BALTIMORE–What happened? For nine innings, the Orioles and New York Yankees managed just two runs and 27 strikeouts.
The 1-1 tie didn’t last long in the 10th inning. Ben Rice hit a grand slam against Keegan Akin, and the New York Yankees defeated the Orioles, 7-1, in 10 innings before 31,974 at Camden Yards on Sunday.
With Todd Grisham the automatic runner at second, Kade Strowd (0-1) walked Aaron Judge to start the 10th after the 28-year-old right-hander had struck out the side in the ninth. Cody Bellinger singled against Akin, and Rice, who had driven in the Yankees’ first run in the sixth, hit his 24th home run to give New York a 5-1 lead.
Jazz Chisholm added a one-out home run, his 31st. Anthony Volpe’s RBI single against Yaramil Hiraldo extended New York’s lead to 7-1. It was the first time in his career Akin allowed two home runs to left-handed batters.
“You go up and down the lineup, it’s an elite lineup, and they have a lot of matchups sitting on the bench on a nightly basis to where they can pop pinch-hitters and make it tough on your relievers,” interim manager Tony Mansolino said. “Still liked our guys in the situations they got put in, and unfortunately just didn’t go our way.”
Entering the game, Strowd had a 1.50 ERA in 22 games. Mansolino defended pulling Strowd for Akin after the walk to Judge.
“I think through that whole game, out of all the things that we did, I’m not so sure I’d probably focus on that one, to be honest with you,” he said. “Just because you took Kade Strowd and put him in the highest-leverage situation of his career in the ninth inning right there in a tie game, and he gets through it. And then we asked him to go back out and face Aaron Judge in that spot.
“I don’t think you take a young kid and throw him to the wolves in that situation. And then on top of that, our guy Keegan Akin, who has closed games for us for a while, he’s left-handed.
“I know Bellinger handles lefties well, but it’s also our guy in that spot. You don’t want to overexpose Kade, it’s not the right thing to do. Hindsight is 20/20. And, again, throughout the game, out of all the moves we made in that game, I wouldn’t focus on that.”
David Bednar (6-5) pitched a scoreless ninth.
Rice’s RBI single in the sixth against Oriole starter Kyle Bradish tied the score, 1-1. Samuel Basallo homered in the fifth, his fourth.
The Yankees (88-68) took three of four from the Orioles (73-83) and remain two games behind Toronto in the American League East. The Blue Jays beat Kansas City, 8-5.
The Orioles left 10 runners on base and were 0-for-9 with runners in scoring position.
The Orioles had just 11 hits in their three losses this weekend.
The Orioles go to Yankee Stadium next weekend to conclude the season with a three-game series.
How well has Bradish pitched? One of the positives of the last month of the Orioles’ season has been the outstanding starts from Bradish. In his five starts since returning from his June 2024 Tommy John surgery, Bradish has a 2.25 ERA.
In his fifth start on Sunday, Bradish allowed a run on two hits in six innings, striking out nine and walking two while hitting a batter. He threw 91 pitches, the most he has all season.
“I think there’s definitely still some things we’re ironing out, but it’s part of it,” Bradish said. “Got one more start left and take in the offseason and come in next season hopefully being back to who I am.”
Through five innings, Bradish allowed a single and a walk. In the top of the sixth, Bradish walked Grisham and hit Judge with a pitch. Bellinger lined to Gunnar Henderson at short. Grisham scored on Rice’s single. Jasson Domínguez’s drive to left field was run down by Dylan Carlson.
“That’s probably the best we’ve seen him so far, even better than that first outing coming off the IL,” Mansolino said. “The ball was coming out hot, looked good. The fastball was good. The breaking stuff was sharp. Was really good against a really good lineup.”
Injury updates: Mansolino said that right-hander Albert Suárez was waiting to see Dr. Keith Meister in Dallas for a second opinion on his right elbow. Colin Selby, who’s missed nearly two months with a left hamstring strain, is a possibility for the last week of the season.
What does it mean? The Yankees’ superior offense could only be held off for so long, and the Orioles collapsed in the 10th inning.
What’s the stat of the day? It’s the sixth time in team history the Orioles have allowed six or more runs in an extra inning,
What’s the word? “It doesn’t matter who I’m facing, I’m going out there with the same goal, that’s to win the ballgame. So regardless of who it is, same mindset.”-Bradish on whether it matters that he’s facing a contending team.
What’s going on in the minor leagues? In his final rehab game, Adley Rutschman was 2-for-4 as the designated hitter in Triple-A Norfolk’s 4-1 wn over Jacksonville.
Mansolino said the Orioles would make a decision after the game about what to do with Rutschman and catcher Gary Sánchez, who were both concluding rehab assignments.
Rutschman has been out with a strained right oblique and Sánchez with a sprained knee. Rutschman is expected to be activated on Tuesday.
Norfolk ends its season 63-84.
What’s next? After an offday on Monday, the Orioles begin their final homestand of the season on Tuesday against the Tampa Bay Rays at 6:35 p.m. Neither team has named a starter.
Call for questions: Most weekdays, I’l be answering at least one Orioles question. Please send yours to: Rich@BaltimoreBaseball.com