Orioles continue their successful road trip, eye .500 for 1st time since April

If the Orioles win on Monday night at Colorado, they’ll be at .500 for the first time since winning the first game of a doubleheader on April 30^th.

In the first six games of a nine-game road trip, the Orioles (68-69) are 5-1 and one game under .500 since losing the second game of that April 30^th doubleheader.

Eight times since then, the Orioles reached two games under .500 and lost the first seven times.

On Sunday, the Orioles beat the Athletics, 8-5, to complete the three-game sweep. They won two of three at St. Louis.

If the Orioles can win two of three at Coors Field, they’ll return home at .500. If they can sweep, they’ll be two games over .500 for the first time since April 13^th when they were 9-7.

In this challenging season, the Orioles are within a game of the Cleveland Guardians, who hold the final wild-card spot. Toronto is 1 ½ games behind.

Both the Guardians and Blue Jays are off on Monday.

The Orioles play three games at Coors Field against the Rockies (52-85), who are tied for the worst record in baseball.

Nineteen of the Orioles’ final 25 games are against playoff contenders.

What’s the rest of schedule? After three games in Colorado, the Orioles have a difficult seven-game homestand against Boston and Cleveland. They’ll host the Red Sox for four beginning Thursday night and play three games against the Guardians, starting Labor Day at 1:35 p.m.

After the homestand, the Orioles play three each at Toronto and the New York Mets.

Their final homestand, which starts on September 18^th, is against Milwaukee and the Blue Jays, three games each. They’ll conclude the regular season at Yankee Stadium September 25^th-27^th.

Henderson’s brilliance All season, the Orioles have been waiting for Gunnar Henderson to go on a sustained hot streak. After Henderson had four hits on August 14^th, it seemed plausible that he’d get on a roll.

It didn’t happen.

On Sunday, Henderson had four hits for the third time this season, homered twice and drove in five runs. He continued his excellent play in the field.

He’s still hitting just .223, but that’s his highest average since July 25^th. Henderson hasn’t hit .230 since June 23^rd and been above .240 since April 14^th, the 15^th game of the season. The Orioles were 8-7 then.

Mayo mashing lefties: Coby Mayo hit a three-run home run against the Athletics’ left-handed starter, Jeffrey Springs. It was Mayo’s 19^th home run, his 15^th against a left-hander.

Colorado is listing right-handers Tanner Gordon (1-4, 5.38), Gabriel Hughes (0-6, 6.61) and former Oriole Tomoyuki Sugano (12-8, 5.23).

Checking on Alonso: Pete Alonso was hit on the helmet by a pitch by the Athletics’ Kade Morris in the eighth inning. Jackson Holliday pinch-ran for him. Manager Craig Albernaz told reporters in West Sacramento that Alonso was fine.

Bullpen excellence: After Chris Bassitt allowed five runs on eight hits in 5 2/3 innings, Anthony Nunez, Josh Walker and Yennier Cano combined for 3 1/3 scoreless innings, allowing just one hit.

In their last 10 games, Oriole relievers have a 1.10 ERA.

Playing clean ball: The Orioles have gone nine straight games without committing an error. That’s their longest streak since July 19^th-28^th, 2023.

Adding two: The Orioles get to add two players, a pitcher and a position player for Tuesday’s game when the rosters expand to 28.

What’s going on in the minor leagues? Félix Bautista pitched a scoreless inning, allowing a hit in his third rehab appearance in Triple-A Norfolk’s 7-4 win over Durham. Bautista threw 17 pitches, 10 strikes.

Jeremiah Jackson hit a three-run home run, had three hits and drove in four runs. Payton Eeles hit a two-run homer.

Aron Estrada hit his 23^rd home run, and Colin Tuft hit a three-run homer as Double-A Chesapeake lost to Harrisburg, 5-4.

High-A Frederick was limited to four hits in its 6-0 loss to Asheville in the first game of a doubleheader.

Carson Dorsey allowed a run on three hits in 5 1/3 innings as the Keys won the second game, 7-1. DJ Layton hit a three-run home and Colin Yeaman also homered.

It was Frederick’s last regular-season home game. The Keys have qualified for the South Atlantic playoffs, which begin on September 8^th.

Single-A Delmarva ended its home season with an 11-0 loss to Fredericksburg.

Outfielder Ty Head, the Orioles’ second round draft choice was promoted from Delmarva to Frederick. He’ll be joined by right-handed pitcher Harrison Kreiling. Right-hander Bradley Brehmer goes from Frederick to Chesapeake and left-hander Iziah Salinas goes to Delmarva.

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