Orioles’ Six-Run Third Inning Sparks Series Finale Win Over Padres
The San Diego Padres and the AL East-leading Baltimore Orioles were in different places going into their weekend series matchup, with both teams preparing for Tuesday's MLB trade deadline. After winning five of their first six games since the All-Star Break, the Padres defeated the Washington Nationals this past Thursday, with starting pitcher Dylan Cease pitching the second no-hitter in team history in the series finale before facing the Orioles. The Orioles, however, came into their series against the Padres playing below-average baseball. Since June 21st, they had gone 12-18 and were on the verge of being swept by the last-place Miami Marlins before the Padres series. After losing the first two games of the series, the Orioles salvaged an 8-6 victory in the series finale on Sunday afternoon against the Padres sparked by a six-run third inning.
After the game started with two scoreless innings, the Orioles took a 1-0 lead in the third inning thanks to a walk drawn by All-Star shortstop Gunnar Henderson after the bases were loaded. The Orioles took a 2-0 lead on the very next pitch when designated hitter Ryan O'Hearn blasted a single into left field off Padres starting pitcher Randy Vasquez. With the bases remaining loaded, first baseman Ryan Mountcastle would hit a single into right field to drive in Henderson and Anthony Santander to further the Orioles’ lead to 4-0. The Orioles would cap off their six-run inning with center fielder Cedric Mullins striking a double into the center field gap to increase their lead to 6-0.
Eventually, in the top of the fifth inning, the Padres would get on the scoreboard, starting their first rally of the game. After David Peralta and Jackson Merrill both reached base to start the inning, shortstop Ha-Seong Kim hit a double into left field off starting pitcher Albert Suarez, bringing Merrill home and cutting the Orioles’ advantage to 6-1. The next batter, catcher Kyle Higashioka would hit a single to bring in Peralta and trim the Padres deficit to 6-2. Even though first baseman Luis Arraez grounded into a double play, the Padres managed to score one more run, reducing the Orioles’ lead to 6-3. After third baseman Manny Machado reached on a line drive single to start the sixth inning, designated hitter Xander Bogaerts launched his fifth home run of the year to trim the Padres’ deficit to 6-5, bringing the game to within one run.
The Orioles were attempting to add some insurance runs in the bottom half of the eighth inning when Mountcastle delivered a two-out, two-run single into left field, giving the Orioles a little more cushion going into the ninth leading 8-5. In the ninth inning, relief pitcher Yennier Cano would provide some late-game drama by loading the bases with one out. The Padres were able to narrow their deficit to 8-6 after a slide interference call on infielder Tyler Wade was reversed by video review, which would've ended the game and instead kept the game alive with one out left. However, Cano would stifle the Padres comeback, forcing Jake Cronenworth to ground out to seal the Orioles series finale win. The Orioles will try to build on their victory this afternoon as they start a four-game series against the Toronto Blue Jays tomorrow night. Meanwhile, following an outstanding 7-2 road trip, the Padres will return home to play the Dodgers on Tuesday night.
