Alonso’s home run called foul before Orioles’ bullpen falters in 5-3 loss to Yankees

BALTIMORE—Pete Alonso was already into his home run trot. It was the bottom of the seventh inning, and Alonso, who had already hit his 29^th home run, was sure he’d hit his 30^th.

His drive over the left-field foul pole against the New York Yankees’ Brent Headrick seemingly broke a 3-3 tie. Alonso ran toward first, certain that the ball was fair.

When third base umpire Will Little called the ball foul, Alonso ripped off his helmet and stood in disbelief. A crew chief review followed, and the call stood. Alonso struck out and the seventh was over.

Orioles reliever Cam Sanders allowed two runs in a sloppy eighth inning in which he hit two batters, and the Orioles suffered their third straight loss, 5-3 to the Yankees before 26,453 fans at Camden Yards on Wednesday night.

“You definitely never know what they’re going to rule, but I was really surprised that it came back ‘stands,’” manager Craig Albernaz said. “On the dugout iPads there’s ball-tracking data with the field that the players see, so it’s really tough to have that come back as stands and have that visual in the dugout, as well. It’s 2026.

“I think technology is advanced pretty good. There are teams using AI on the iPads and other sports use ball-tracking data for challengeable calls. Don’t understand why we don’t do it, but it’s not why we lost the game. But I think that moment was a big moment, especially it takes a home run from us and Pete, as well.

“I had a pretty good look at it. It’s tough for the umpire down the third base line, the way he’s looking and going over the foul pole, but I think when it goes to review and look at all the angles and video and especially the ball-tracking data, yeah, pretty disappointing.”

After the game, Alonso was composed but insisted the ball was fair.

“One hundred percent, just based on the video, also the Hawk-Eye had it fair in the dugout,” Alonso said. “Looking at the video, the view from where the camera was pointing straight down the line, from what it looked like, I mean it was to the right of the yellow and the pole so I thought it was fair.”

The MLB Replay Center issued a statement.

“After viewing all relevant angles, the Replay Official could not definitively determine that the ball left the playing field in fair territory. The call stands, and it is a foul ball.”

Oriole starter Chris Bassitt, who is a top Players Association official, was convinced it was fair and said MLB was at fault.

“Obviously I think it was fair, but, yeah, after the call, it’s just crazy that we still have this issue,” Bassitt said. “I think we might be the only major sport with an issue like this. It’s been years that we have technology that can easily use to say this is exactly the right thing or wrong thing, and the fact that we don’t have it in 2026 is crazy.

“That’s my take. It’s not so much that they got the right call or the wrong call or whatever. I think if you’re going to ask the general public and get a 50/50 answer or something like that. But it’s just the fact that we don’t have the technology in play to actually say, ‘Hey, this was fair or foul,’ is literally crazy in 2026. It’s crazy.”

Why did the Orioles lose the game? Without an established closer and one reliable reliever, Tyler Wells dealt at the trade deadline, the Orioles have been forced to rely on unknown and inconsistent arms.

With the game tied, 3-3, in the eighth, Sanders, one of those unknowns who’d pitched well in his previous seven games with the Orioles, had a shaky eighth inning, and the Orioles ended the night with their third straight loss.

Sanders walked one batter and hit two to load the bases. After he left, Yennier Cano allowed a swinging bunt to score one run and threw a wild pitch that wasn’t very far from the plate, leading to two runs in the loss.

Sanders (1-1) had earned Albernaz’s trust and he’s pitched in important situations. With one out in the eighth, he hit Heliot Ramos, walked Jazz Chisholm and after striking out Spencer Jones, he hit José Caballero to load the bases.

George Lombard Jr.’s slow tapper to Coby Mayo at third base scored Ramos, and Cano’s wild pitch allowed Chisholm to score.

“Cam’s been outstanding for us, and command wasn’t where it usually is,” Albernaz said. “He did a great job battling. He got the second out. Obviously, the hit-by-pitch to Caballero, and the first one was tough and Cano came in and did what he was supposed to do and induced a weak ground ball but hit it perfectly and George can run. So really tough play.”

Headrick (7-2) retired all three batters he faced in the seventh, including Alonso after he appeared to have put the Orioles ahead.

“Being in that spot, it’s always difficult,” Alonso said. “I did the best I could to kind of try and compose myself after that swing over on the splitter. And granted, he made some really good pitches after that and he got me. Yeah, I mean, it’s tough in that spot, but I feel like I, after that splitter chase for strike two, I thought I did a good job calling time, regaining some composure. But he made a pretty good pitch on that 1-2 fastball down.”

Bassitt allowed three runs on seven hits in the first three innings, then settled in and retired 10 of his final 11 batters. In 5 2/3 innings, Bassitt struck out six and walked one.

The Orioles (61-66) scored a run without a hit in the first inning when Jackson Holliday and Gunnar Henderson, who both walked, pulled off a double steal, with Holliday scoring.

Bassitt allowed two runs in the second on an RBI single by Ryan McMahon, and a sacrifice fly by Lombard Jr.

Ben Rice’s 34^th home run, a 447-foot shot in the third, put New York ahead, 3-1. Alonso’s 29^th home run in the bottom of the third, cut the Yankees’ lead to 3-2.

Will Warren pitched four innings, and left-hander Tim Hill relieved him and retired the four batters he faced. Dylan Beavers’ fourth home run against Fernando Cruz in the sixth tied it at 3-3.

Samuel Basallo, playing in his first game since spending a month on the injured list with right shoulder inflammation, singled with one out against Paul Blackburn in the eighth. He walked Beavers with two outs, and Leody Taveras popped to third.

David Bednar pitched a spotless ninth for his 29^th save.

How difficult is this loss to digest? Albernaz acknowledged this was a tough one, especially after the Orioles appeared to go ahead in the seventh on Alonso’s drive that was ruled foul.

“It’s definitely deflating, just because obviously we have the first base dugout, so we have a good view, and I think everyone thought it was fair,” Albernaz said.

“You look at the iPad and you see where the ball was and the ball tracking, but the compound effect of that, we still have to go out and play — the guys don’t let it affect them. We have to go out and still play the game.

“There’s still a lot of game left, even if that was called fair. We still have to go out and finish the game, and who knows what’s going to happen. So I’m not saying that’s the reason why we lost at all, we still have a lot of game left. But also, yeah, that was being up one going into later innings. I would take that.”

Alonso knew the Orioles needed to score and didn’t.

“It’s frustrating, for sure. But again, unfortunately, that’s baseball,” he said. “And at the time, they had the momentum and they capitalized on it. They did a great job of executing when momentum shifted their way, and kudos to them, hat’s off to them. They’re obviously a great opponent. And for us, we need to do a better job of bearing down and digging our heels in in those situations.”

Where does the loss leave the Orioles? The Orioles are 1 ½ games out of the third wild-card spot, tied with Cleveland and Detroit, trailing Minnesota, ahead by a half-game, Texas and Toronto.

“We’re playing a good team, and they beat us,” Bassitt said. “I thought we played overall pretty clean. I thought we pitched pretty well. I thought we hit all right. We hit fine. But, yeah, I think we’re playing really good the last two weeks or so, where it’s just, again, we’re just playing clean, playing together. So, yeah, just because you lost a game or two — it’s just more so how are you playing? And I’m happy with how we’re playing.”

What does it mean? The Orioles have already lost this series and need to win Thursday’s game with three more tough games against Tampa Bay this weekend.   

What’s the stat of the day? 14. Alonso’s third-inning home run was to right field, his major league leading 14^th. His home run extended his hitting streak to 11 games, tying his career high.

What’s the word? “Because it would cost money. That’s it. I mean, that’s literally it. You ask every fan of this game, that’s a true fan, every single fan would want those cameras. If you ask every single player, they would want those cameras. If you ask every coach, they want the cameras. It costs money. That’s it. That’s literally it.”-Bassitt on why baseball’s technology is lagging.

What’s going on in the minor leagues? The Orioles are shortening up their No. 7 prospect, left-hander Luis De Léon, to prepare him for a major league bullpen role so that he can potentially help the team down the stretch.

De Léon pitched one inning in relief of Trey Gibson in Triple-A Norfolk’s 7-5 win over Nashville. He walked three and struck out two. Brandon Butterworth homered.

Joseph Dzierwa allowed a run on two hits in five innings in Double-A Chesapeake’s 7-4 loss to Richmond.

Leandro Arias hit a grand slam, Yasmil Bucce also drove in four runs, and Enddy Azocar had four hits, including a home run, as High-A Frederick defeated Wilmington, 12-9, in the first game of a doubleheader. The Keys had 18 hits.

Frederick lost the second game, 8-4. Randal Diaz homered and drove in two runs.

Jake Dykhoff allowed an unearned run on four hits in 4 2/3 innings in Single-A Delmarva’s 9-5 win over Hickory.

What’s next? Kyle Bradish (7-11, 3.65) will start against Gerritt Cole (6-6, 3.22) on Thursday night at 6:35.

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