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SEATTLE–What happened? In the first six innings of Wednesday night’s game, the Orioles had just two hits and trailed, 2-1, to the Seattle Mariners. One was a 415-foot home run in the top of the sixth by catcher Adley Rutschman, who would make a key defensive play in the bottom of the inning with a sweep tag at home of J.P. Crawford, preventing Seattle from expanding its lead.
That set up Heston Kjerstad’s two-run triple in the seventh that turned the game around and helped the Orioles extend their winning streak to five games with a 3-2 win over Seattle before 19,231 at T-Mobile Park.
The Orioles are 9-8 under interim manager Tony Mansolino.
Kjerstad’s triple against Carlos Vargas (1-4) scored Ramón Urías and Coby Mayo, who had both walked.
“It’s hitting the ball on the right part of the park, and it kind of bounced around the right-field corner,” Kjerstad said. “Gives you a chance to get an extra base.”
It’s the longest winning streak for the Orioles (24-36) since June 26th-29th, 2024.
“It’s awesome. We’re playing good ball right now,” Rutschman said. “Pitching is doing amazing, hitters are picking up runs late, and it just feels like things are flowing a little bit. Like, our guys are playing together, picking each other up, and that’s kind of what we’ve done the last two years and it feels nice to play some games where things are coming together.”
Yennier Cano (1-4) recorded two outs in the sixth. Seranthony Domínguez threw a spotless seventh.
In the bottom of the fourth, Cal Raleigh’s leadoff fly ball to right eluded Kjerstad and went for a ground-rule double. Kjerstad made a sliding attempt for the ball, missed it, and it bounced into the stands. According to Statcast, the ball had a 95 percent probability of being caught.
Raleigh went to third on Julio Rodríguez’s single and scored on Randy Arozarena’s sacrifice fly to center. Rutschman’s sixth home run with two outs in the sixth tied it at 1. It was just the second Orioles hit against Emerson Hancock. Dylan Carlson’s third-inning single was the other.
Seattle took a 2-1 lead when Oriole starter Cade Povich hit leadoff batter Ben Williamson with a pitch to begin the sixth. Crawford walked, and Cal Raleigh’s single scored Williamson. Raleigh was out trying for second. With the infield in, Crawford was out trying to score on Rodriguez’s ball to Henderson at short. Henderson’s throw home was a bit high, but Rutschman got the tag down quickly for the out.
On the play that caught Raleigh at second, Mansolino praised Carlson, who was playing left, for making a strong throw to Henderson, who relayed it to Holliday at second.
“Game-changing moment for me for Carlson. Comes up, hits the cutoff man. Gunnar, awareness right there, understands what’s going on,” Mansolino said. “Fundamental baseball, hit the cutoff guy, give yourself a chance.”
Gregory Soto struck out Cole Young and Williamson to start the eighth, walked Crawford, and struck out Raleigh to end the inning.
Félix Bautista, working for the second straight game, pitched a scoreless ninth for his 11th save, although it was not without drama. With one out, Arozarena reached on an infield single. Mitch Garver walked, Leody Taveras popped to second and Rowdy Tellez flied to deep center to end the game.
How well are the Orioles playing? After weeks of uninspired ball, the Orioles are heating up. For the first time this season, the Orioles have won two consecutive series.
“I think the team’s always been a little bit of an underdog,” Kjerstad said. “Definitely won a lot more the past two seasons, and I think we’re kind of getting back our mojo here the past week winning more games and just playing better baseball.”
Povich is enjoying this run.
“No matter how you do it, winning’s always going to be a lot more fun than losing,” he said. “The guys, we’re having a great time, we’re starting to really, I think, have more fun playing the game. Get behind, come back, get behind again, get a lead back and hold it. That’s what we’ve done in the past, and it’s great to see us do that again today.”
How has the bullpen done? The Orioles’ bullpen combined for 3 2/3 scoreless innings, allowing one hit and two walks.
“Our bullpen’s been pretty shutdown these last, I don’t know how many games,” Povich said. “It’s obviously been great to see, knowing that they’re going to come in and kind of shut the door. Just like our offense.
“Just like I said at the beginning of the year, we have a lot of guys on all ends of the field that are going to compete and going to do really well. Just waited for that turnaround to come, and I think we’re starting to kind of find ourselves a little bit and get in a groove and gain some confidence back and really be the team that we know we are.”
Mansolino is gaining more confidence in his bullpen.
“Bautista is kind of getting going right now,” he said. “[Bryan] Baker has been awesome all year and we’re getting this going and we still are getting [Andrew] Kittredge up to speed and that’s going to be a massive weapon for us going forward as well. So, excited about the bullpen, excited about the starting pitching. It’s why we’re kind of getting back in this thing a little bit.”
Povich allowed two runs on four hits in 5 1/3 innings, walking one and striking out five.
What does it mean? The Orioles continue to win despite not scoring many runs. They have just 17 in the five games.
What’s the stat of the day? The Orioles are 3-10 when they have four hits or fewer.
What’s the word? “I felt like one finally kind of stayed fair for us. The ball off the bat, we’re looking at it from our angle thinking it’s going to hook foul, and it feels like it’s hooked foul all year, it stayed fair.”-Mansolino on Kjerstad’s triple down the right-field line
What’s going on in the minor leagues? Ramon Laureano, Gary Sánchez and Jordan Westburg, who are on rehab assignments, combined for six hits and four RBIs in Triple-A Norfolk’s 14-10 win over Louisville.
Sánchez hit a three-run home run. Second baseman Luis Vázquez hit a grand slam. Shortstop Jeremiah Jackson homered twice. Rightfielder Jud Fabian and first baseman Vimael Machin also homered.
Centerfielder Enrique Bradfield Jr. hit his first home run of the season, a two-run shot, to lead Double-A Chesapeake to a 4-2 win over Akron in 10 innings. Right-hander Trace Bright allowed two runs on three hits in six innings, striking out seven.
In his first rehab start, Brandon Young pitched 2 2/3 scoreless innings, allowing one hit, striking out six and walking one in High-A Aberdeen’s 3-2 win over Hudson Valley. Right-hander Michael Forret, the Orioles’ eighth-ranked prospect, has been reinstated from the injured list.
Shortstop Alfredo Velásquez had four hits in Single-A Delmarva’s 5-3 win over Fredericksburg.
What’s next? Zach Eflin (4-2, 4.46) will face Bryan Woo (5-2, 2.82) on Thursday at 3:40 p.m.
Call for questions: Most weekdays, I’ll be answering at least one Orioles question. Please send yours to: [email protected]
