BALTIMORE—For the second straight game, Dylan Beavers batted leadoff, and on Saturday night, he provided the Orioles with a much needed game-winning single in the ninth inning.
Beavers’ single to right scored Jackson Holliday from third, and lifted the Orioles to a 3-2 win over the Atlanta Braves 3-2 before 37,883 at Camden Yards.
The win moved the Orioles (51-54) to within three games of the final wild-card spot.
Yennier Cano (2-2) pitched a spotless ninth.
Holliday doubled to left with one out and moved to third on Colton Cowser’s drive to deep center against Didier Fuentes (4-1) and scored on Beaver’s single to right.
It was Beavers’ third walk-off hit. He had two last September.
“It’s awesome. It’s exciting to help the team win, whether it’s a walk-off or in the fifth inning,” Beavers said. “I think it’s all great. But, yeah, it’s exciting when your whole team gets behind you and everyone’s fired up.”
Brandon Young pitched brilliantly, allowing one run on four hits in 6 1/3 innings.
Young held the Braves (61-43) scoreless for five innings. In the sixth, Young walked Matt Olson, who moved to third on a double by Michael Harris II. Olson scored on an infield out.
After Young struck out Austin Riley to start the seventh, Grant Wolfram replaced him. Eli White hit a liner to right field. As he rounded first, he stumbled and fell well short to second, but Beavers’ throw got away from Gunnar Henderson, and White was safe at second.
Fortunately, Jim Jarvis grounded to third and Drake Baldwin struck out.
Young threw 6 1/3 innings, striking out six and walking two.
The Orioles scored in the third when Pete Alonso’s popup was dropped by Jarvis at short, one of two he dropped. With two outs, Tyler Ward and Christian Encarnacion-Strand singled, and Alonso scored.
Henderson hit his 18th home run in the fifth against Bryce Elder (6-7) for a 2-0 lead.
Ozzie Albies’ home run against Rico Garcia to start the eighth tied it at 2-2. It was the second straight game Garcia had allowed a game-tying home run in the eighth and the third straight he’s given up a home run.
What kind of a night was it for Beavers? Manager Craig Albernaz likes Beavers in the leadoff spot.
“Always felt good about Beavers,” he said. “He has a slow heartbeat, manages the at-bat extremely well, fights off a lot of tough pitches, and he can hit. He has the ability to make contact, hit the ball to all fields, and he has some thump. I know it’s really settling in nicely right now for us.”
Holliday is a fan.
“The man,” he said. “I mean, you know, you’re going to get good at-bat out of him, no matter what. And [he’s] swinging the bat great, he walks a ton. He’s one of my best buddies, so it’s a lot of fun to watch him do his thing.”
With the trade deadline of August 3rd rapidly approaching, Beavers said his teammates know how important these games are.
“I think everyone’s aware of it,” Beavers said. “But typically, it’s just kind of a go ‘win the day’ mentality. Show up every day and take that game. I think everyone in this clubhouse believes we can be really good. We just need to be better more consistently, all around. We’re all kind of in agreement on that. But I think, every day, we’ve got to win the day.”
How was Young’s night? The Orioles are 14-3 in Young’s starts, and he knows how critical this series is.
“It’s very important,” he said. “Even it up. Get the rubber match tomorrow. I thought we played a great game. They’re a good team over there. So, yeah, man, big game tomorrow too.”
Young enjoyed the large, loud crowd.
“It’s electric. Kudos to our fans,” Young said. “I love pitching here. I love when we pack it out. You could feel it on the mound, part of the reason my velo was up, I think. Just electric throughout. The O during the anthem was sick, just looking out and having all three levels packed. It was cool to see.”
What did Holliday do right and wrong? Holliday’s double to left was the big hit.
“I mean obviously [Fuentes] has a really good fastball, he threw the inning before, and I’m not sure he even threw an off-speed pitch,” Holliday said. “So, I kind of knew what to expect and [saw] it well. Just kind of fighting it off, and then finally got a good one to hit and put a good swing on it.
“Just [thought] hopefully get the inning going. And [Cowser] had a great at-bat, took a great swing, and [Beavers] came up and delivered. It was awesome, great moment. A lot of fun tonight.”
In the seventh, it’s possible that Holliday could have scored from first with two outs when Jarvis again dropped Alonso’s popup, but he stopped a third.
“Yeah, possibly. I definitely didn’t give the effort to have the chance to score. It’s something that won’t happen again,” he said. “You can nitpick, but we won. But that can’t happen, and it won’t happen again.”
What does it mean? The Orioles won a one-run game. They’re now 9-16 in one-run games.
What’s the stat of the day? 9. Encarnacion-Strand has nine RBIs in his first six games with the Orioles, tying the franchise record. Ramón Hernandez (2006) and Rafael Palmeiro (1994) share the record.
What’s the word? “I guess in the first at-bat, try and see a couple pitches if I can, give the guys behind me an idea and try and get on base and kind of set the table. But after that, I feel like no matter where you’re hitting, you still want to put together a quality at-bat.”-Beavers on batting leadoff
What’s going on in the minor leagues? Trey Gibson allowed two runs on four hits in four innings in Triple-A Norfolk’s 7-6 loss to Charlotte in 10 innings.
Ryan Noda and Fernando Peguero homered.
Patrick Reilly allowed three runs on five hits in 5 1/3 innings in Double-A Chesapeake’s 4-1 loss to Erie. It was Reilly’s first start for the Baysox since his rehab from Tommy John surgery.
JT Quinn allowed four runs, two unearned in 3 2/3 innings in High-A Frederick’s 10-1 loss to Rome in the first game of a doubleheader. Quinn struck out seven without walking a batter.
The Keys won the second game, 3-2, despite having only three hits.
Dalton Neuschwander allowed seven runs on five hits and five walks in Single-A Delmarva’s 8-4 loss to Hill City.
Infielders Hector Campusano, Jemone Nuel, left-hander Francisco Moran, and right-handers Jake Dyhoff and KK Clark are being promoted to Delmarva.
What’s next? Shane Baz (4-9, 4.13) will start against Reynoldo López (4-3, 3.95) on Sunday at 1:35 p.m.
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