O’s Lapses Lead To Pirates Walk-Off
The Pittsburgh Pirates (5-3) defeated the Baltimore Orioles 3-2 in walk-off fashion Saturday afternoon on a one out RBI double by Nick Yorke. Yorke entered the game as a pinch runner for Marcell Ozuna in the eighth inning.
Baltimore was leading 2-1 after 7.5 innings. Manager Craig Albernaz called upon Anthony Nunez to pitch the home half of the eighth. With two outs and a runner on third, Nunez walked Nick Gonzales to put runners on the corners. A ground ball to the right of the mound by pinch hitter Jake Mangum eluded Nunez to tie the game.
The Orioles squandered an opportunity in the ninth when Coby Mayo was picked off forst base with one out (call confirmed on challenge). The ninth inning also was not kind to Orioles’ left fielder Dylan Beavers as he had 2 balls go over his head for doubles, including the game winner, which tagged the loss on Ryan Helsley (0-1).
The late-inning lapses did nothing to support starter Shane Baz who exited the game with a two run lead after allowing an unearned run over 5.2 innings. Baz also walked 3, struck out 5 and hit a batter on 98 pitches (63 K’s).
The Orioles’ offense consisted mainly of Gunnar Henderson (1 for 3, R, 2 BB) and Adley Rutschman (2 for 4, R). Leody Taveras (1 for 2) and Beavers (1 for 4) provided the RBI.
Eight games in, are you concerned that Mayo has a slash line of .150/ .292/ .200 and Pete Alonso is slashing .226/ .314/ .323 with 12 strikeouts in 31 at-bats? Although it is a small sample size it does raise a red flag.
2026 Record: 3-5
Next Game: Sun. 4/5 @ 1:35 pm @ Pittsburgh Pirates