NEW YORK—Suddenly, a playoff spot doesn’t seem out of the question for the Orioles. After a three-game sweep of the New York Mets, and the Cleveland Guardians overtaking the Chicago White Sox for the lead in the American League Central, the Orioles’ deficit in the wild-card race is just 2 ½ games.
Before the Orioles’ 7-1 win over the Mets before 25,324 at Citi Field on Wednesday night, they knew they were chasing a different team for the final playoff spot.
The Orioles (75-78) not only trail Chicago (77-75) but also trail Texas and Toronto.
They have nine games left, three each with Milwaukee and the Blue Jays at home, and three at Yankee Stadium.
“There’s no magic number,” Pete Alonso said. “We’ve just got to take it one day at a time. Win against whoever’s in front of us that day, go 1-0 every single day, and I think that’s the thing. You can’t look too far ahead, especially where we’re at right now.
“You can’t look in your crystal ball. The biggest thing that we can do right now is go out there, play the best to our ability every single night, do whatever we can to win the game. There’s no competing anymore. It’s just doing everything necessary to win the game that night. It doesn’t matter if it looks good, doesn’t matter if it looks ugly. Got to win each night.”
New York (69-83) started Xzavion Curry (0-1) instead of Robert Stock, who went on the injured list with finger numbness. Curry quickly allowed four home runs and the Orioles led, 6-0, in the third.
Alonso, who clubbed his 300th home run on Tuesday night, hit his 37th of the season with one out in the first. Jeremiah Jackson, who played second base in place of Jackson Holliday, hit a two-run home run, his ninth, in the second.
Holliday, who was placed on the 10-day injured list with left wrist inflammation before the game, could be eligible to return on September 25th when the Orioles begin the final series of the regular season at Yankee Stadium.
“It’s left wrist inflammation,” manager Craig Albernaz said. “He’s been dealing with it for a while and playing through it. It’s a credit to him. He’s been posting every day and playing through it. But when we get back to Baltimore, he’s going to get some imaging and kind of see where we’re at.”
Jackson’s home run scored Christian Encarnacion-Strand, whose fly ball to left fell in the middle of three fielders for a double.
Encarnacion-Strand hit a two-run home run in the third, his 10th, and Samuel Basallo followed with his 18th, his first since August 22nd.
Basallo is hitting just .167 (11-for-66) since returning from missing a month due to right shoulder inflammation.
“It’s been difficult, and it’s been frustrating,” Basallo said through a team translator. “The second half coming off the injury. I don’t want to make any excuses for that, but it hasn’t been easy. Doing whatever I can to stay healthy, keep fighting through it and do whatever I can to go out there and produce.”
Alonso, Jackson and Encarnacion-Strand became the first trio of Orioles to homer in consecutive games since Chris Davis, Manny Machado and Mark Trumbo on August 18th-19th, 2016.
Chris Bassitt (8-5) matched his season high, throwing 6 2/3 innings, allowing a run on five hits, striking out six and walking one.
The Mets scored their run in the fourth when Jared Young walked, advanced to second on Bassitt’s balk and scored on Marcus Semien’s single.
Anthony Nunez struck out Luis Torrens with runners on second and third in the seventh. Josh Walker threw a scoreless inning, allowing a hit, his 19th straight scoreless outing. It’s the longest Orioles’ scoreless streak since Zack Britton had a 25-game run from June 22nd-August 22, 2016.
The Orioles added their final run in the ninth when Basallo’s single scored Encarnacion-Strand, who doubled.
Albernaz hit for Dylan Beavers in the ninth and said he had neck stiffness.
What was this series like for Alonso? In his return to Citi Field, Alonso was welcomed back warmly and hit two big home runs.
“Not surprised at all, knowing Pete,” Albernaz said. “Pete also knows what’s at stake and he wants to win more than anyone in that clubhouse. He wants to go out there and compete and pull through for the team, and he is. It’s a nice series for Pete. A couple big swings in big moments, so, hopefully we carry this along.”
Basallo and Bassitt were also taken with Alonso’s performance.
“People in the city love him,” Basallo said. “I think it’s so impressive to see that reaction. I think all of us in here feel the same exact way, just seeing the reception, the way he goes about everything. I feel very proud to have him as a teammate, and I think we’re all happy to have him here with us. I just think it’s such an incredible experience to see him go out there and do what he did and get that reaction from the fans.”
This is the second time Bassitt’s been Alonso’s teammate. They were together with the Mets in 2022. He enjoyed the fans’ reaction to him.
“That was extraterrestrial for sure,” Bassitt said. “Crazy. I mean, that was honestly one of the cooler experiences for sure. Just from a road side. Obviously, I’ve been to some stadiums and I’ve played some teams that it felt like an away game, even when you’re at home.”
How well did Bassitt throw? It was the third time this season that Bassitt has pitched 6 2/3 innings.
“His last two games have been really good,” Basallo said. “I think we’re seeing what he’s always been capable of. He seems really confident up there and showing a lot of confidence in us back there at home plate as well, and these games are important. It’s great to see him pitching so well with these important games that we’re playing in right now.”
Basitt missed more than two months after back surgery.
“Since I’ve come back from surgery, I really just think every single start I’ve felt better and better,” Bassitt said. “ Every single start, I feel like I’m building on. So, yeah, I’m happy with where I’m at physically, and then obviously just working on the baseball side, it’s made it easier.”
What does it mean? The Orioles need to win six of their final nine games to finish at .500, and they probably need to do better than that to qualify for the final wild-card spot.
What’s the stat of the day? 39-39. The Orioles are 39-39 on the road and 36-39 at home.
What’s the word? “It’s going to be fun. It’s going to be interesting, fun. We talk about it all the time. We unfortunately put ourselves in this position, but we’re still playing meaningful games down the stretch, and for us, that’s what we ask for. Our guys, they’re still competing. They don’t waver, and we’re still in it. So, it’s a credit to those players in that room for rallying around each other and going out and competing. It should be fun going down the stretch.”-Albernaz on the final nine games.
What’s going on in the minor leagues? Christian Franklin, Brandon Butterworth and Ethan Anderson homered to lead Triple-A Norfolk over Charlotte, 5-2.
It was Anderson’s first home run in his second game at Triple-A. Franklin is on a rehab assignment for left hand inflammation.
Albert Suárez started and allowed one hit in 2 1/3 scoreless innings.
What’s next? After a day off on Thursday, the Orioles will host the Milwaukee Brewers for three games. The Orioles haven’t announced a starter for Friday night. Milwaukee will start Dustin May (7-9, 4.49). Game time is 7:05.
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