Orioles news: O’s extend win streak to five games with late Ward homer

Good morning Birdland,

The All-Star break is over, and the Orioles got right back into the action with a 3-2 win on Friday night in Houston. It wasn’t the most dominant performance you’ll ever see. The six pitchers that O’s manager Craig Albernaz deployed really had to battle, and the offense was rather quiet until the eighth inning. But it all added up to the team’s fifth straight win, which kept them within two games of the AL’s final wild card spot.

The pitching staff had to tip toe around danger all night, walking nine Astros and giving them seven at-bats with runners in scoring position. But they managed to wiggle out of those predicaments time and time again, including a key first-inning double play. Cam Sanders came out of the bullpen to make his Orioles debut with the bases loaded and just one out. He got a huge strikeout and a ground out to escape unscathed. Hopefully Grant Wolfram bought him dinner, or at least gave him a big hug for that.

Through the first seven innings of the night, the Orioles scored just one run on three hits. That changed in the eighth, when Adley Rutschman led off with a double and then came in to score on a go-ahead homer from Taylor Ward. The O’s outfielder now has five homers between June and July after hitting just two long balls through the end of May. He’s not going to match his 36 home runs from 2025, but the O’s would love to see him get hot and flirt with the 20 mark by season’s end.

This series continues today with a first pitch of 4:10. Trevor Rogers (6-7, 4.48 ERA) will look to stay hot. He has a 0.82 ERA this month, even better than his 2.05 ERA from June. The Orioles have won each of the lefty’s last four starts.

Links

Orioles Acquire Rudy Martin Jr. From Royals | MLB Trade Rumors
Martin is 30 years old, has never appeared in the majors, and has spent most of this season in Double-A. This trade earns him his first ever spot on a 40-man roster. That’s pretty cool for him! How much does it actually help the Orioles? Eh, let’s try to stay positive here.

Sanders’ bases-loaded escape in O’s debut makes comeback win possible | MLB.com
You look at the stuff Sanders has, and you can understand why the Orioles were interested in adding him. Of course, his top level stats as a major leaguer have not been good, and this isn’t some kid here. He’s 29. But the Orioles need bullpen help wherever they can find it, and for now Sanders is an interesting as any other option.

The 4 factors that will decide the Orioles’ second-half fate | The Baltimore Banner
I recall that Coby Mayo recently said something like “This team is just one good streak away.” Right now, they might just be in the midst of that streak. It sure has helped. Extending it by another week would be cool too.

Because You Asked – Endgame | Roch Kubatko
Featuring a theoretical lineup and rotation made up entirely of…Muppets! And that’s not in the derogatory, British way. No. The actual Muppets.

Orioles birthdays

Is it your birthday? Happy birthday!

• Ryan Helsley turns 32 today. Signed to be the team’s closer this past offseason, he is on his second IL stint of the season with elbow issues. That contract came with a player option for 2027, which at this point seems likely to be picked up.
• The late Rudy May (b. 1944, d. 2024) was born on this day. The southpaw played 16 season in the majors, which included a two-season run in Baltimore from 1976-77.

This day in O’s history

1959 – In the nightcap of a double-header, Orioles catcher Joe Ginsberg ties an American League record by allowing four passed balls while receiving knuckleballer Hoyt Wilhelm. The Orioles lose the game 2-0 to the Tigers.

2001 – The second game of a double-header between the Orioles and Rangers is postponed when a train carrying toxic substances derails in Baltimore.

2002 – Melvin Mora ties a major league record by being hit by a pitch three times in one game. Despite this, the Orioles lose 5-4 to the Blue Jays.

2015 – Chris Tillman allows a single to the first batter of the game, and then walks one other later in the first inning. But from there he retires 23 consecutive Tigers and combines with Zach Britton for a one-hitter as the O’s win 3-0.