking out Riley for the third time in the game.
The strikeout completed Young’s night after 94 pitches.
Young’s final line included 6 1/3 innings, four hits, one earned run, two walks and six strikeouts. He did not receive the pitching victory because Atlanta tied the game after his departure, but Young provided another performance worthy of a win.
The outing came six days after Young limited the Houston Astros to one run across seven innings. Young has now pitched into the seventh in consecutive starts while facing two quality lineups.
Baltimore entered the season with questions throughout the rotation. Young has answered many of them.
The right-hander is attacking hitters with more confidence, limiting hard contact and avoiding the large innings that plagued him earlier in his career. Young does not need to overpower every hitter when he remains efficient and consistently works ahead in counts.
Saturday’s performance lowered his ERA to a rotation-best 3.13. Young has gone from fighting for a major league role to becoming a pitcher the Orioles can trust in meaningful games.
Orioles break through in the third
Baltimore placed multiple runners on base during each of the first two innings but failed to score against Braves starter Bryce Elder.
Beavers opened the bottom of the first with a single and Pete Alonso followed with a walk, but Elder struck out Gunnar Henderson, Taylor Ward and Cowser to escape.
The Orioles threatened again in the second after Christian Encarnacion-Strand and Holliday reached base. Elder once again worked out of trouble without allowing a run.
Baltimore finally broke through with two outs in the third.
Alonso lifted a pop fly toward shortstop Jim Jarvis, who dropped the ball for an error. Ward followed with a single before Encarnacion-Strand delivered a run-scoring hit that brought Alonso home and gave the Orioles a 1-0 lead.
Encarnacion-Strand has provided Baltimore with an important right-handed bat since joining the lineup. The third baseman once again capitalized on a mistake and produced a two-out RBI.
Atlanta’s defense gave Baltimore additional opportunities throughout the game. Jarvis later dropped another Alonso pop-up, although the Orioles were unable to turn that mistake into another run.
Elder finished with an unusual pitching line. The right-hander struck out eight and walked four over five innings while allowing two runs, only one of which was earned.
Henderson provides needed insurance
The Orioles doubled their lead in the fifth when Henderson drove an Elder pitch over the wall for a solo home run.
Henderson’s blast was his 18th home run of the season and gave Baltimore a 2-0 advantage. It also became critical once Atlanta began its comeback in the sixth inning.
The home run represented Baltimore’s final hit until the ninth. Atlanta reliever Victor Mederos followed Elder with two scoreless innings, striking out three and preventing the Orioles from adding insurance.
Baltimore finished with only six hits, but Holliday and Beavers accounted for four of them. Both young hitters finished 2-for-4 and combined to manufacture the winning run.
Bullpen gives up another late lead
The Orioles nearly watched another strong start disappear.
Grant Wolfram replaced Young with one out in the seventh and immediately allowed a hit to pinch hitter Eli White. White stumbled while attempting to advance but still reached second after Henderson could not handle Beavers’ throw from right field.
Wolfram recovered to retire the next two hitters and preserved Baltimore’s 2-1 lead.
Albernaz turned to Garcia in the eighth despite the right-hander surrendering a game-tying home run during Friday night’s 7-6 loss.
The result was almost identical.
Albies led off the inning and drove Garcia’s second pitch over the right-field wall for his 17th home run of the season. The solo shot tied the game at 2 and erased Young’s opportunity to earn his ninth victory.
Garcia has now allowed a game-tying eighth-inning home run in consecutive games against Atlanta. Those situations will place additional scrutiny on Albernaz’s late-inning bullpen decisions moving forward.
Garcia retired the next three hitters, but the Orioles found themselves in another close game after failing to protect a late advantage.
Yennier Cano pitched a clean ninth inning on only nine pitches. Cano retired Atlanta in order and earned the victory when Beavers ended the game in the bottom half.
Baltimore responds after crushing loss
Saturday’s victory carried additional importance because of how Friday’s series opener ended.
The Orioles held leads of 5-1 and 6-3 before Atlanta rallied to force extra innings. Olson then hit a three-run homer in the 10th, and Baltimore left the bases loaded in the bottom half during a 7-6 defeat.
Another late collapse Saturday could have been devastating.
Instead, Holliday and Beavers ensured Baltimore responded.
Holliday’s ninth-inning double demonstrated the continued development of another important young hitter. Cowser then executed by moving Holliday to third, and Beavers finished the rally by attacking the first pitch he saw.
The Orioles have struggled with consistency throughout the season, but they have begun playing better baseball at a critical point on the schedule. Baltimore has now won nine of 12 and continues to apply pressure in the American League wild-card race.
MSB Take
Dylan Beavers will deservedly receive the attention after delivering another memorable walk-off hit, but Brandon Young was the foundation of this victory.
Young faced the National League East leaders and controlled the game for more than six innings. Atlanta entered the night at 61-42 and had won seven of its previous nine games, yet Young limited the Braves to one run and four hits.
This was not an isolated performance.
Young also delivered seven innings of one-run baseball against Houston in his previous start. His ERA now sits at 3.13, and the Orioles appear to have found a reliable young starter who can remain in the rotation beyond this season.
Baltimore still has bullpen concerns. Garcia surrendering nearly identical game-tying home runs on consecutive nights cannot be ignored. The Orioles will need better late-inning execution if they want to make a serious postseason push.
However, Saturday showed why Baltimore should not be counted out.
Young delivered another quality start. Henderson supplied power. Holliday created the ninth-inning opportunity. Beavers finished it.
The Orioles are still below .500, but they are moving in the right direction with the trade deadline approaching. Baltimore is only 2 1/2 games outside the final wild-card position, and its young core is beginning to produce in important moments.
Beavers’ first-pitch approach was aggressive without being reckless. Young’s performance was composed and efficient. Together, they helped Baltimore turn what could have been another frustrating loss into one of the Orioles’ most important victories of the season.
Up next
The Orioles and Braves will decide the three-game series Sunday afternoon at Camden Yards.
Right-hander Shane Baz is scheduled to start for Baltimore in the 1:35 p.m. series finale. The Orioles will attempt to secure a series victory against Atlanta before beginning a road series against the Detroit Tigers.
Baltimore will then return home to face the Philadelphia Phillies in its final series before the Aug. 3 trade deadline.
