RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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See the full story · 2 sourcesBALTIMORE — Gunnar Henderson stepped to the plate with the bases loaded, no outs and a chance to end Sunday’s game in the 10th inning. The crowd at Camden Yards stood in excitement, desperate for a second straight Baltimore Orioles walk-off win. Then, the shortstop endured a result that’s become all-too familiar for him this season.
A hard line drive — for an out.
Henderson ripped a ball to first base that Matt Olson snagged in the air. The three-time Gold Glove-winning first baseman raced to the bag and beat Pete Alonso for a double play. Taylor Ward then flew out to close the frame. And those missed opportunities proved costly. The Atlanta Braves scored a run in the 11th inning to beat the Orioles, 3-2.
Austin Riley doubled off Baltimore closer Andrew Kittredge — ending what had been a scoreless day for manager Craig Albernaz’s bullpen. Baltimore failed to respond in the bottom of the 11th.
Catcher Sam Huff — who entered the game in the 10th inning after fellow backstop Chadwick Tromp was pinch-hit for — grounded out to third base after Atlanta intentionally walked Jackson Holliday to load the bases to get to him.
Huff is hitting .121 through 33 at-bats, as the Orioles struggle to replace catchers Adley Rutschman and Samuel Basallo, who are both on the 10-day injured list. Tromp, who played 12 games in Atlanta to begin the season, is hitting .176 through six games in Baltimore.
The loss became yet another in a season filled with disheartening ones, including Friday’s 7-6 defeat in extra innings. It came after Baltimore (51-55) rallied late to force the game into extra innings, with help from the Braves.
Alonso notched the Orioles’ first extra-base hit Sunday with a solo home run in the eighth inning. The first baseman’s team-high 22nd home run this year trimmed Baltimore’s deficit to 2-1.
The Orioles still faced an uphill climb in the ninth inning against closer Raisel Iglesias, who had blown only one save this season. And Leody Taveras hit a routine ground ball to Ozzie Albies that had all the makings for a game-ending double play. But the ball went through the second baseman’s glove. Albies froze in disbelief as the crowd roared.
Christian Encarnacion-Strand advanced to third on the error, and scored one batter later on a groundout by Holliday to tie the game. Jeremiah Jackson pinch hit for catcher Chadwick Tromp, but grounded out to send the game to extra innings.
Missed opportunities haunted the Orioles, whose rally was only possible because of a masterful bullpen effort.
The unit didn’t allow a run until the 11th, aided by Albert Suárez, who pitched two scoreless innings in his first outing since July 8. Recently called up Josh Walker added 1 2/3 scoreless frames, while Wells delivered a clean 10th inning.
The bullpen was needed after Shane Baz went a season-low 4 1/3 innings before being pulled at 90 pitches. The right-hander allowed two runs, with one earned.
The unearned run came off a mishap by Baltimore’s best defender.
In the second inning, center fielder Colton Cowser — who entered Sunday with eight defensive runs saved, double the next closest Oriole — struggled to pick up the ball on a routine single by Atlanta center fielder Michael Harris II. The speedy Harris took second base on the error. He scored two batters later on a single by Dominic Smith.
In the next inning, Cowser recorded just his third hit in July with a single. Holliday added his third walk in four games to move Cowser into scoring position.
Smith, who had never faced Baz before Sunday, delivered again in the fourth inning.
Olson opened the frame with a double off the scoreboard in right field, below the new yellow Corona Flag Court-branded railing. Smith singled two batters later on an 88.2 mph line drive that fell beyond the reach of diving left fielder Dylan Beavers, who got a poor jump.
Smith’s single came off Baz’s cutter, which he employed just 10 times.
Baz threw the pitch 39 times, matching a season-high, but he only generated one strikeout with it. The 27-year-old has relied more on his knuckle curve in 2026, as his four-seam fastball usage has dropped about 10% from last year. The results have been mixed: His ERA is nearly a point better (4.87 to 3.98), but he’s generating nearly 4% fewer whiffs.
Baz has improved the last two months after a rough start to his Orioles tenure. Still, he hasn’t earned a win since June 12. And Baltimore is now 1-6 in his last seven starts, capped by Sunday’s disappointing loss.
Around the horn
— The Orioles brought catcher Yohel Pozo to the taxi squad from Triple-A Norfolk. The 29-year-old was first claimed off waivers from the St. Louis Cardinals on Thursday. Pozo has a .247 average through 267 MLB at-bats, and he’s expected to provide needed catching depth with Rutschman and Basallo both on the injured list.
— Baltimore’s probable starters for its upcoming series against the Detroit Tigers were announced. Newly extended Kyle Bradish will pitch Monday’s series opener, Dean Kremer will get the ball in game two and Trevor Rogers will start Wednesday’s series finale. Rogers will face Tarik Skubal — the AL Cy Young winner each of the last two years — in a matchup of coveted trade assets.
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