Young sets the tone, Holliday hits grand slam in Orioles’ 7-2 win over Mariners

BALTIMORE–What happened? Brandon Young has quietly turned into the Orioles’ surprise success story of 2026. Young, who had 12 starts last season with a 6.24 ERA, continued his ascension on Wednesday night, helping the Orioles snap a four-game losing streak.

The 27-year-old right-hander worked into the eighth inning, allowing just two hits and two walks as the Orioles beat the Seattle Mariners, 7-2, before 13,483 at Camden Yards.

After Dominic Canzone singled and Mitch Garver walked in the second and Cole Young singled with one out in the third, Young (5-1) retired 12 straight until Luke Raley walked with one out in the seventh.

Young struck out five and threw 88 pitches. It was his fourth straight quality start. The Orioles are 9-1 in games Young has started.

“He’s been outstanding,” manager Craig Albernaz said. “Tonight was awesome, attacking the strike zone. This split was real again, that pitch is a great equalizer for him. But just the way he throws strikes right now, and command the strikes on attacking with all of his pitches, getting the curveball going, the slider, and in both fastballs, yeah, was an awesome performance.”

With the game scoreless through 5 1/2 innings, Pete Alonso led off the sixth with his 14^th home run to center field against Seattle starter George Kirby (5-6). Colton Cowser walked, stole second and scored on a double by Leody Taveras.

After Jackson Holliday and Tyler O’Neill were called out on strikes, Blaze Alexander’s ground-rule double put the Orioles ahead 3-0 after six.

Holliday’s third home run of the season and third career grand slam against Domingo Gonzalez in the seventh gave the Orioles (32-37) a 7-0 lead.

“We’re really good, and we know it, but I think to go toe-to-toe, I mean Kirby’s a really good pitcher,” Young said. “He’s got some nasty stuff. It kind of lit a fire under me to keep it a low-scoring game … to keep the team in it, knowing that we’re going to get a couple of runs here and there, and glad we did — three-spot here and a four-spot right after.”

Seattle (36-33) scored two runs against Grant Wolfram in the eighth. Miles Mastrobuoni singled, and Wolfram issued his second walk this season, his first since April 17^th, to Patrick Wisdom. Julio Rodríguez’s infield out scored Mastrobuoni and Bo Naylor’s long single scored Wisdom.

Yennier Cano recorded the final four outs.

How good was Young? Young was efficient and worked quickly with Sam Huff, who caught since Adley Rutschman and Samuel Basallo were unavailable.

“I think it’s credit to him, like it’s tough, any player, make adjustments, like in season, and the pitching group has done a great job with BY,” Albernaz said. “But BY has put in a ton of work, and to see him go out there and be really consistent with everything he does, his work in between starts, his prep work, and then ultimately what he does in the mound and what you see is a confident BY right now and just attacking the strike zone.”

Holliday was involved in six of the 12 groundball outs.

“Yeah, I definitely think it worked, definitely helped out just getting some, I think, early contact, weak contact, especially Jackson,” Young said. “A lot to Jackson. Wasn’t the intention, but I think it just had to do with the amount of splitters, curveballs, and kind of just how we were attacking them.”

Holliday was thrilled with Young’s dominance.

“It’s been awesome,” Holliday said. “It’s been awesome to watch. BY is an amazing guy, so it’s even more fun to watch him just go out there and dominate for, it feels like the past four or five times that I’ve seen him. It’s been a lot of fun.”

How well did the offense do? In the third inning, the Orioles failed to capitalize with the bases loaded and none out. They were able to break open a scoreless game in the sixth.

“Every game is a surprise,” Albernaz said. “It’s the most unpredictable game in the world and you never know how it’s going to end, and how the outcome is going to be, and how it’s going to sway.

“Especially in third inning, we had bases loaded no outs, and then came up with nothing. Being able to rally that inning, Cowser with the walk and then stolen base, and then Leody with the double, Blaze with the double, it’s just great guys staying with their approach, being relentless on the offensive side of the ball, and then obviously Jackson Holliday with the big blow, and it was great to see him get that swing off and do some damage.”

Holliday, who has a Bernedoodle named “Coconut,” seems to excel on “Bark at the Park” nights.

“It feels like we’ve had a lot already this year,” he said. “But I mean, I think every night should be Bark at the Park. I don’t think there should be any rules. But it’s always fun.”

What does it mean? With Dean Kremer and Cade Povich on the injured list, Young has seized the opportunity and done exceedingly well.

What’s the stat of the day? 4-for-13. After going 4-for-31 with runners in scoring position in the last four games, the Orioles were 4-for-13.

What’s the word? “We have a great lineup. Obviously, those guys are very helpful. But I think when each guy’s committed to a plan and takes good at-bats, it shouldn’t matter. We should be able to go out there and compete each and every night and have a chance to win. And Huffy [Sam Huff] does a great job of calling games, and I’m excited for you guys to see him absolutely smash a ball, because it goes really, really far. It’s just kind of the next-man-up mentality.”-Holliday on he Orioles’ lineup.

What’s going on in the minor leagues? Closer Ryan Helsley, who’s on the 15-day injured list with right elbow inflammation, will beginsa rehab assignment with Triple-A Norfolk on Thursday.

The Orioles signed Chadwick Tromp, one of a franchise-record seven catchers last season, to a minor league contract. He’s playing for Norfolk. The Tides’ game with Memphis was rained out.

Sebastian Gongora allowed four runs in four innings in Double-A Chesapeake’s 10-3 loss to Altoona. Tavian Josenberger homered.

Keiffer Lord gave up five runs, three earned, in 3 1/3 innings in High-A Frederick’s 7-2 loss to Brooklyn. Lord walked five. Wehiwa Aloy hit his 11^th home run.

Randy Ramos homered twice and Andres Nolaya also homered in Single-A Delmarva 8-5 loss to Columbia.

What’s next? Kyle Bradish (3-7, 3.89) will start against Bryan Woo (5-4, 3.74) on Thursday at 7:05 p.m. The game will be televised exclusively on ESPN. Kevin Brown, Adam Ottavino, David Ross and Buster Olney have the call.

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