Calling the Pen: The Orioles’ Milkman is delivering again

Colton Cowser is one of the Orioles’ young core players they were counting on to help get them back to the playoffs. He has lifted them to victory with walkoff home runs the past two days, showing what a difference maker he can be.

The question is, can he use the past two days as a springboard to become an everyday player and the all-around contributor he’s capable of being? The talent is there.

On Sunday, he and the Orioles were down to their last strike and trailing 3-2 when he launched a three-run homer off Detroit’s Kenley Jansen to give them a 5-3 walkoff win. On Monday, they had tied the Tampa Bay Rays, 7-7, in the 13th inning of a wildly entertaining game when he crushed another walkoff homer for a 9-7 victory that turned a gloomy holiday weekend into a giant celebration.

The Milkman just might be back, and it couldn’t come at a better time for an Orioles team that needs his skills.

He tied the game, 5-5, in the 12th with his speed and athleticism on a close play at the plate. Gunnar Henderson hit a hard shot to Rays first baseman Jonathan Aranda, who made an excellent catch and throw home. Cowser was called out initially but on review it showed that he touched the plate with his left hand while he turned his right shoulder just enough to beat the tag on a headfirst slide.

“It was a great slide,” manager Craig Albernaz said. “It was one of those baseball plays where everybody did everything right. Gunnar did a great job of getting the ball forward in that situation. Cowser had a great lead and a great jump on the contact play, and Aranda makes a great play at first and a great throw. And then Cowser made an awesome slide. There’s no better way to put it. Slide his hand in there. So yeah, that was a big moment.”

It set up the 13th when the Rays took a 7-5 lead in a fight that featured one punch and counter-punch after another. Jackson Holliday nearly won it on a fly ball that carried former Orioles centerfielder Cedric Mullins to the warning track and resulted in a sacrifice fly that tied the game. Cowser ended it the same way he did on Sunday.

The 26-year-old outfielder is 7-for-24 with three homers and nine RBIs in 11 games since May 9th. He has raised his average to .200 with a .603 OPS. In his rookie year in 2024, he hit 24 homers. Last year, he broke his thumb on a headfirst slide into first in the opening series and struggled throughout the season. He got off to a slow start this year, but Albernaz thinks he’s found his swing.

“I hope so. I mean, two shots like that,” Albernaz said. “But no, his confidence has been there … He had a couple tough stretches, but he stuck with his process, stuck with the work, and now we get to see that come to fruition right now. His at-bats have been better as of late, but outstanding right now.”

Albernaz would be wise to play a regular outfield of Cowser, Leody Taveras and Taylor Ward. It’s his best option defensively and offensively if the Milkman keeps delivering. The moos were back at Camden Yards, which is a good sound.

Monday’s game marked the official first third of a 162-game season. The Orioles are 24-30 and two games behind in the wild-card chase. They still have a number of flaws and, at times, have appeared listless. But it’s almost as if they have two new players in a rejuvenated Cowser and Holliday, who just returned from the injured list. They both bring multiple tools and energy.

Almost overlooked in the 13-inning win was the fourth consecutive strong start by Kyle Bradish, who allowed just one run in six innings. He enjoyed watching his teammates go toe-to-toe with the 34-17 Rays, who swept the Orioles last week.

“I’m in here, and I turn into a fan watching the game,” Bradish said. “All the guys that were in here, living and dying by every pitch. We were really excited for that, and then Cowser came through again.

“We all know what he’s capable of, and I think he’s getting out of whatever he was in and starting to be the player that he is.”