What happened? After battling through nine grueling innings, and losing yet another catcher to an injury, the Orioles scored three runs in the 10th inning and secured their second straight win over the Atlanta Braves.
Ramón Laureano’s double and backup catcher Jacob Stallings’ two-run double gave the Orioles a 9-6 win in 10 innings over the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park on Saturday.
“I was really trying to be on time with the fastball,” Stallings said on the postgame show. “I actually thought he might throw that split change on that 3-2 pitch. Luckily, I was still able to get to the fastball.”
Laureano’s double against Rafael Montero (0-1) scored automatic runner Jordan Westburg. After Ryan O’Hearn was walked intentionally, Stallings, who replaced the injured Gary Sánchez after the fourth, double to left to score Laureano and O’Hearn.
“You always stay ready as a backup catcher,” Stallings said. “You never know what could happen.”
Interim manager Tony Mansolino was happy with what he saw from the offense.
“I feel our guys have swung the bats good over the last month,” he told reporters in Atlanta. “I thought today was a really good indication of it. We faced a really good major league bullpen, a lot of left-handed pitching in it the last year-and-a-half, and after 10 innings to walk out with nine runs, you’ve got to be pleased.”
Félix Bautista (1-1) pitched a spotless ninth, striking out two. Yennier Cano pitched a scoreless 10th for his first save.
Sánchez injured his right knee when he tagged out Matt Olson at the plate to end the fourth. He took a perfect relay throw from shortstop Gunnar Henderson and tagged Olson with his left arm. He was spun around and landed on his right knee.
Sánchez left the game for Stallings, who joined the team on Tuesday when Chadwick Tromp went on the injured list with a strained lower back.
Mansolino said Sánchez was getting an MRI on his right knee.
Tromp, Adley Rutschman, who has a strained left oblique, and Maverick Handley, who’s on the concussion injured list, have all been placed on the IL since June 21st.
The Orioles (39-49) have taken the series from the Braves (39-49).
Tyler O’Neill led off the third with a home run against Atlanta’s Aaron Bummer, his first against a left-hander this year, and the first Bummer allowed in 36 2/3 innings. It was hit 445 feet.
Jordan Westburg hit a two-run home run, his second in as many games. It landed 461 feet away in center field.
Austin Riley hit a two-run homer in the first, and Olson’s third-inning home run tied it, 3-3, in the third.
Colton Cowser hit a two-run homer against Dylan Dodd in the fourth for a 5-3 Orioles lead. Cowser’s went 426 feet.
It’s the third time in the Statcast era, which began in 2015, when the Orioles hit three home runs of at least 426 feet.
Olson’s RBI single in the fourth cut the Orioles’ lead to 5-4.
Riley’s double scored Ronald Acuña, but Cowser’s throw from left to Henderson at short was in time to get Olson to keep it at 5-5 after four innings.
Oriole starter Dean Kremer allowed five runs on eight hits in 4 1/3 innings.
“Maybe not my best day,” Kremer told reporters in Atlanta. “They had a lot of good takes, some pitches that were very borderline. Some calls went one way, some calls went the other way. They did a good job waiting me and got some good pitches to hit. They did the damage.”
Jurickson Profar’s infield out scored Nick Allen in the bottom of the sixth against Scott Blewett to give Atlanta a 6-5 lead. Henderson charged the slowly hit ball and made a strong throw to help Blewett escape a bases-loaded jam with only one run.
Jackson Holliday’s single to right scored Cedric Mullins, who doubled to start the seventh, to tie the score, 6-6.
Bullpen excels: Blewett, Gregory Soto, Andrew Kittredge, Bryan Baker, Bautista and Cano combined to pitch 5 2/3 innings, allowing one run on two hits.
“They’re nasty,” Stallings said. “We’ve got some good bullpen arms. All those guys came in and did a good job.”
Kremer appreciated the bullpen.
“The bullpen came in clutch throughout the rest of the game,” he said.
Injury update: Mansolino told reporters in Atlanta that right-hander Zach Eflin, who’s on the 15-day injured list with a lower back strain, has resumed throwing on flat ground. Left-hander Cade Povich, who’s out with left hip inflammation, had a second opinion and has resumed throwing. Right-hander Cody Poteet, who has a shoulder injury, received an injection and should start throwing in the next few days.
What does it mean? One recent positive is that the Orioles’ at-bats with runners in scoring position has improved. They were 5-for-12 on Saturday and are hitting .291 with RISP since June 1st. That’s third in the majors behind Toronto and Tampa Bay.
What’s the stat of the day? This is the first time since June 20th that the Orioles didn’t make a player move before a game.
What’s the word? “It’s been crazy around here the last two weeks or so.”-Stallings on the Orioles’ catching injuries.
What’s going on in the minor leagues? Double-A Chesapeake placed right-hander Braxton Bragg on the injured list with recurrent right forearm discomfort.
Outfielder Tavian Josenberger and right-hander Zach Fruit are beginning rehab assignments with High-A Aberdeen.
What’s next? Trevor Rogers (1-0, 2.05) will face Grant Holmes (4-7, 3.47) on Sunday morning at 11:35 a.m. The game will be seen exclusively on Roku. Brandon Gaudin, Ben McDonald and Wiley Ballard have the call.
Call for questions: Most weekdays, I’ll be answering at least one Orioles question. Please send yours to: Rich@BaltimoreBaseball.com