Orioles Rally in Ninth, Fall to Brewers 6-5 in 10 Innings
The Baltimore Orioles battled back twice Friday night, but the Milwaukee Brewers ultimately escaped Camden Yards with a 6-5 victory in 10 innings.
Baltimore erased an early three-run deficit and then rallied from two runs down in the bottom of the ninth to force extra innings. Sal Frelick, however, delivered the deciding RBI single in the 10th as Milwaukee improved to 96-58 and handed the Orioles a damaging loss in their push for an American League wild-card berth. Baltimore fell to 75-79 and had its three-game winning streak snapped.
Chourio Strikes First
Orioles starter Cade Povich worked through the first inning before Milwaukee broke through in the second. Jackson Chourio launched a three-run home run to center field, immediately putting Baltimore in a 3-0 hole. Chourio finished 2-for-5 with three RBIs and also stole two bases.
Povich’s outing lasted only 3 2/3 innings. He struck out three, and Baltimore eventually turned the game over to a bullpen that kept Milwaukee scoreless from the third through the eighth inning.
Fortunately for the Orioles, their offense quickly answered.
Alonso Continues Power Surge
Pete Alonso erased Milwaukee’s advantage with one swing in the bottom of the third.
After an infield single and a walk put two runners aboard, Alonso crushed a three-run home run off Brewers starter Dustin May to tie the game at 3-3. It was Alonso’s 38th homer of the season and pushed him to 105 RBIs. Even more impressive, Alonso has now homered in three consecutive games.
May did not last much longer than Povich. Milwaukee removed the right-hander after he surrendered three runs and six hits.
What began as a potentially high-scoring night then turned into a bullpen battle.
Neither club scored again through the eighth inning. Baltimore continued to create opportunities but struggled to convert them, a problem that ultimately became one of the biggest stories of the game.
The Orioles collected 12 hits compared with Milwaukee’s 10 but stranded 12 runners. Gunnar Henderson and Coby Mayo each recorded three hits, with Mayo collecting three doubles in four at-bats.
Brewers Break Through in Ninth
Milwaukee finally broke the 3-3 tie in the top of the ninth.
William Contreras doubled home the go-ahead run against Rico Garcia, giving the Brewers a 4-3 advantage. Christian Yelich then added what appeared to be a crucial insurance run with an RBI single, extending Milwaukee’s lead to 5-3.
With the Orioles down to their final three outs, Baltimore responded.
Samuel Basallo delivered a sacrifice fly to bring the Orioles within one. Christian Encarnacion-Strand followed with another sacrifice fly, tying the game at 5-5 and sending Camden Yards into extra innings.
It was an impressive response from a Baltimore team that refused to allow Milwaukee to close the game in regulation.
Frelick Wins It in the 10th
Baltimore’s comeback ultimately fell one run short.
Milwaukee began the 10th with automatic runner Joey Ortiz at second base. A sacrifice bunt moved Ortiz to third before Frelick bounced a single into right field against Grant Wolfram, allowing Ortiz to score and putting Milwaukee back ahead 6-5.
The Orioles could not answer a third time.
Chad Patrick retired Baltimore in order in the bottom of the 10th, earning his sixth save and securing Milwaukee’s 6-5 victory. Trevor Megill received the win despite blowing the Brewers’ two-run advantage in the ninth, while Wolfram took the loss.
Mayo, Henderson Lead Baltimore Offense
The loss overshadowed an excellent performance from Mayo.
Mayo went 3-for-4 with three doubles, providing Baltimore with consistent traffic on the bases. Henderson also finished with three hits as the Orioles totaled 12 for the night.
Alonso supplied the biggest swing with his three-run homer and continued an impressive September power stretch.
Baltimore’s problem was not generating baserunners. It was bringing enough of them home.
Leaving 12 runners on base in a one-run extra-inning loss is particularly costly. The Orioles repeatedly gave themselves opportunities to take control but never produced the additional hit necessary to separate themselves from Milwaukee.
Wild-Card Race Gets Tougher
Every loss carries additional weight at this point in the season.
Baltimore dropped to 75-79 with only eight games remaining. Reuters reported that the Orioles finished Friday three games behind the Chicago White Sox for the final American League wild-card position.
Milwaukee, meanwhile, continues moving in the opposite direction. The Brewers improved to a Major League-best 96-58 and have already clinched their fourth consecutive National League Central championship. They are now pursuing a first-round postseason bye and home-field advantage.
The Brewers have also developed a habit of winning games late. Friday marked their 14th victory of the season when tied or trailing after eight innings, tied for the third-most in Major League Baseball.
Up Next
The Orioles and Brewers continue the three-game series Saturday afternoon at Camden Yards.
Baltimore is scheduled to send left-hander Trevor Rogers to the mound. Rogers enters the matchup 10-10 with a 4.22 ERA. Milwaukee is scheduled to counter with left-hander Robert Gasser, who enters at 4-5 with a 4.30 ERA.
With the regular season rapidly approaching its conclusion, Baltimore has little margin for error.
MSB Take
This was a frustrating loss because the Orioles did many of the difficult things required to beat the best team in baseball.
They answered Chourio’s three-run homer with Alonso’s three-run shot, received a strong night from Mayo and Henderson, got enough work from the bullpen to remain within striking distance and then fought back from a 5-3 deficit in the ninth. Baltimore showed plenty of fight.
The problem was missed opportunities.
Twelve hits should have been enough to produce more than five runs. Leaving 12 runners on base against a 96-win opponent made the margin for error almost nonexistent, and Milwaukee eventually capitalized.
Baltimore still has games remaining, but the situation has become increasingly difficult. The Orioles cannot afford many more nights where opportunities are available but left unused.
