Alonso’s hit caps improbable comeback as Orioles score 5 in 9th for 6-5 win over Blue Jays

BALTIMORE–What happened? After two disheartening losses to the Toronto Blue Jays, the Orioles pulled off a stunning comeback win by scoring five runs in the ninth inning, thanks to three straight walks and a game-winning single by Pete Alonso.

The Orioles walked 11 times in the game and entered the ninth inning trailing 5-1. It was just the third time in franchise history they’ve trailed by four or more entering the ninth inning and won the game in nine.

After going 1-for-17 with runners in scoring position in the first two games plus eight innings of the third, the Orioles suddenly came alive.

Coby Mayo was hit by a pitch by Jeff Hoffman (4-4) and scored on Leody Taveras’ triple. Jackson Holliday’s single to right scored Taveras. Colton Cowser doubled Holliday to third. Taylor Ward walked to load the bases.

Gunnar Henderson walked to score Holliday, and Adley Rutschman’s walk scored Cowser and tie the game, 5-5. Alonso singled to right, scoring Taylor Ward, and the Orioles had a 6-5 walkoff win over the Blue Jays before 32.645 at Camden Yards on Saturday.

“It’s just our guys being disciplined throughout the game,” manager Craig Albernaz said. “Like we talked about all year, we never feel like we’re out of a game. Everyone was in the dugout saying, ‘Get the tying run up, one at-bat at a time.’ We don’t waver.

“To say that in the dugout and then go out there and be really disciplined in the box, especially when the crowd’s going nuts and everyone wants to be the hero, being able to be selfless, take your walk and pass it to the next guy, that was fun to watch.”

The Orioles’ 10-game homestand has now featured 3 walkoff wins. Two were provided on consecutive days by Cowser home runs. There was a three-game sweep of the first-place Tampa Bay Rays, followed by two bad losses to the Blue Jays, including Friday night’s 6-5 setback after the Orioles had led, 5-0.

“Last night, we had a pretty good commanding lead, and then they took it from us,” Alonso said. “And then, same thing happened but the other way. So I feel like last night we should have won, and then today, they should have won.

“I feel like baseball has a funny way of kind of evening out, so to speak. Tomorrow’s big. Obviously, taking this one is big. Tomorrow is massive. I think tomorrow, to even up the series, if we do win tomorrow — hopefully, we win tomorrow. When we win tomorrow, I think that’d be 7-3 on the homestand. If you play 10 games, you go 7-3, you’ll take that every time. If we can get the job done tomorrow, that’d be a great momentum starter for us as the year progresses.”

Toronto starter Trey Yesavage walked seven in the first four innings, and the Orioles were able to score only once. Henderson’s single scored Jeremiah Jackson. Rutschman followed with the third walk of the inning, but Alonso abruptly ended the inning by hitting into a double play on the first pitch of his at-bat.

Alonso struck out with Henderson on third and two outs in the first. He was hitless in eight at-bats before his game-winning single.

“I had a couple opportunities early, I think my first and second at-bat, to drive some guys in and didn’t get the job done,” Alonso said. “I was just kind of hoping and praying I would have an opportunity later on in the game.”

Brandon Young kept the Orioles (27-32) in the game, allowing two runs on seven hits in 6 2/3 innings. He struck out a career-high seven and walked one.

Toronto (29-30) scored two runs in the fourth. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. led off with a single. Jackson, playing right field for the first time this season, made a diving catch on Daulton Varsho’s sinking liner. After Kazuma Okamoto struck out, Jesús Sánchez’s drive to center should have been caught by Taveras after a long run, but the ball popped out of his glove and was scored a double, bringing home Guerrero. Ernie Clement singled to center to score Sánchez and give Toronto a 2-1 lead.

Anthony Nunez allowed two runs in the eighth to extend the Blue Jays’ lead to 4-1. Nathan Lukas and Guerrero began the eighth with singles, and Okamoto brought them home with a double.

Toronto added a run in the ninth against Albert Suárez (2-0) when Lukas walked and scored when rightfielder Colton Cowser bobbled Guerrero’s double.

How did Young feel about his start? “It felt good, felt better than I did last start, just continuing to attack the strikes zone, get ahead,” Young said. “That’s the main goal to get deep in the game. That’s the goal for us to give our team a chance to win.”

He enjoyed the win immensely.

“We were trying to keep calm in here, we saw what was happening, the walks, and when he walked the run in, we knew something was happening,” Young said. “We couldn’t feel the energy from in here, but we know it was happening out there, like the atmosphere and stuff, but man, that was crazy, that was awesome.”

What does it mean? The Orioles badly needed the win and have secured a winning homestand. They’re 6-3 with one game remaining in their longest homestand of the season.

What’s the stat of the day? 7-1. The Orioles are 7-1 in Young’s starts.

What’s the word? “To be able to get Pete up there and you know he’s going to put the ball in play and hit the ball hard. I felt pretty confident with him out there that we’re gonna win.”-Holliday on Alonso

What’s next? Kyle Bradish (2-6, 3.86) will start start against Spencer Miles (2-0, 2.16). Game time is at 12:15 p.m. The game will be broadcast on NBC Sports Network and streamed on Peacock.

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