Orioles Waste Trevor Rogers’ Strong Start in Crushing 7-6 Extra-Inning Loss to Braves
The Baltimore Orioles received another excellent start from Trevor Rogers and fought back from a four-run deficit in the 10th inning, but several missed scoring opportunities, a late bullpen collapse and a costly defensive mistake proved too much to overcome.
Matt Olson launched a three-run home run with two outs in the top of the 10th inning as the Atlanta Braves defeated the Orioles, 7-6, Friday night at Oriole Park at Camden Yards.
Baltimore entered the final inning trailing 7-3 before Christian Encarnacion-Strand hit a two-run home run to pull the Orioles within one. However, Dylan Lee struck out Sam Huff to end the game and Atlanta escaped with the series-opening victory.
The Orioles finished with nine hits but went just 2-for-11 with runners in scoring position and stranded 10 runners through the first nine innings. Baltimore’s inability to convert its opportunities overshadowed strong performances from Rogers and Encarnacion-Strand.
Orioles Strike First
Baltimore opened the scoring with a two-out rally in the bottom of the second inning against Atlanta starter Grant Holmes.
Leody Taveras drew a walk before Jackson Holliday singled into right field, putting runners on the corners. Encarnacion-Strand then battled Holmes through a seven-pitch plate appearance before driving a two-run double into the left-field corner.
The hit gave Baltimore an early 2-0 advantage and continued an impressive start to Encarnacion-Strand’s Orioles career.
Encarnacion-Strand, playing in only his fifth game with Baltimore, finished the night with four RBIs. The recently acquired infielder provided nearly all of the Orioles’ biggest offensive moments and continued making a case for regular playing time.
Braves Answer in the Fourth
Rogers cruised through the first three innings before Atlanta finally broke through in the fourth.
Michael Harris II and Austin Riley helped set up the inning before Mauricio Dubón lifted a sacrifice fly, cutting Baltimore’s lead to 2-1. Riley then delivered a two-out RBI single that tied the game.
Those were the only two runs Rogers allowed.
Baltimore immediately answered in the bottom half of the inning. Taylor Ward led off with a single, Colton Cowser walked and Taveras moved both runners with a sacrifice bunt. Holliday followed with a sacrifice fly that scored Ward and restored the Orioles’ lead at 3-2.
The inning showed Baltimore could manufacture a run without relying on a home run. That type of situational execution became noticeably absent later when the Orioles had several chances to extend the lead.
Rogers Delivers Another Excellent Start
Rogers continued his midseason turnaround with seven strong innings.
The left-hander allowed two runs on six hits, struck out six and did not issue a walk. Rogers threw 72 of his 88 pitches for strikes, consistently attacked the zone and prevented Atlanta from building extended rallies.
Rogers also recorded his seventh consecutive start allowing no more than two runs. His performance lowered his season ERA to 4.17 after it had climbed as high as 6.96 in late May. Rogers has now posted a 1.04 ERA during July.
His fastball also showed improved life. Rogers averaged approximately 94.3 mph with the pitch, nearly a full mile per hour above his season average, while generating swings outside the strike zone and consistent weak contact.
Baltimore could not reward Rogers with a victory, but the outing offered another indication that the veteran has rediscovered the form that made him one of the Orioles’ most dependable pitchers during the previous season.
Whether Baltimore views Rogers as a major part of its second-half rotation or as a valuable trade asset, his recent run has significantly strengthened the club’s position.
Bullpen Cannot Protect the Lead
Rico Garcia replaced Rogers in the eighth inning and immediately surrendered Baltimore’s advantage.
Braves catcher Drake Baldwin hit a one-out solo home run to tie the game at 3-3. The blast was Baldwin’s 20th home run of the season and erased Rogers from the decision.
Baltimore still had a chance to retake the lead in the bottom of the eighth. Cowser advanced to third base with two outs, but the Orioles could not bring him home.
The missed opportunity became one of several costly moments for an offense that repeatedly placed runners on base without delivering the decisive hit.
Orioles Leave Bases Loaded in Ninth
Baltimore’s best chance to win the game came in the bottom of the ninth.
The Orioles loaded the bases with two outs against Elieser Hernández. Atlanta intentionally walked Gunnar Henderson, bringing Ward to the plate with the winning run 90 feet away.
Ward worked ahead 3-0 before Hernández recovered to force a full count. Ward then hit a 102-mph ground ball toward Riley at third base.
Riley initially struggled to secure the ball but recovered in time to throw Ward out at first, ending the inning and sending the game to extras.
The Orioles stranded three runners in the inning and left 10 on base through regulation.
Hernández, making his first major league appearance since 2024, threw three scoreless innings and earned his first MLB victory since 2022.
Error Opens the Door in the 10th
Atlanta began the 10th inning with the automatic runner at second base.
Joey Bart singled to put runners on the corners before Jim Jarvis hit a ground ball toward the right side. Holliday made a diving stop but threw wildly toward Henderson at second base.
The error allowed the automatic runner to score and gave Atlanta a 4-3 lead. Bart and Jarvis also advanced into scoring position.
Andrew Kittredge nearly escaped without further damage. Kittredge struck out Baldwin and Ozzie Albies, leaving Baltimore one out away from limiting the inning to a single unearned run.
The Orioles elected to pitch to Olson with first base open.
Olson fell behind with two strikes but launched the next pitch 416 feet into the right-field seats. His three-run home run extended Atlanta’s lead to 7-3 and appeared to put the game away.
It was Olson’s 27th home run of the season and the biggest swing of the night.
Kittredge took the loss after allowing four runs, although none were earned because the inning began with the automatic runner and continued following Holliday’s error.
Encarnacion-Strand Powers Late Rally
Baltimore refused to go quietly in the bottom of the 10th.
Tyler O’Neill opened the inning with a single, moving the automatic runner to third. After Atlanta recorded two outs, Encarnacion-Strand drove a two-run home run over the wall to cut the deficit to 7-6.
The home run was Encarnacion-Strand’s third of the season and completed a four-RBI performance.
Baltimore suddenly had the tying run coming to the plate, but the Orioles had already emptied their bench. Huff received the final opportunity and struck out on a slider to end the game.
Despite the loss, Encarnacion-Strand’s performance represented an encouraging development for a lineup searching for consistent production. The infielder finished 2-for-4 with a double, a home run and four RBIs.
Missed Opportunities Define the Loss
The Orioles did enough offensively to remain competitive, but they repeatedly failed to deliver with runners in scoring position.
Baltimore stranded Cowser at third base in the eighth, left the bases loaded in the ninth and entered the 10th inning having scored only three times despite producing numerous baserunners.
The Orioles finished 2-for-11 with runners in scoring position.
That lack of situational hitting placed additional pressure on the bullpen and defense. Once Baldwin tied the game, Baltimore no longer had any margin for error.
Holliday’s throwing mistake was especially costly because Kittredge appeared capable of working around the automatic runner. Instead, the error gave Atlanta the lead and allowed two additional runners to move into scoring position.
Olson then turned the defensive mistake into a four-run inning.
Strong Nights From Rogers and Encarnacion-Strand
Baltimore’s two biggest positives came from Rogers and Encarnacion-Strand.
Rogers delivered seven innings of two-run baseball against an Atlanta lineup that entered the series playing well. Rogers threw strikes, avoided walks and kept the Orioles in front for most of the night.
Encarnacion-Strand supplied four of Baltimore’s six runs and nearly completed an improbable comeback in the 10th.
Baltimore needs more production around him, particularly with Adley Rutschman and Samuel Basallo sidelined. Encarnacion-Strand’s power gives the Orioles another legitimate threat in the middle or lower portion of the order.
The Orioles should continue giving him regular opportunities while he remains productive.
MSB Take
This was one of Baltimore’s most frustrating losses of the season because the Orioles received almost everything they needed from their starting pitcher.
Rogers controlled the game for seven innings, did not walk a batter and left with a 3-2 lead. Baltimore’s offense created numerous scoring chances, and Encarnacion-Strand delivered four RBIs.
The Orioles still lost because they failed in several critical areas.
Baltimore did not add insurance runs when it had runners in scoring position. Garcia surrendered the lead almost immediately after replacing Rogers. The offense left the bases loaded in the ninth. Holliday’s error opened the 10th inning, and Olson delivered the decisive blow when Baltimore chose to pitch to him with first base available.
Good teams punish those mistakes, and Atlanta did exactly that.
The encouraging part is that Baltimore still nearly recovered. Encarnacion-Strand’s home run brought the Orioles within one, but the late rally could not erase the missed opportunities that came before it.
Baltimore cannot afford to waste outings like this from Rogers. A team fighting to remain relevant in the second half must turn quality starts and late leads into victories.
The Orioles will look to even the series Saturday night when Brandon Young faces Atlanta right-hander Bryce Elder at Camden Yards. Young enters the matchup with an 8-2 record and a 3.25 ERA, while Elder is 6-6 with a 4.06 ERA.
Final score: Braves 7, Orioles 6 in 10 innings.
