Sugano Overheats, Orioles Bats Fall Quiet, Lose Rubber Match 5-1 to As

Key Orioles Standouts

• Adley Rutschman: 2-for-3, BB
  Reached base three times and stayed patient at the plate. Quietly productive in a lineup that lacked punch.

• Ramón Urías: 1-for-4, 2B, 1 R
  Scored the Orioles’ only run after doubling to lead off the second. Has looked sharp over the last week.

• Gunnar Henderson: 1-for-4
  Hard-hit single in the eighth but couldn’t get much going beyond that. Continues to be a consistent bat.

• Scott Blewett: 1.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 K
  Gave the Orioles a chance by stopping the bleeding after Sugano exited.

Cowser, Laureano Spark Orioles Lineup, 7-4 Win vs Athletics on Saturday

The Orioles came into game 2 of their weekend series in Sacramento with a bounce-back win, taking down the Athletics 7-4 behind a deep lineup and a dominant bullpen. Colton Cowser crushed the longest home run of his career, Ramón Laureano stayed hot at the plate, and despite a rocky outing from Charlie Morton, the Orioles' bullpen threw 6.2 scoreless innings to lock things down. It wasn’t perfect, but the Birds found just enough offense—and relief—to get it done on Saturday night.  The Orioles have won 11 of their last 16.

Key Orioles Standouts:

• Colton Cowser: 1-for-5, HR (3), 1 R, 1 RBI
   Launched a 455-foot go-ahead bomb in the 6th inning—his second homer since returning from the IL.

• Ramón Laureano: 2-for-4, HR (7), 3 RBIs
   Hit a solo homer in the 4th and added a key insurance single in the 7th. One of the Orioles’ most productive hitters in June.
  

• Gunnar Henderson: 3-for-4, RBI
   Continues to rake—scored a run and drove in another as part of a 3-hit night.
  

• Adley Rutschman: 1-for-3, 2B, BB, 2 R
   Set the table with a double and a walk, scoring twice and helping ignite the offense.
  

• Bullpen (Bowman, Akin, Domínguez, Soto, Kittredge, Bautista): 6.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 9 K
   An elite showing after Morton exited early. Especially dominant late, capped off by Bautista striking out the side.

Colton Cowser Give Os Lead With Longest Career Home Run in Sacramento

Colton Cowser became a fan favorite in Baltimore last year.  The Mooman is beloved for his last name, but also because the dude can straight mash baseballs.

With 24 bombs during a rookie season, good enough for runner up in the AL Rookie of the Year race (which was rigged for Yankees Luis Gil if you ask us), Cowser can go deep.

Saturday night was no exception for the Orioles center fielder.  In the top of the 6th with the game knotted at 4, he launched a first pitch Luis Severino cutter that was right down the middle for 455 feet to right field, the longest home run of his career thus far.

This would end up being the difference in the ball game as the Orioles took the lead 5-4 on the blast from Cowser, and the Orioles wouldn’t look back.

This is the second home run since Mooman returned from the 60 Day Injured List earlier in the week.

The second year player has shown a lot of poise, and seems to bring an energy to the clubhouse that was missing.

Ramón Laureano a Stellar Offseason Addition

Ramón Laureano is another Orioles outfielder just returning from the IL.  He’s been one of the best additions to the team this offseason with a sneaky big bat, and great defense.

Slashing .275 / .327 / .549 with 7 home runs, the veteran outfielder has been one of the best hitters on the team.  He trails Ryan O’Hearn in batting average, trails O’Hearn and Ramón Urias in OBP, and he leads the team in slugging.

Saturday night he came up big for the birds.

Ramón Laureano Homers Off Luis Severino

In the first inning, Luis Severino definitely won the matchup.  He got Laureano to ground into a double play in the first inning with runners on first and second.  During the at bat, Laureano saw sweepers, and sinkers.

In his next at bat, Severino opened with a cutter.  Followed by two sweepers, and a sinker.  With a count at 3-1, Laureano was swinging away.  Swinging at ball 4 usually isn’t the best idea, but Laureano was clearly sitting on the sinker that caused him to ground out in the first inning.

Bang - home run just inside the left field foul pole.

Laureano’s RBI Single in the 7th Adds Insurance

Laureano seems to have a knack for situational hitting - whether it be a clutch hit, a sacrifice, or a productive out.

On Saturday a clutch seventh inning single put the Orioles up 7-4, and gave the bullpen a bit more breathing room.

Adley Rutschman & Gunnar Henderson: The Deadliest Two Man

When Adley Rutschman and Gunnar Henderson hit the ball well at the same time, the Orioles have the chance to be exceptional.

Against the Mariners we saw them go for back to back home runs.  Against the As they just tie the game in two hits.

Adley’s Two Out Double Sets Up, Gunnar’s RBI Single

In the fifth inning with two outs Adley Rutschman doubled on a 2-1 fastball.  Gunnar Henderson drives him home on a hard hit single.  Tying the game up at 4.

Quick offense like that is exactly how the Orioles need to be playing.  Not always the long ball, but good small ball.

O’Hearn Gives Os Early Lead With First Inning Sacrifice Fly

Orioles Couldn’t Cash In On Bases Loaded in First Inning

The beginning of the game couldn’t have gone better for the Orioles.  Luis Severino has great stuff, but sometimes has issues locating it.  Coming into this game that was very apparent.

He opened the game facing Baltimore Orioles leadoff hitter Jackson Holliday.  After a 3-1 count, he walked Jackson on five pitches.

Adley Rustchman would walk too, but he would do so after seeing 8 pitches, and fouling off a few.  After two batters Severino had thrown 13 pitches, and had runners on 1st and 2nd.

On a 1-2 count Gunnar Henderson hits a jam shot single into the outfield, and the bases are loaded up for the Orioles best hitter this season, Ryan O’Hearn.

Ryan O’Hearn takes a cutter over the middle of the plate for a ride just deep enough to score the speedy Jackson Holliday at third.

1-0 Orioles.  A productive out is great.

Laureano grounded into a double play after working an 0-2 count back to 2-2 inning over.

The main thing the Orioles did well in the first was working counts.  Tired pitchers give up runs, and even though they couldn’t cash in big, they made productive at bats without striking out.

Charlie Morton Struggles Early, Bullpen Slams Door Shut

Charlie Morton Goes 2.1 Innings on 76 Pitches

Final Line: 2.1 IP, 6 H, 4 ER, 4 BB, 5 K – ERA climbs to 6.59

It could’ve been worse for Charlie Morton on Saturday night. The veteran right-hander came into the game with momentum after a few solid starts, but couldn’t get through the third inning against the Athletics.

Morton labored from the start, needing 76 pitches to record just 7 outs, and allowing 4 earned runs on 6 hits and 4 walks. Oakland worked deep counts and took advantage of soft contact and poor outfield defense, forcing Morton to throw 38 pitches in the first inning alone.

Despite the struggles, Morton did well to limit the damage to a single frame, as all 4 runs came in the opening inning. He managed to strand runners in scoring position in both the second and third innings before being pulled with one out in the third.

This outing raised Morton’s season ERA to 6.59, and continued a season-long trend of inefficiency early in games. If the Orioles want to stabilize the rotation, they’ll need to see a return to form, or look to the minors for options like Trevor Rogers or Chayce McDermott.

Orioles Bullpen Locks It Down After Early Trouble

After Charlie Morton worked hard through 2.1 innings, the Orioles bullpen came in and shut the door. Baltimore's relief combined for 6.2 scoreless innings, allowing just two hits and striking out nine without giving up a single run.

Matt Bowman was first out of the pen and arguably the most important arm of the night. He entered with runners on and stopped the bleeding immediately, going 2.1 hitless innings with two strikeouts and a pair of walks.

Keegan Akin and Seranthony Domínguez kept the middle innings quiet, with Domínguez punching out two in his lone frame.

Then came the late-inning elite:

• Gregory Soto tossed a clean 8th with one strikeout.
  

• Andrew Kittredge followed with another flawless inning in the 9th, continuing his dominant season.
  

• And in a bit of a surprise, Félix Bautista came in for the 9th to face the heart of the A’s lineup. The Mountain struck out three and walked one, overpowering hitters with upper-90s heat and his signature splitter.

The combined effort dropped the bullpen’s ERA to one of the best in the American League in June, and showcased just how deep this Orioles relief group is—even on days when the starter can’t get through three.

Dylan Carlson’s Outfield Play: Mixed Results

Dylan Carlson has been a valuable depth piece for the Orioles in recent weeks, delivering timely hits and holding his own defensively. But with Cedric Mullins nearing a return from the injured list, Carlson is under the microscope, and Saturday’s game showed why.

His night in the outfield was a mixed bag.

In the first inning, Carlson misread a routine fly ball that had a 99% catch probability, letting it drop in for a leadoff double. The misplay helped fuel a four-run rally for Oakland and made Charlie Morton’s short outing even more difficult.

But Carlson redeemed himself a few innings later.

In the fourth, he fielded a sharply hit ball down the line and fired a strong relay throw to Gunnar Henderson, who quickly got it to Maverick Handley. The perfect relay cut down a run at the plate and saved Keegan Akin from potential damage in a one-run game at the time.

It was a play that reminded fans why Carlson’s athleticism is valued - but also why consistency will be key if he wants to stick around when the Orioles get healthy.

Jackson Holliday, Dylan Carlson Go Deep but Orioles Fall 5-4 to Athletics

The Orioles dropped the series opener in Sacramento on Friday night, falling 5-4 to the Athletics despite home runs from Jackson Holliday and Dylan Carlson. Dean Kremer cruised through the first five innings but couldn’t escape the sixth, surrendering a late run that put Oakland on top. The Orioles had chances late, including a bases-loaded threat in the eighth, but couldn’t cash in. Baltimore’s bullpen held strong once again, but the missed opportunities at the plate proved costly.

Key Orioles Standouts:

• Jackson Holliday: 3-for-5, HR (6), 2B, 2 R, RBI
   Holliday crushed a solo home run in the 3rd and added a double in his second straight multi-hit game. Continues to find his rhythm at the top of the lineup.

• Dylan Carlson: 1-for-2, HR (5), 2 RBIs, 2 BB
   Hammered a two-run homer in the 5th to give the Orioles a short-lived lead. Also reached base three times in a strong showing from the 8-hole.

• Ramón Urías: 2-for-5, 1 R
   Quietly consistent once again, collecting two hits and helping turn the lineup over.

• Coby Mayo: 1-for-2, 2B, BB
   Ripped a double and showed improved plate discipline with a walk. Hard contact continues to show up despite the low batting average.

• Orioles Bullpen (Cano, Akin, Domínguez, Soto): 3.2 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 6 K
   Yet again, the bullpen delivered. Baltimore’s relievers kept the game within reach after Kremer exited, giving the offense every chance to rally late.

Jackson Holliday Powers Orioles with Home Run, Three-Hit Night

Jackson Holliday came to play in this game.  Going 3-5 with a 430 foot home run against a left handed pitcher has Birdland extremely excited, but also hitting a double off a lefty shows the kid is starting to figure it out at the plate.

The home run off of Athletics starter JP Sears in the fifth inning momentarily tied the game at 4 runs a piece.

The 21-year-old infielder has steadily raised his average to .268 on the season, and his OPS is creeping toward .800. For a player who hasn’t gotten full reps against left handed pitchers, this performance felt like another major step forward, not just for Holliday, but for a lineup looking for consistency at the top.

Carlson Homers, Reaches Base Three Times in Tight Loss

Dylan Carlson made the most of his start in left field on Friday night, providing the biggest swing of the game for the Orioles. In the second inning, with Ramon Urias aboard after a leadoff single, Carlson jumped on a first-pitch fastball from JP Sears and launched it out to left for a two-run homer.

The blast gave the Orioles a 2-0 lead, starting off a solid day at the plate for Carlson, who also walked twice and reached base in three of his four trips.

It was Carlson’s fifth home run of the season and his second long ball in just four games. While his playing time could be limited once Cedric Mullins returns from the IL, Carlson continues to show value when called upon—especially against left-handed pitching.

For a team looking to spark the bottom half of the lineup, Carlson’s power and on-base ability could be crucial as the season rolls into July.

Kremer Stumbles in the Third, Tagged Again in the Fifth

Dean Kremer started strong but unraveled in the third inning as the Athletics tagged him for four runs. After allowing just one baserunner through the first two innings, Kremer gave up a walk to Luis Urías, a single to Denzel Clarke, and a double to Lawrence Butler to put the A’s on the board.

Jacob Wilson followed with a two-run single to tie the game, and a Tyler Soderstrom groundout gave Oakland a 4-3 lead. It was a rapid collapse that flipped momentum after the Orioles had jumped out to an early cushion.

Kremer seemed to settle back in during the fourth, but ran into trouble again in the fifth. With the game tied 4-4 following Jackson Holliday’s homer, Kremer allowed three straight baserunners—singles by Butler, Wilson, and Rooker—with Rooker driving in the go-ahead run to make it 5-4.

He was pulled midway through the sixth after 82 pitches. Final line: 5.1 IP, 8 H, 5 ER, 1 BB, 2 K, dropping him to 5-6 on the year with a 4.98 ERA.

While he avoided the long ball, Kremer continues to struggle when going through the order a second and third time—an issue that’s plagued much of his 2025 campaign.

Denzel Clarke Robs Mateo, Steals a Run in the Fourth

The Orioles looked poised to add on in the top of the fourth after Dylan Carlson and Coby Mayo both worked walks with two outs. Jorge Mateo stepped in and sent a towering drive to deep center field—off the bat, it looked like at least one run was about to score.

But Denzel Clarke, the A’s rookie outfielder, had other plans.

Clarke sprinted full speed into the wall in center, making a crashing, highlight-reel grab just before slamming into the padding. The inning-ending catch kept the score at 4-3, halting Baltimore’s momentum and preserving the Athletics’ one-run lead heading into the bottom half.

Clarke exited the game the following inning due to the impact, but his effort proved to be one of the defining plays of the night.

It was a huge swing in a one-run game—a potential two-RBI hit taken off the board, and a reminder of how thin the margin for error can be.

Orioles Leave Bases Loaded in Eighth, Miss Chance to Tie It

The Orioles’ best shot at a comeback came in the top of the eighth, but they couldn’t deliver when it mattered most.

After a one-out double by Colton Cowser, Gunnar Henderson worked a walk in a pinch-hit appearance, and Dylan Carlson followed with his second walk of the game to load the bases. Oakland turned to their high-octane closer Mason Miller, who immediately showed why he’s one of the most electric arms in baseball.

With the game on the line, Miller blew a three straight sliders past pinch-hitter Heston Kjerstad for a swinging strikeout on three pitches. He then struck out Jackson Holliday, who was a triple shy of the cycle, to end the inning and strand all three runners.

The Orioles would get one more chance in the ninth—after a Ramón Laureano walk—but Ryan O’Hearn flied out and Ramón Urías grounded out to finish it.

A’s Closer Mason Miller Overpowers Orioles Late

When the Orioles loaded the bases in the eighth, they were one hit away from tying—or even taking—the lead. But Mason Miller had other plans.

The A’s flame-throwing closer entered with one out and the bags full, and he immediately shut the door on Baltimore’s rally. Heston Kjerstad, pinch-hitting for Jorge Mateo, went down on three straight sliders, unable to catch up to the devastating sweep of Miller’s breaking ball.

Then came Jackson Holliday, who had already collected three hits on the night. But Miller reared back and blew a 103.1 mph fastball past the Orioles rookie for a swinging strikeout to end the inning and strand all three runners.

He wasn’t done there.

In the ninth, Miller struck out Adley Rutschman on three pitches, walked Ramón Laureano on a full count, and then quickly finished the game with a flyout from Ryan O’Hearn and a weak grounder back to the mound by Ramón Urías.

Miller’s final line: 1.2 IP, 0 H, 1 BB, 3 K, and his 13th save of the season. The Orioles had every opportunity—but Mason Miller erased it with raw velocity and elite stuff.