BALTIMORE — Gunnar Henderson hit a two-run homer within the eighth inning, and the Baltimore Orioles rallied towards Colorado’s struggling bullpen Friday night time to tug out a 5-4 victory and lengthen their lead within the AL East.
Ryan Mountcastle and Austin Hays homered for the Orioles, who moved three video games in entrance of Tampa Bay, which misplaced to the Yankees.
Baltimore‘s victory was marred by an obvious damage to nearer Félix Bautista, who slipped awkwardly off the mound after delivering a pitch with two outs within the ninth. Danny Coulombe completed for his second save.
Colorado arrived in Baltimore after dropping 4 straight video games, all through which it was tied or held the lead within the eighth inning. The final three of these defeats got here towards the Rays, who received every sport of their final at-bat.
Worse, the last-place Rockies’ bullpen got here in with a 7.77 ERA in August.
The development continued on this sport. After Kyle Freeland pitched six innings and left with a 4-3 lead, Jake Bird labored a scoreless seventh.
But Brent Suter (4-3) got here in for the eighth and walked Hays earlier than Henderson despatched a drive over the right-field scoreboard. The rookie skipped round first base and wore an enormous smile as he headed for residence.
Colorado has misplaced 5 straight when tied or main within the eighth inning, the primary time that’s occurred within the large leagues for the reason that Montreal Expos did it in 1970.
Shintaro Fujinami (6-8) labored two innings of aid for the win.
Mountcastle gave the Orioles a 1-0 lead with a homer that was something however peculiar. His drive to proper struck the highest of the wall, and Mountcastle hustled to 3rd base earlier than coming residence on a wild throw. But it turned out that his jaunt across the bases was pointless – it was decided that the liner hit the highest of the grounds crew shed, and that’s a house run at Camden Yards.
Hays adopted up with a first-inning RBI double, however the Rockies pulled even with a run-scoring double by Elias Díaz within the third and Alan Trejo’s sacrifice fly within the fourth.
Colorado went up 4-2 within the fifth when Charlie Blackmon drew a stroll on a 12-pitch at-bat and Ezequiel Tovar adopted along with his fifteenth homer.
By profitable the opener of the three-game set, Baltimore is assured of finishing its 81st consecutive sequence with out being swept, the fifth-longest such streak in main league historical past.
ROSTER MOVE
Rockies: With an eye fixed towards the long run, Colorado chosen the contract of LHP Evan Justice from Triple-A Albuquerque. Although he appeared in solely 41 minor league video games after being drafted within the fifth spherical of the 2021 draft, Justice might quickly be a key piece of the Rockies bullpen. “He’s got a good arm, good stuff,” supervisor Bud Black mentioned. “He looks potentially like a back-end reliever in the big leagues.” To make room on the roster, LHP Justin Bruihl was designated for task, lower than a month after being obtained from the Dodgers for money issues. Bruihl had a 14.73 ERA in seven appearances totaling 3 2/3 innings.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Orioles: RHP Jack Flaherty, scratched from his begin Wednesday with “general soreness,” is on the mend and may very well be able to return “in the next couple days,” supervisor Brandon Hyde mentioned. … OF Aaron Hicks (decrease again pressure) is operating and “progressing well,” based on Hyde.
UP NEXT
Rockies: Chris Flexen (1-5, 7.18 ERA) makes his sixth begin with Colorado when the sequence continues Saturday night time. The right-hander was acquired off waivers from the Mets on July 13
Orioles: Kyle Bradish (8-6, 3.03 ERA) seems to be to increase a profitable August. He’s 2-0 with a 1.90 ERA this month and Baltimore has received all 4 of his begins.
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