In a thrilling match against the Athletics on Saturday night, the Baltimore Orioles emerged victorious in West Sacramento with a 7-4 win. The highlight of the night came in the sixth inning when Colton Cowser delivered a massive 455-foot homer, breaking the tie and solidifying the Orioles’ position in the game.
Ramón Laureano also contributed significantly, homering and garnering three hits alongside three RBIs, thus pushing the Orioles to their seventh win in eight games. Gunnar Henderson was on fire too, adding three hits to the team’s momentum. Cowser, fresh off the 60-day injured list, made his presence known with a first-pitch cutter blast off A’s starter Luis Severino, sending the ball deep past the right-field wall.
Keegan Akin played a pivotal role, securing one out to claim the win, whereas Felix Bautista shut down the ninth inning with three strikeouts, securing his 12th save. Meanwhile, Jacob Wilson and Lawrence Butler showed impressive resistance for the A’s, recording two hits each. Athletics’ powerhouse Tyler Soderstrom maintained patience to walk four times on the night. Severino on the mound had a challenging outing, conceding eight hits and six runs, only five of which were earned, across 5 2/3 innings.
The Athletics showcased early aggression, scoring four runs during a tumultuous first inning marked by five hits, a bases-loaded walk, and a rare ground-rule double that found its way beyond the third base stands. Max Schuemann furthered the barrage with a crafty infield single, narrowly dodging a tag at first base. Despite the initial chaos, the Orioles’ defense tightened, aided by veteran pitcher Charlie Morton’s efforts, who, despite his 41 years, managed to retire seven batters while allowing six hits and four walks.
The key moment unfolded in the fifth inning when JJ Bleday’s attempt to score on Butler’s double was thwarted, adding to the game’s suspense. A standout statistic from the night was the Orioles’ pitchers collectively achieving 14 strikeouts, extending their impressive streak of at least eight strikeouts in 12 consecutive games, the longest active run in the majors.
Looking ahead, Orioles’ right-hander Tomoyuki Sugano is set to pitch in the series finale on Sunday with a 5-3 record and a 3.04 ERA. Meanwhile, the Athletics have yet to announce their starting pitcher for the concluding game of the series.