The Orioles salvaged the last meeting of a three-game series and ended a three-game losing streak by beating the Chicago Cubs 3-2 Thursday as pinch-hitter Jeremiah Jackson delivered a two-run double in the eighth inning to give the Orioles the lead for good.
Jackson's decisive hit to the gap in right-centerfield scored Gunnar Henderson from second and Pete Alonso, who dove headfirst under a tag at home after hustling from first base on contact, giving the O's (43-51) the kind of dramatic come-from-behind win they've rarely enjoyed this season.
“J.J. was ready for the moment,” Orioles manager Craig Albernaz said after the game. “It was a great at-bat and Pete did an outstanding job running the bases to score.”
Alonso, the team’s prized offseason free-agent signing, erupted with a “Let’s go!” as he crossed home and caked the front of his jersey with dirt. “He’s a gamer,” Albernaz said. “He wants to win. He plays the game right. Right when the ball was hit and it got in the gap, there was no slowing down for him.”
Tyler O'Neill also homered for Baltimore, a solo shot in the second inning and his third long ball in as many at-bats, while the Cubs' Seiya Suzuki went 3-for-4 with a home run and an RBI double in the eighth to account for both Cubs runs.
Trevor Rogers held the Cubs to one run over six innings, and Tyler Wells earned the win with a inning of relief, with Andrew Kittredge closing it out for the save, as heavy rain began in the ninth inning at Camden Yards.
Tyler Ferguson took the loss for Chicago, allowing two earned runs in one-third of an inning of relief. The O’s managed just three hits and struggled against another left-handed starter in David Peterson, but in this one, that was enough to win.
“Rog was outstanding keeping us in the game,” Albernaz said of Rogers, who is 3-0 with an ERA of 0.74 in his last four games. “His fastball, the last more than few starts, has great life to it. He’s attacking the strike zone. He’s moving so well on the mound. He’s really confident right now.”
Rogers said he's refined his command with all his pitches. "The curveball, or the sweeper, is being more effective this year," Rogers said after the game. "Moving my fastball around, using my sinker when I need it. It's more of being a complete pitcher, which I've always wanted to be, and I think I'm doing that right now."