With two outs in the ninth, Dylan Beavers drove the first pitch he saw from Didier Fuentes — a 100 mile-per-hour fastball — through the right side of the infield for a walk-off RBI single that gave Baltimore a 3-2 win over Atlanta on Saturday night at Camden Yards.
The Orioles (51-54) improve to three games under .500 (again) and keep the series win alive heading into Sunday's finale. The Braves fall to 61-43.
"This is awesome," Beavers said, after Pete Alonso ripped off his jersey in celebration and teammates swarmed him on the field, and as a swath of the Camden Yards crowd - announced at nearly 38,000 - serenaded the post-game interview that followed.
“It’s exciting to help the team win, whether it’s a walk-off or in the fifth inning," Beavers said later in the Orioles clubhouse. "It’s exciting when your whole team gets behind you and everyone’s fired up.”
How It Happened
A night after a disheartening extra-innings loss in which Baltimore gave away a late lead, the Orioles fell behind the same way — Rico Garcia allowed a solo game-tying home run in the eighth, this time on a changeup to Ozzie Albies — but responded completely differently.
Yennier Cano (2-2) held Atlanta scoreless in the ninth, setting the stage. Jackson Holliday led off the bottom half by connecting on a two-strike fastball from Fuentes (4-1) to left field, a double that a diving Mauricio Dubón couldn't corral. Pinch-hitter Colton Cowser flied out to deep center, and Holliday tagged to reach third with two outs.
Then Beavers, finishing 2-for-4 on the night, put it away.
“You got to be on time to the fastest pitch,” Beavers said. "That's my approach."
“Great moment," said Holliday, who finished 2-for-3 with a single, double, walk and scored the winning run, redemption of sorts for a pivotal 10th-inning error on Friday.
Beavers is becoming a go-to hitter for Baltimore. He was the O's leadoff hitter for the second straight game and is settling in to that spot, Orioles manager Craig Albernaz said after game. “He has ability to make contract and hits the ball to all fields, and he has some thump,” Albernaz said.
Young Continues His Run
Brandon Young gave the Orioles exactly what they needed after Friday's emotionally draining loss. He went 6⅓ innings, allowed one earned run on four hits, walked two, and struck out six with 94 pitches.
His ERA over his last eight starts is now 2.90, and the Orioles are 14-3 in games in which Young starts.
“He was outstanding tonight again,” Albernaz said.
Young surrendered his only run on a Dubón groundout in the sixth — a well-pitched game that gave the bullpen a chance to close it out. Despite Baltimore striking out 14 times against three Braves pitchers, three runs was enough.
Braves starter Bryce Elder went five innings for Atlanta, allowing one earned run and striking out eight.
Other Scoring
Christian Encarnacion-Strand put Baltimore on the board first with an RBI single to left field that deflected off shortstop Jim Jarvis' glove, scoring Pete Alonso to make it 1-0. It was Encarnacion-Strand's ninth RBI in six games as an Oriole, the first Orioles player to have that many RBI in as few games.
Gunnar Henderson extended the lead with his 18th home run of the season in the fifth — a solo shot that made it 2-0. Albies' eighth-inning homer off Garcia tied it at two before Beavers ended it.
Series Rubber Game Sunday
The series is now tied at one game apiece heading into Sunday's finale at Camden Yards. Shane Baz starts for Baltimore against Atlanta's Reynaldo López. First pitch is 1:35 PM ET on MASN.
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