The Seattle Mariners came into this series against the Baltimore Orioles alone in first place atop the AL West.
The Orioles were chasing the New York Yankees, who have been on a tear heading into the weekend.
After the weekend, the O’s have kept pace behind the Yankees, taking two of three from the Mariners, as they left the M’s in danger of falling into a first place tie with the Texas Rangers.
The Orioles would receive quality starts from each of their starters, Gunnar Henderson took over the league lead in home runs on the season and the team swagger appears to be picking up at the right time.
Let’s recap how this series unfolded and if our BATTERY ❌-FACTOR was achieved in the series that the Orioles would win, two games to one.
GAME 1: O’s 9, M’s 2
It’s becoming business as usual when John Means toes the rubber. The 31-year-old veteran lefty is looking more and more like the dependable starter he was prior to the 2022 season.
Making his third start of the year, Means (2-0) tossed 95 pitches (60 strikes) to complete six innings of work. He would allow two runs on six hits with four strikeouts, as he put the Orioles in prime position to take the first game over the Mariners.
Gunnar Henderson would jump-start the offense with his fourth leadoff and league-leading 13th home run of the season. This would propel the Orioles to a five-run first inning.
The Baby Birds (Henderson, Adley Rutschman, Colton Cowser, Jordan Westburg and Kyle Stowers) would showcase most of the game, as they collected seven (Henderson, Rutschman and Cowser two each) of the offense’s nine total hits and drove in six of the nine runs.
Henderson and Cowser each had two RBIs, while Rutschman, Westburg and Austin Hays, who was making his first start since coming off the injured list, each pitched in with an RBI.
The Orioles used a five-run fourth and four-run seventh to put the Mariners away.
Jacob Webb (H, 4), Yennier Canó (H, 10), Mike Baumann and Keegan Akin would close the final three innings in the 9-2 victory.
*Notes: The victory ensured that the Orioles would not be swept once again, bringing their regular season total to 106 series without being swept.
GAME 2: O’s 3, M’s 4
Grayson Rodriguez returned from the IL and pitched like he didn’t miss a beat.
Rodriguez returned to toss six innings of shutout ball, allowing one hit while striking out seven on 82 pitches (50 strikes).
A sacrifice fly by Hays and an RBI single by Ryan O’Hearn propelled the Birds out to a 2-0 lead. After Rodriguez’s outing, it was up to the Oriole bullpen to finish the game out.
Unfortunately, Danny Coulombe (H, 9), Albert Suárez (BS, 1) and Canó (L, 2-2) would allow a combined four runs in 1.1 innings, which allowed the Mariners to take a 4-2 lead heading into the ninth inning.
Henderson would try to bring the Birds back, hitting his 14th home run in the ninth over Waltimore, but ultimately, it wasn’t enough, as the Birds would fall, 4-3.
The Orioles had six total hits (Jorge Mateo had two) and walked six times but would go 1-for-6 with runners in scoring position in the loss.
*Notes: Mike Baumann was designated for assignment prior to the game to make way for Grayson Rodriguez. It was also announced that Ryan McKenna was claimed off waivers by the San Francisco Giants.
GAME 3: O’s 6, M’s 3
Corbin Burnes has been the victim of little to no offense when pitching as of late.
The O’s ace has pitched at least six innings in his last four starts and is 0-2 in that span. During those starts, he allowed a combined seven runs over 24.1 innings (2.59 ERA), while the Orioles scored a combined four runs (shoutout twice) in those games.
In the series finale, Burnes (W, 4-2) came locked in even more so from the start. Over the course of six innings, Burnes threw 94 pitches (63 strikes), allowing seven hits, one run and striking out 11 batters.
The offense got the message, and, who else but Henderson, made sure it was heard. The 22-year-old phenom led off the bottom part of the first with his 15th home run and major-league-leading fifth leadoff homer.
The Orioles scored five runs through the first three innings, which included RBIs from Cowser, O’Hearn, James McCann and Cedric Mullins.
Henderson and Mullins both collected two hits, and Cowser, who picked up an outfield assist, making a stellar diving catch later in the game, picked up three hits after he shaved his beard prior to the series.
Cole Irvin (H, 1) pitched two innings out of the pen, allowing just one hit, and Craig Kimbrel (S, 9) returned to the closer roll to close out the 6-3 victory and series win.
*Notes: Burnes’ 11 strikeouts tie a season-high. The Orioles stole three or more bases in a game for the third time this season. Ryan O’Hearn became the eighth Oriole with at least six home runs this season. Craig Kimbrel appeared in his 800th career game.
BATTERY ❌-FACTOR
The Orioles have been up and down most of the season when it comes to scoring with runners in scoring position. It was partially this reason, and the Mariners’ strong starting staff, that their ability to capitalize with RISP was our BATTERY ❌-FACTOR for the series.
In game two, the game in which the Birds lost, the offense would go only 1-for-6 (.167 avg.) with RISP. In the two games they won, they were a combined 8-for-22 (.364 avg.)
For the series, the offense was a combined 9-for-28 (.321 avg.), which was a big part as to why the Orioles won the series with two victories in three games.
❌️-FACTOR: SUCCESSFUL ✅️
The Orioles will head to St. Louis, where they will begin a three-game inter-league series with the Cardinals. This will be game four of 13 straight before an off day.
Will the Cardinals begin to turn their season around, or will the Orioles dominate another NL central team?
What are your thoughts on this series victory over Seattle? Let us know in the comments below! Make sure to follow The Baltimore Battery on Facebook, Twitter (X) and TikTok, and use the hashtag #baltimorebattery when sharing our content!
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