Needless to say, the selloff has been harsh on the Baltimore Orioles this week. However the O’s also have quietly continued their push into the standings and for the postseason in the midst of heavy trade winds against them. Trevor Rogers continued their quest for October this evening against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Rogers’ line: 6.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 0 BB, 9 K.
To be blunt, the Orioles need to extend Rogers. He’s a free agent at the end of the year, but he’s been invaluable to this franchise in 2026 – and before. Withstanding a lockout, he should be an Oriole in 2027 and beyond.
The O’s pulled ahead in the fourth inning, following a walk. And it came from the unlikeliest of spots. Tyler O’Neill’s two-run homer gave the Birds a 2-0 lead. That was followed up by a solo shot by Coby Mayo, and the Orioles led hapless Anaheim, 3-0.
However Anaheim chipped away. Siri’s solo home run in the sixth cut the lead to 3-1. Meckler’s RBI-single in the seventh further cut the lead to 3-2. The game hung in the balance in a sense. But not for long.
Gunnar Henderson reached on a HBP in the last of the eighth. He would advance on a throwing error, and Craig Alberbaz would pinch-hit Leody Taveras for Tyler O’Neill. O’Neill, who had already smacked a home run.
To his credit, Craig Alberbaz has pushed a lot of the right buttons of late. He isn’t always given credit for that, specifically not from me. But he’s pushed the right buttons recently. As he did tonight.
Leody Taveras’ two-run home run extended the lead to 5-2. And that made it a lot easier for Andrew Kittredge, who came on to close things out in the ninth. With the win, the O’s closed to within one game of the final playoff spot (at the time of this article’s publication, and to within two games of .500.
The series concludes tomorrow at Camden Yards. Brandon Young gets the start for the O’s, and he’ll be opposed by Anaheim’s Ryan Johnson. Game time for a set for just after 12:30 PM.
Birdland Crush 