Sometimes, the best way to turn things around is to play a team that has its own struggles.
With the highly-talented Orioles visiting the Chicago White Sox for a four-game series, it seemed to be the right medicine to get back on track.
Strong starting pitching, hitting from various parts of the lineup and scoring runs in a timely fashion all add up to a series sweep for the Birds.
Let’s see how the games unfolded in the Orioles’ latest series victory.
GAME 1: O’s 8, SOX 6
The Orioles would come from behind twice in this game, but the second time, they pulled ahead for good en route to an 8-6 victory.
Grayson Rodriguez continues to shine on the mound. Going a strong five innings, Rodriguez would allow two runs on three hits. Though he would walk five, G-Rod (W, 5-1) would strike out seven and lowered his May ERA to 1.64.
Offensively, Adley Rutschman and Ryan Mountcastle might have done what was expected, but it was Jorge Mateo who provided the big spark. Mateo would smash a three-run home run, walk twice, steal two bases and score two times as part of four-run fourth inning that put the Orioles ahead for good.
https://x.com/Orioles/status/1793808259339432303?t=2APMvp1RL-iMnlgFXLjGPg&s=19
Rutschman had two hits and three RBIs, Mountcastle had four hits, Austin Hays picked up two hits and Cedric Mullins collected two of his own and stole two bases.
Jonathan Heasley would give up four runs before Yennier Canó (H, 11) and Craig Kimbrel (S, 10) would stop the bleeding.
With a controversial game-ending interference call, the Orioles were able to come away with an 8-6 victory in the end.
https://x.com/TalkinBaseball_/status/1793838460383658121?t=tKSMvU5aEbPJ8gVnGxp6kw&s=19
GAME 2: O’s 6, SOX 4
Another game, another feisty finish for the Orioles.
Corbin Burnes once again did his job, keeping the White Sox at bay. Burnes would complete six innings of work, allowing three runs on seven hits while striking out six.
Aided by Gunnar Henderson’s two-run homer (17) and RBIs from Mountcastle and Jordon Westburg, the Birds jumped out to a 4-0 lead.
https://x.com/Orioles/status/1794180892128100622?t=gAaGxwp9uFfvhecbCwxLqQ&s=19
The White Sox scored three in the bottom of the fifth and scored the tying run off Canó (BS, 3) in the seventh. Canó (W, 3-2) was relieved by Danny Coulombe (H, 10), and Kimbrel (S, 12) would close out the victory, with a little help from a flying cow in center.
It was Rutschman who would provide the difference in the game, as he would deliver a pinch-hit two-run single that would break the tie and give the O’s the lead and a victory.
Henderson and Ryan O’Hearn would lead the offense with two hits a piece, as the Birds would father eight hits in the win.
https://x.com/Orioles/status/1794214374258958434?t=QlTQavnaGzZfKhCtiZa_sQ&s=19
GAME 3: O’s 5, SOX 3
The O’s offense showed up late to the game, going into the seventh with only three hits.
Albert Suárez was making a start for the Birds, as John Means and Dean Kremer landed on the injured list. Big Al would go four innings, allowing only two hits and no runs before giving way to the bullpen.
https://x.com/MLB/status/1794468720384815408?t=aNk6rO76vlbqNmBfI_lTrg&s=19
From there, Keegan Akin, who allowed three runs, Dillon Tate (W, 2-0) and Cionel Pérez (S, 1) would finish the game. Tate and Pérez did not allow a hit in the final 3.1 innings of work.
The Orioles waited until the eighth to turn things around, once again beating up on Michael Kopech (BS, 2 / L, 1-4). This time, the Birds used two-run homers by O’Hearn (7) and Anthony Santander (9), while Westburg (8) would add a solo shot to close the scoring.
The Orioles ended up with five runs on eight hits while adding five walks and would win, 5-3, assuring a series victory and exacerbating Chicago’s struggles.
https://x.com/Orioles/status/1794474317465444469?t=os7bI6pYp286znkvu0caUQ&s=19
GAME 4: O’s 4, SOX 1
It’s easy to talk about Rutschman and what he means to the team. After all, he had another multi-hit effort and a two-run home run in game four of the series.
https://x.com/Orioles/status/1794837847557448146?t=8O1-fz_GkgJCE5dC6fS8mw&s=19
Then there’s Mateo, who keeps impressing in his role as the primary second baseman after he collected a hit, a walk and stole a base.
You could even bring up Colton Cowser, who smashed his seventh home run and has given the Orioles’ outfield a strong boost this season.
https://x.com/Orioles/status/1794846926107496663?t=DwZcAIeNvERDubommpa7tA&s=19
As easy as it is to talk about the hitters, it was Kyle Bradish who shined the most in the final game of the four-game series.
Bradish, who is pitching his fifth game after suffering a UCL sprain this winter, would take a no-hit bid through seven innings when he left after 103 pitches (63 strikes).
Bradish (W, 1-0), who adds a third top arm to the Orioles’ rotation, would go seven innings, walking four and striking out a career-high-tying 11 batters.
Coulombe (H, 11) allowed the ChiSox’s lone hit, a solo homer by Danny Mendick, as Canó (H, 12) and Kimbrel (S, 12) would close out the 3-1 victory, completing the series sweep.
https://x.com/MLB/status/1794850520953496043?t=UeqKRe1Li8KiJR1JQcKbmQ&s=19
BATTERY ❌-FACTOR
It’s easy to look at the scores of this series and say the Orioles scored easily and often. The BATTERY ❌-FACTOR coming into the game was the O’s ability to get on base and to capitalize with runners on.
The truth is, the Orioles were 7-for-25 (.280 avg) with runners in scoring position, which is not too bad.
What stood out the most is that they hit four two-run home runs and a three-run home run accounting for 11 of the 19 runs scored this series. The pinch-hit two-run single by Rutschman would show that a majority of the Orioles’ runs came with runners on base.
❌️-FACTOR: SUCCESSFUL ✅️
The Orioles gained ground on the Yankees this afternoon, as New York lost to the San Diego Padres. They are now just two games out of first place in the AL East.
That gets even bigger, as the Birds return home to take on the Boston Red Sox for a three-game series starting tomorrow. The Orioles’ next 13 games will come against the AL East, with a chance to add to their standing as a strong postseason competitor.
Will the Birds prove they are the new darlings of the AL East, or will the division prove to be the struggle it was prior to 2023? It all starts tomorrow at 1:05 p.m. EST from Camden Yards.
What are your thoughts on this series sweep? 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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