Jeremiah Jackson’s clutch homer caps Orioles’ 6-4 comeback win over Guardians

CLEVELAND–What happened? In the bottom half of the seventh, Cleveland’s Steven Kwan led off by bouncing a ball to second baseman Jeremiah Jackson, who caught the ball but dropped it on the transfer to make the throw to first. His error eventually led to a grand slam by Daniel Schneeman, putting the Orioles behind, 4-0.

The Orioles, who had many scoring opportunities early in the game, had just four hits through seven innings.

In the top of the eighth, the Orioles loaded the bases as Shawn Armstrong walked Taylor Ward and Dylan Beavers, and hit Pete Alonso. Pinch hitter-Johnathan Rodriguez’s sacrifice fly scored Ward.

After Leody Taveras walked by challenging a called strike three, pinch-hitter Weston Wilson ripped a 110-mph double off the left-field wall to score Alonso and Beavers to make it 4-3. Coby Mayo struck out on a pitch that was high and outside, failing to get the tying run in from third. It was left to Jackson, whose error had put the Orioles in a hole. He hit his fifth home run, a three-run shot, giving the Orioles a six-run inning, their biggest of the season.

On Monday night, it was Jackson who hit two home runs, including a grand slam, after hitting manager Craig Albernaz with a foul ball to rally his team to a 9-7 win over the Diamondbacks after trailing 7-1. It’s been an eventful week for the 26-year-old utility player.

“That’s why we play both sides of the ball,” Jackson said after Friday’s win. “For me, it was moreso about trying to pick up the team, have a good at-bat. I give a lot of credit to the guys in front of me. Leo, great at-bat. Wilson, great at-bat. Put a lot of pressure on them, made them go to the bullpen. And when you do that, it kind of creates a lot of chaos.”

The Orioles’ 6-4 win over the Guardians before 23,988 at Progressive Field on Friday night ended their three-game losing streak and evened their record at 10-10.

”The biggest thing to me, is they’re quality at-bats,” Albernaz said. “Made everyone who was in the game work. Huge challenge by Leody, to use that for us and get on base. That’s the definition of our team right there. We don’t quit. Big blow by Schneemann [the grand slam]. Usually, some teams would kind of fold over.

“But our guys just kept battling and kept fighting, and a huge swing by J.J. But there was so many great at-bats. J-Rod coming off the bench, sac fly. Weston Wilson coming off the bench with a ringing double that’s a homer in any other park but here. Great job getting to second base. Yeah, it was just a great inning.”

Rico Garcia continued his superb relief work, retiring each of his three batters in the eighth.

Ryan Helsley pitched a scoreless ninth, earning his sixth save in as many chances.

In the bottom of the seventh, Chase DeLauter followed the Jackson error by doubling off Grant Woflram. José Ramirez was walked intentionally. Kyle Manzardo struck out, and Anthony Nunez struck out Rhys Hoskins. But Schneeman cleared the bases on a Nunez fastball.

In the first four innings, the Orioles left six runners on base against Tanner Bibee, who gave up four hits in six scoreless innings. Hunter Gaddis struck out the side in the seventh as Gunnar Henderson angrily tossed his bat and slammed his helmet after making the third out.

Albernaz said that Colton Cowser, who bruised his right knee making a catch in foul ground in the fifth inning, should be OK.

How hot has Jackson been? Jackson is making a case for American League Player of the Week. In his last eight games, Jackson is hitting .406 (13-for-32) with five homers and 13 RBIs.

The last Oriole with that many home runs and RBIs over a seven-game stretch was Anthony Santander from June 15^th-June 22^nd, 2024.

“It’s a tough game,” Jackson said. “So any time you have success, it’s fun. For me, it’s really just about the next game. Enjoy it now, celebrate, have fun. But I think the most important one is the next one. So for me, it’s enjoy tonight, get ready to come back tomorrow and play, and play a good nine innings.”

Albernaz has enjoyed watching Jackson.

“It’s so impressive. And I think the impressive thing today was, obviously, his at-bats previously weren’t the best,” Albernaz said. “But just like him and the rest of our team, he still had a chance, and he wanted to get up there and compete, and he got a good pitch to hit and he did what J.J. does and put a good swing on it.”

How amazing is Garcia? Garcia set a team record with his 10^th scoreless and hitless inning of the season. He picked up his second win.

“With Rico, it’s just fun to watch because he’s out there and convicting everything he throws and pounding the strike zone,” Albernaz said.

How did Bassitt pitch? Chris Bassitt didn’t have an easy scoreless five innings. He allowed four hits, walked four and threw a wild pitch. He threw 100 pitches in his longest start of the season.

“I just think we made enough pitches there to get out of it,” Bassitt said. “It was just, I couldn’t find the strike zone early. Other than that, I had a couple other walks, but some of them were kind of just being smart. So, yeah, it’s just, Sammy [Basallo], I thought caught a really good game, and we were just able to execute just enough.”

What does it mean? Albernaz enjoyed facing off with his friend, Cleveland manager Stephen Vogt.

“We were looking at each other and giving ourselves some smirks going back and forth,” he said. “It’s still baseball, it’s still fun. Obviously, they made moves and we made moves. But luckily, we came out today on the right side.”

What’s the word? “I really think the team should be really proud of how we kind of handled the last two games, just in the aspect of not really giving up and rolling over.”-Bassitt on the Orioles’ comeback and ninth-inning rally on Thursday

What’s the stat of the day? 10. Garcia became the first major league pitcher to have 10 scoreless appearances of no hits and no inherited runners scored since Tampa Bay’s Scott Alred from April  8^th-May 1^st, 1999.

What’s going on in the minor leagues? Levi Wells allowed nine runs on 11 hits in Triple-A Norfolk’s 19-9 loss to Durham.

Andrew Kittredge gave up three runs on four hits in an inning in his first game back from paternity leave.

Enrique Bradfield Jr., Jhonkensy Noel and Willy Vasquez homered.

Luis De León allowed four runs on seven hits in four innings in Double-A Chesapeake’s 7-6 loss to New Hampshire in 10 innings.

JT Quinn pitched five scoreless innings, allowing three hits, striking out seven and walking one in High-A Frederick’s 6-1 over Hudson Valley. Vance Honeycutt and Braylin Tavera homered.

Esteban Mejia allowed five runs on one hit in 2 1/3 innings, walking eight in Single-A Delmarva’s 10-3 loss to Fredericksburg.

What’s next? Dean Kremer (0-0, 3.60) will start against Gavin Williams (2-1, 2.38) on Saturday night at 6:10.

Call for questions: Most weekdays, I’ll be answering at least one Orioles question. Please send yours to: Rich@BaltimoreBaseball.com