Orioles Outslug Braves in Extra-Inning Thriller
Baltimore and Atlanta fought through a postseason matchup, with the Orioles winning 9–6 in the 10th inning. Early on, Baltimore demonstrated their strength by hitting three home runs of more than 426 feet. The Braves responded forcefully in regulation, with Matt Olson contributing an RBI single and Austin Riley hitting a two-run homer to keep Atlanta in it. However, in extras, Jacob Stallings' two-RBI double sealed the victory after Ramón Laureano's clutch go-ahead double placed Jordan Westburg on. The victory was completed by Baltimore's bullpen, which included Yennier Cano recording his first save and Félix Bautista finishing out a clean ninth. This means the O's have won two in a row to begin the series.
Baltimore and Atlanta dominated the first three innings of today's July 5th contest. When Riley hit a two-run homer off opener Dean Kremer in the bottom of the first inning, the Braves took the lead 2-0. In the second inning, Kremer came back to keep the Orioles within striking distance by freezing the Braves and recording a strikeout. However, the home run parade resumed in the top of the third inning, with Jordan Westburg hitting a huge two-run homer from 461 feet out to put the Orioles ahead 3–2, and Tyler O’Neill hitting a solo shot to bring Baltimore within one. The Braves responded right after, and Olson's solo home run in the bottom of the third capped a thrilling first inning that included four home runs and steady swings in momentum.
Throughout the fourth and sixth innings, the action remained intense. Colton Cowser hit a two-run homer after they gave up a double in the top of the fourth, giving Baltimore a 5–3 lead. However, Atlanta responded in kind, with Olson and Ronald Acuña Jr. walking after Nick Allen's double to start the bottom of that session. Riley later doubled in another run, but Olson was thrown out at home, tying the game at five after Olson's clutch RBI single knotted it at five. It was a calm fifth inning, and Dodd got through without getting hit. Despite loading the bases with two outs in the top of the sixth, the Braves only managed one run on a groundout to take a 6–5 lead. Nevertheless, Baltimore quickly answered in their half, tying the score at 6–6 with a double from Cedric Mullins and a single from Jackson Holliday. With clutch hits and crucial reactions, the momentum swung drastically during the fast-paced set of innings.
The intensity persisted from the seventh to the ninth innings. Both bullpens then took over. Atlanta's starters shut down the Orioles, while Baltimore's relievers kept the Braves scoreless into the eighth and ninth innings. To finish a perfect inning and force extras with the score tied at six, Bautista entered in the top of the 9th and struck out Marcell Ozuna. The dramatic pitcher's duel set the stage for the pyrotechnics that ensued in the extra innings.
Early in extras, the Orioles broke the tie. Jordan Westburg put the automatic runner on third base with a groundout. Then, Rafael Montero hit Laureno for a double down the third-base line, plating Westburg and putting Baltimore ahead 7–6. Jacob Stallings, the backup catcher, came through with a two-run double after Cano purposefully walked Ryan O'Hearn, increasing the Orioles' advantage to 9–6. The stage had been set by Bautista holding the Braves scoreless in the ninth, and Cano earned his first career save by finishing the 10th with a flawless inning. It was a spectacular back-to-back double combination that ended an exciting rally in extra innings and sealed a 9–6 Baltimore triumph.
