BALTIMORE—The Atlanta Braves made several excellent defensive plays, perhaps saving three runs. That enabled the Orioles and Braves to play into the 10th inning on Friday night.
In the 10th, the Braves scored four runs and hung on for a 7-6 win over the Orioles before 35,775 at Camden Yards.
In the 10th, Joey Bart’s single moved the automatic runner, Brewer Hicklen to third. Hicklen scored when Jim Jarvis’ sharply hit grounder to second was fielded by Jackson Holliday, but his throw to second was wild, allowing Bart to advance to third and Jarvis to second.
“I probably should’ve taken a little bit more time, maybe just thrown it over to [first baseman Pete Alonso],” Holliday said. “But just trying to get the lead runner to give us a better chance to possibly get a double play, get out of the inning. But I made a good play and made a terrible throw. So, got to finish the play and, yeah, not much other than I just got to make a better throw.”
After Andrew Kittredge (1-2) struck out Drake Baldwin and Ozzie Albies, Matt Olson hit his 27th home run, scoring Bart and Jarvi.
Jeremiah Jackson’s sacrifice fly scored Taylor Ward, and Christian Encarnacion-Strand homered against Dylan Lee. Sam Huff struck out to end the game.
The Orioles have followed their seven-game winning streak with three losses in four games. They trail by 3 ½ games in the wild-card race.
Earlier in the day at a news conference to discuss the extension to Orioles starter Kyle Bradish, owner David Rubenstein proclaimed his faith in the team. He wasn’t counting on Atlanta (61-42) taking runs away from the Orioles (50-54).
Encarnacion-Strand’s two-run double against Grant Holmes in the second gave the Orioles a 2-0 lead.
Atlanta tied it in the top of the fourth on Mauricio Dubón’s sacrifice fly to center and Austin Riley’s RBI single against Oriole starter Trevor Rogers.
The Orioles nearly got a third run in the bottom of the third when Michael Harris II took an apparent home run away from Alonso on a leaping catch.
Holliday’s sacrifice fly to right scored Ward in the fourth and the Orioles led, 3-2.
Braves shortstop Jorge Mateo, a former Oriole who received a warm welcome back, saved a run in the fifth with Alonso at second when he dove for Ward’s grounder for the third out.
Dubón saved another run in the sixth on a diving catch on Chadwick Tromp’s sinking liner for the third out with Colton Cowser at second.
“The play that stands out was obviously Michael Harris robbing Peter, the home run, Dubón making the sliding catch to shut down the inning, and then Albies’ backhand play on [Dylan] Beavers,” manager Craig Albernaz said. “Yeah, those plays, especially the Dubón one and Michael Harris, that kind of swayed the game.”
Rogers had another strong start, giving up two runs on six hits in seven innings, striking out six without a walk. He was removed after throwing 88 pitches, 72 strikes.
“He went seven strong,” Albernaz said. “He did his job.”
Baldwin tied the score, 3-3, with a one-out home run against Rico Garcia in the eighth.
In the bottom of the ninth, the Orioles loaded the bases with two outs on a walk to Beavers, Alonso’s single and an intentional walk to Gunnar Henderson by Elieser Hernández (1-0). Ward grounded to third.
The Orioles left 10 on base. They were 2-for-11 with runners in scoring position.
Is Rogers worried about being traded? Rogers will be a free agent at the end of this season, and he’d like to remain an Oriole.
“It really just goes back to controlling what I can control,” Rogers said. “I love this group. We’re right there. It was a tough one today, but I trust us to come back tomorrow and get the job done. And hopefully when the deadline comes and goes, I’m still here. But at the end of the day, I can’t control that. I just go out there, try to be consistent with my job and help the boys win.”
What does it mean? The Orioles badly miss catchers Samuel Basallo and Adley Rutschman, and if they were playing, that could have helped turn the game.
What’s the stat of the day? 8-16. The Orioles have the majors’ worst record in one-run games.
What’s the word? “I’m being really consistent right now, and that’s probably what I’m most happy about. I know if I got out there and do my job well, I give my team a chance to win. That’s about all I care about.”-Rogers on how his 2026 compares to his 2025.
What’s going on in the minor leagues? Cade Povich allowed one run on three hits in five innings as Triple-A Norfolk beat Charlotte, 3-1, in the first game of a doubleheader. Luis Vázquez and Silas Ardoin homered.
The Tides lost the second game, 6-1. Nestor German allowed two runs on six hits in 5 1/3 innings. Nick Raquet gave up four runs.
Aron Estrada homered in Double-A Chesapeake’s 6-2 loss to Erie.
Braylin Tavera hit a two-run double in the ninth inning to lead High-A Frederick to a 4-2 win over Rome in the completion of a suspended game. Caden Hunter pitched 5 2/3 innings, giving up an unearned run on two hits.
The regularly scheduled game was postponed due to inclement weather and will be played on Saturday.
Andrés Nolaya homered and drove in four runs as Delmarva beat Hub City 9-3.
What’s next? Brandon Young (8-2, 3.25) will start against Bryce Elder (6-6, 4.06) on Saturday night at 7:05.
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