Good morning, Camden Chatters.
The Orioles just can’t make things easy, can they? What should have been a second straight breezy blowout win over the Cardinals turned into a cardiac-inducing affair, a game that saw the O’s fritter away a 7-0 lead and nearly suffer what would’ve been perhaps their most agonizing loss of the season. Thank goodness for Christian Encarnacion-Strand, who played the hero with a tie-breaking double in the top of the ninth, and the Orioles’ bullpen, which delivered 4.2 innings
of scoreless relief after Kyle Bradish’s fifth-inning meltdown. Check out Stacey’s recap of the barnburner in St. Louis. It was a doozy of a humdinger.
There was a lot to like about last night’s game. The Orioles’ offense was clicking on all cylinders early, especially in the clutch, putting up a five-spot with two outs in the top of the first. Pete Alonso continued to do Pete Alonso things with an opposite-field dinger. As mentioned, the bullpen, which is made up of more castoffs than I’d like, held the line. There are elements here that make you think, You know, maybe the Orioles could make the playoffs after all.
And then there’s all the ugly stuff that makes you think, Nope, not a chance. The aforementioned Bradish blew a seven-run lead and looked visibly fatigued, perhaps because he’s thrown more than 140 innings this year after tossing just 71 in the last two seasons combined. Craig Albernaz did him no favors by leaving him in at least two batters too long. The O’s also had a notable defensive misplay — Dylan Beavers failing to catch a “double” that plated two runs — and Gunnar Henderson continued to struggle so much that the Cardinals intentionally walked Alonso to face him with two runners aboard in the eighth, and of course he meekly grounded out.
Such is the enigma that is the 2026 Orioles. They’re capable of playing so well, as we’ve seen in these first two wins in St. Louis and plenty of other games throughout the year. But they’re riddled with many flaws that have kept them from building any lasting momentum. Could this road trip be when things finally start to click more consistently? Considering the Birds’ upcoming opponents, now is as good a time as any. But we’ve gotten our hopes up before and have usually been burned.
For now, the Orioles remain 2.5 games back of Cleveland for the third wild card spot. It always seemed like one team was going to emerge from the pack of mediocrity and get hot, and for now the Guardians are that club. They’ve won seven straight — including a sweep of the useless Angels — to push two games above .500.
The bar has been raised for the Orioles, who probably can’t just sneak into the postseason with a .500 or even sub-.500 record. They’re going to need to go on a sustained stretch of winning, and pronto. A 2-0 start to the road trip certainly helps.
Links
Christian Encarnacion-Strand’s fourth hit drives in Orioles’ winning run – The Baltimore Banner
I noticed in Albernaz’s post-game interview that he calls Encarnacion-Strand “Cess,” like sounding out C-E-S. I don’t care for that at all. A guy this clutch needs a better nickname.
Scouting Jefferson Rojas, Chris Hacopian, Enddy Azocar and other Mets, Nats, Orioles prospects – The Athletic
Keith Law got a first-hand look at breakout O’s prospects Caden Hunter and Enddy Azocar, and he’s got good things to report. Even though Keith Law famously hates our favorite team.
O’Neill heading to injured list after MRI shows a rotator cuff strain – MLB.com
The other day I was thinking to myself that O’Neill has been remarkably healthy this year after missing almost all of last season with injuries. I guess I jinxed him.
Will Trey Mancini retire as an Oriole? | MAILBAG – BaltimoreBaseball.com
A thousand times this. Make it happen, Orioles.
Orioles birthdays and history
Is today your birthday? Happy birthday! One member of the 2026 Orioles has a birthday today: right-hander Cameron Weston, who made his MLB debut in May, turns 26. Former Orioles born on Aug. 27 include right-hander Spenser Watkins (34) and Hall of Fame first baseman Jim Thome (56), who finished his 22-year MLB career with 28 games for the Orioles in 2012.
On this date in 1961, Orioles starter Milt Pappas single-handedly defeated the Twins, 3-0. Not only did Pappas throw a two-hit shutout with a career-high 11 strikeouts, but he also hit two home runs of his own to provide all the run support he needed. His teammates might as well have stayed home that night.
And on this day in 1973, the Orioles racked up their 14th consecutive win, beating the Rangers by a 6-1 score. Mike Cuellar allowed 10 hits but no earned runs in a complete-game victory, while Bobby Grich and Earl Williams combined to drive in all six Orioles runs. It marked the longest winning streak in the majors in eight years.
Random Orioles game of the day
On Aug. 27, 1988, the Orioles lost to the Athletics in Oakland, 5-1. A homer by Cal Ripken Jr. provided the only offense for the Birds, who were otherwise stymied by A’s pitchers Todd Burns and Greg Cadaret. Future Oriole Luis Polonia drove in two runs atop the Oakland lineup. The loss dropped the Orioles to 44-84. Yeah, that season wasn’t a lot of fun.
