Baltimore Orioles Top Athletics in 10-Inning Game, Narrow Wild Card Gap The Baltimore Orioles defeated the Oakland Athletics 4-3 in a 10-inning contest on Friday night, securing a critical win that brought them within two games of the Cleveland Guardians for the final American League wild card spot. The game, played in West Sacramento, Calif., featured dramatic late-inning heroics from Coby Mayo and Christian Encarnacion-Strand, who each drove in runs with two-out RBI singles to seal the victory. The Orioles’ offensive surge began in the 10th inning, where the game’s momentum shifted dramatically. With the score tied 2-2, automatic runner Carlos Narváez started the inning on second base. Rookie pitcher Brady Basso (0-1) intentionally walked Pete Alonso with one out, setting the stage for a pivotal sequence. Jackson Holliday struck out, but Gunnar Henderson entered as a pinch runner for Alonso. After a tense exchange, Mayo and Encarnacion-Strand each delivered RBI singles, pushing the Orioles ahead 4-2. The Athletics’ starting pitcher, Jacob Lopez, struggled in the early innings, surrendering two runs in the second. Dylan Beavers drove in Mayo with a two-out single, and Taveras scored on a fielding error by Lopez, giving the A’s a 2-0 lead. Lopez, however, managed to limit damage, allowing two runs — one earned — over five innings on three hits and three walks. Baltimore’s pitching staff held strong, with Brandon Young starting the game and throwing seven innings. Young allowed a run on five hits and a walk, leaving the game with a 2-1 lead. Andrew Kittredge (3-3) pitched a scoreless ninth for the win, while rookie Alex Hoppe allowed an RBI single by Zack Gelof before closing the 10th for his first save.#baltimore_orioles #coby_mayo #oakland_athletics #christian_encarnacion_strand #carlos_narvaez
Orioles Secure Extra-Innings Victory Over Athletics in High-Stakes Game With two outs in the 10th inning of Friday’s series opener against the Athletics at Sutter Health Park, the Orioles faced mounting pressure to break the tie. The game, which had been 2-2 through eight innings, saw the Orioles’ under-the-radar players step up in critical moments. Infielder Coby Mayo, known for his power against left-handed pitchers, delivered the go-ahead hit with two outs in the 10th, propelling Baltimore to a 4-3 win. The victory placed the Orioles just two games behind the third and final American League Wild Card spot. Mayo’s clutch single came after a tense sequence in the 10th. Catcher Carlos Narváez stood at second base as the automatic runner, while pinch-runner Gunnar Henderson was on first. Mayo, who had not scored since the second inning, executed the drill with precision. Facing A’s southpaw Brady Basso, Mayo hit an 0-1 fastball the other way to right field, scoring Narváez and giving the Orioles the lead. The hit marked Mayo’s fifth run of the game and elevated his OPS against left-handed pitchers to 1.119, the best in the majors among hitters with at least 100 plate appearances against southpaws. The Orioles’ bullpen played a pivotal role in securing the win. Reliever Alex Hoppe, acquired in a trade ahead of the Aug. 3 Trade Deadline, earned his first Major League save in the bottom of the 10th. Hoppe struck out A’s rookie Henry Bolte for the first out and navigated a two-out RBI single to preserve the lead. His performance was celebrated with a beer shower in the clubhouse, though Hoppe joked about the lingering scent of beer, noting he had to use body wash and shampoo multiple times to remove the smell.#coby_mayo #athletics #orioles #sutter_health_park #carlos_narvaez
Orioles Near Opening Day as WBC Action Intensifies The Baltimore Orioles are fast approaching their 2026 season opener, with just 10 days remaining before the first game. The team’s Grapefruit League schedule is in its final stretch, and they are set to host the Boston Red Sox on Monday at 6:05 EDT. Following this matchup, the Orioles will travel north for exhibition games against the Washington Nationals, marking the last major tune-up before the regular season begins. The team’s spring training has been marked by both progress and uncertainty. Pitcher Zach Eflin, who started a rainout game against the New York Yankees, remains a question mark for Opening Day. Despite the game being washed out in the third inning after 32 pitches, manager Craig Albernaz reported that Eflin is recovering faster than anticipated, though his availability remains unclear. Meanwhile, third baseman Coby Mayo has been absent from games since March 10, despite his strong performance in spring training. Mayo, who had four hits and a home run in a recent game, has not played since, though no injury concerns have been reported. The World Baseball Classic (WBC) has also been a focal point for the Orioles, with several players representing Team USA. In a semifinal matchup against the Dominican Republic, the U.S. team advanced after a thrilling game. The Dominican Republic took an early lead with a home run from Junior Caminero, but Gunnar Henderson tied the game in the fourth inning with his own home run. Roman Anthony added another long ball, giving Team USA a 2-1 lead they held until the end. In the bottom of the ninth, Dominican Republic’s Geraldo Perdomo reached third base, but Mason Miller struck him out looking on a pitch that was clearly below the strike zone, sealing the U.S. victory.#boston_red_sox #baltimore_orioles #zach_eflin #craig_albernaz #coby_mayo
