Dylan Beavers Walks It Off as Orioles Rally Past Rays, 3-2, in 10 Innings

The Baltimore Orioles waited until late Saturday night to get their offense going, but when they finally did, they delivered.

Dylan Beavers ripped a pinch-hit walk-off double to right-center field in the bottom of the 10th inning, scoring automatic runner Leody Taveras and lifting Baltimore to a 3-2 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays at Oriole Park at Camden Yards.

Samuel Basallo had already rescued the Orioles in the eighth with a game-tying two-run pinch-hit homer, helping Baltimore erase a 2-0 deficit after the Rays had controlled most of the night. The comeback gave the Orioles their second straight victory and improved them to 63-67. Tampa Bay fell to 76-53.

It was a game in which Baltimore repeatedly failed to capitalize early, received a solid start from Brandon Young and then got two enormous swings from two of its most important young players.

Rays Strike First

Baltimore starter Brandon Young immediately had to work out of trouble in the first inning.

Yandy Diaz opened the game with a single to center before Jonathan Aranda walked. Young recovered by getting Chandler Simpson to foul out and Junior Caminero to ground into an inning-ending double play.

The Orioles created an even better opportunity in the bottom half.

Pete Alonso singled with one out and Coby Mayo doubled to left, putting runners at second and third. Shane McClanahan escaped by retiring Tyler O’Neill and striking out Gunnar Henderson, keeping Baltimore off the scoreboard.

That missed opportunity became more significant almost immediately.

Liam Hicks led off the top of the second and drove a Young pitch 388 feet over the wall in right field for a solo home run, giving Tampa Bay a 1-0 lead.

Young avoided further damage, helped by another double play, and settled into the game after that.

Orioles Waste Early Chances Against McClanahan

Baltimore continued getting runners aboard against McClanahan but could not bring them home.

Alonso singled again in the third, extending what would become his career-high hitting streak to 14 games. Mayo followed with another hit, but the Orioles again stranded runners.

McClanahan was making only his second start since returning from the 15-day injured list, yet he looked sharp. The Tampa Bay left-hander threw five shutout innings and allowed four hits.

Baltimore had chances, especially early, but McClanahan repeatedly escaped.

The Orioles were still trailing 1-0 when Tampa Bay added another run in the sixth.

Tampa Bay Extends the Lead

Taylor Walls reached to begin the sixth and Diaz followed with a single to right.

Baltimore prevented an even bigger inning when O’Neill threw Walls out trying to advance from first to third. It was a huge defensive play that eventually mattered.

Simpson and Caminero then delivered consecutive singles, with Caminero driving in Tampa Bay’s second run and extending the Rays’ lead to 2-0.

Young’s night ended shortly afterward.

The right-hander allowed two runs on six hits over 5 2/3 innings. Although he did not overpower Tampa Bay, Young gave Baltimore a chance by avoiding the type of big inning that could have buried the Orioles.

The Orioles remained within striking distance.

For seven innings, however, their offense could not find the big swing.

Then Basallo changed everything.

Basallo Delivers a Huge Eighth-Inning Homer

Jackson Holliday opened the bottom of the eighth with a single.

After the first out, Orioles manager Craig Albernaz turned to Samuel Basallo as a pinch hitter.

It worked perfectly.

Basallo launched a two-run home run to center field off Kevin Kelly, scoring Holliday and tying the game at 2-2. It was the first pinch-hit home run of Basallo’s major-league career.

The timing could not have been better.

Baltimore had been held scoreless for seven innings and was six outs away from losing before Basallo erased the deficit with one swing.

For a young hitter who has been viewed as one of the most important pieces of Baltimore’s future, it was exactly the type of high-pressure moment the organization wants to see him handle.

O’Neill Saves a Run in the Ninth

Baltimore’s defense then helped preserve the tie.

Tampa Bay threatened in the top of the ninth when Richie Palacios dropped a blooper into shallow outfield.

O’Neill raced in and made a diving catch, preventing what could have become the go-ahead run from reaching base. ESPN credited the play with potentially saving a run.

The Orioles could not win it in the bottom of the ninth, as Garrett Cleavinger retired Christian Encarnacion-Strand, Franklin and Taveras in order.

That sent the game to extras.

Garcia Escapes the 10th

Tampa Bay began the 10th with Palacios as the automatic runner at second.

Rico Garcia immediately faced a difficult situation.

Cedric Mullins grounded out, moving Palacios to third. Walls then attempted a bunt, but Garcia fielded it and threw home to cut down Palacios.

Diaz followed with a flyout to right, and suddenly the Orioles had escaped the inning without allowing a run.

Garcia’s scoreless inning earned him the victory and improved his record to 5-1.

That set the stage for Beavers.

Beavers Ends It Immediately

Baltimore opened the bottom of the 10th with Taveras stationed at second.

Beavers entered as a pinch hitter for Carlos Narvaez.

He did not waste any time.

Beavers drove Bryan Baker’s changeup into right-center field for a double, allowing Taveras to score easily and ending the game before Tampa Bay could record an out.

The ball left Beavers’ bat at 100.2 mph and traveled an estimated 386 feet.

Final: Orioles 3, Rays 2.

It was Baltimore’s second comeback victory in as many nights against the American League East leaders.

Orioles’ Young Core Comes Through

There was plenty to like about the way Baltimore won this game.

Basallo supplied the game-tying homer.

Beavers delivered the walk-off hit.

Young provided a competitive start.

Holliday started the eighth-inning rally.

For an Orioles team that has spent much of this season trying to determine which younger players belong in its next competitive core, Saturday provided several encouraging answers.

Beavers’ walk-off was particularly impressive because he entered cold off the bench and immediately delivered the biggest hit of the night.

Basallo did essentially the same thing two innings earlier.

Those are meaningful moments for young hitters.

Alonso Stays Red Hot

Pete Alonso also continued his remarkable stretch.

Alonso collected two hits, extending his career-high hitting streak to 14 games.

He entered Saturday coming off another huge night against Tampa Bay after hitting his 30th home run of the season Friday. MLB reported that Alonso had been hitting .480 during the first 13 games of the streak with seven home runs and 14 RBIs.

Even without another home run Saturday, Alonso remained one of Baltimore’s most consistent offensive threats.

Baltimore’s Pitching Keeps the Game Alive

The Orioles’ pitching staff deserves plenty of credit.

Young allowed two runs, but both came one at a time.

That matters.

Baltimore never allowed Tampa Bay to create the three- or four-run inning that would have made a late comeback much more difficult.

Once Young left, the Orioles’ bullpen kept Tampa Bay from adding anything else.

Garcia’s work in the 10th was especially important. Starting an extra inning with a runner at second and allowing no runs gave Baltimore an immediate opportunity to win with one hit.

Beavers took care of the rest.

Orioles Continue Success Against Tampa Bay

The Orioles have quietly become a major problem for the Rays.

Baltimore has won eight of its past nine meetings against Tampa Bay after taking the first two games of this series.

The Rays have also hit a difficult stretch overall, losing three straight and seven of their past nine games. Tampa Bay still leads the AL East, but its advantage over the New York Yankees had fallen to three games after Saturday’s action.

Baltimore remains well behind Tampa Bay in the division standings, but the Orioles continue to show they can compete directly with one of the American League’s best teams.

MSB Take

This was one of the better Orioles wins of the season because Baltimore had every reason to lose it.

The Orioles failed to capitalize on early opportunities.

McClanahan shut them out for five innings.

Tampa Bay carried a 2-0 lead into the eighth.

Yet Baltimore did not disappear.

Basallo delivered the tying homer. O’Neill made a potentially game-saving defensive play. Garcia escaped a difficult 10th inning. Then Beavers ended it immediately.

That is the type of game that gives a rebuilding or retooling club something meaningful to build around.

The biggest takeaway is not simply that Baltimore won.

It is who made the winning plays.

Basallo and Beavers are supposed to be major pieces of the Orioles’ future, and both delivered in high-leverage situations against the team with the best record in the American League East.

Young also continues to show why Baltimore has been willing to give him opportunities in the rotation.

The Orioles are still below .500 at 63-67, so there is considerable work remaining. But winning consecutive close games against Tampa Bay is another indication that this team has not stopped competing.

Baltimore will have a chance to complete the three-game sweep Sunday at Camden Yards.

Tampa Bay is scheduled to start Nick Martinez, who enters 12-4 with a 3.05 ERA, while Baltimore will counter with Shane Baz, who enters 4-13 with a 4.02 ERA.