Beavers’ walk-off home run caps Orioles’ 6-5 comeback win over Rays

BALTIMORE–What happened? Dylan Beavers paused just before he was about to step on home plate. He donned the Ravens’ helmet that the Orioles have been wearing after hitting home runs.

Beavers hit the first pitch from Kevin Kelly in the bottom of the ninth to right field to cap off an Orioles’ 6-5 win over the Tampa Bay Rays before 16,776 at Camden Yards on Thursday.

“It was incredible. I blacked out,’ Beavers said. “I hit it, and then I really don’t remember until they threw me that helmet, the Ravens helmet, but it was awesome.”

The Orioles trailed 5-2 heading into the bottom of the eighth. Ryan Mountcastle scored on a wild pitch by Jesse Scholtens and Coby Mayo hit a two-run home run to tie it at 5 on the first pitch he saw from Kelly.

“I’m not so sure I saw that thing going that way,” interim manager Tony Mansolino said. “I mean I don’t think I was super positive on the inside right there in the eighth and ninth innings by any means, so it’s nice to see the fellows battle back.”

It was Beavers’ second walk-off hit with the Orioles. He won the September 10^th game against Pittsburgh with a 10^th-inning walk-off single.

“I don’t think I’ve been part of a team that had so much determination, even when we’re behind,” Beavers said. “Close games, where every guy is trying to get the job done and no matter what the score is. We were down a good few runs today. Nobody is mailing it in.”

Keegan Akin (5-4) pitched a perfect ninth.

What was the atmosphere like? The weather forecast for Thursday’s final home game of the disappointing 2025 Orioles season was a poor one. Instead of the all-day rain that was forecast, the sun came out and the weather was ideal.

The Orioles (75-84) play three games at Yankee Stadium this weekend while Tampa Bay (77-82) plays three at Toronto. The Yankees and Blue Jays are in a fight for the American League East, and the Orioles could still finish ahead of the Rays for fourth place.

Due to the downbeat season, the Orioles drew just 1,803,655, a drop of 477,474, a drop of 20.9 percent from 2024.

What kind of a season has this been for Povich? Povich allowed five runs on 10 hits and finishes with a 3-8 record and 5.21 ERA.

He could have allowed a sixth run but a strong throw from rightfielder Jeremiah Jackson to second baseman Jorge Mateo to home was in time for Alex Jackson to tag Carson Williams in the sixth.

The 25-year-old left-hander missed time with a hip injury and knows he’ll have to pitch better than he did this year to remain in the Orioles’ rotation.

“I think there were some times where I showed some really good things and maybe showed what I have or what I could have, but at this level, just showing flashes or showing things here and there isn’t gonna be good enough,” Povich said.

“So I think just try to figure out what those are, try to take away from this year, take some time to reflect on the season, what I did well, why the things that didn’t go great didn’t go great. Just try to build a consistency toward the side of those flashes, make them consistent and make them not flashes. Make them who I am.”

Mansolino agrees that Povich must be better.

“For Cade to make the Orioles’ rotation competitive, he’s got some work to do this winter and I think he knows that,” Mansolino said. “Is he capable of it? Does he have the potential? No doubt. But he’s also getting to that age and that point where he’s got to pull it out of himself. He’s going to have all the support here in the world from the organization and all the tools and resources, it’s going to be up to him to do it.”

What did Mountcastle think? Even though Ryan Mountcastle has one more season before free agency, it’s possible the 28-year-old first baseman might not be back.

In what could have been his final home game, Mountcastle hit his seventh home run, had an RBI single and scored on a missed third strike after being hit by a pitch in the eighth.

“You never know what’s going to happen. Would love to come back,” Mountcastle said. “If it is my last game, I had a lot of fun here. If not, I’m super excited, I love all these guys, they’re my family.”

Roster Move: Right-handed pitcher Carson Ragsdale was claimed off waivers from Atlanta and optioned to the spring training complex in Sarasota. He had pitched one game for the Orioles and allowed eight runs on nine hits in three innings before the Braves claimed him on September 17^th. Right-hander Dom Hamel, who had been claimed from the Mets on Saturday, was designated for assignment.

What does it mean? Povich could still be a contender for a back-of-the-rotation starter in 2026. Performances like Thursday’s won’t help.

What’s the stat of the day? Four of the Orioles’ six walk-off wins have been provided Beavers and Samuel Basallo.

What’s the word? “The guys in this clubhouse have made it a little easier. We’ve got a really good group of guys, and it’s not where we wanted to be at the end of the day, but still enjoyed playing with these guys. It was a lot of fun.”–Mountcastle on playing with the Orioles in 2025. 

What’s next? Trevor Rogers (9-2,1.35) will start for the Orioles when they begin the final series of the season at Yankee Stadium on Friday night at 7:05. The Yankees have yet to name their starter.

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