The Baltimore Orioles showcased another last-minute rally as Cedric Mullins delivered a three-run homer in the ninth, pushing them to an 8-7 win over the Houston Astros, both teams leading their respective American League divisions.
This exhilarating victory comes just a day after Baltimore’s clutch play against Tampa Bay, where they tied in the ninth and triumphed 5-4 in the 11th inning courtesy of Mullins’ sacrifice fly.
Baltimore’s manager, Brandon Hyde, praised the team’s resilience and spirit. The Astros had a two-point lead going into the ninth when Ryan Pressly let through two consecutive singles. Mullins followed up with his season’s 15th home run, a blow that left the Astros’ manager, Dusty Baker, dejected.
In the following innings, errors and strategic plays allowed Yordan Alvarez to reach second and Jake Meyers to get to third, but the Astros couldn’t capitalize. With the pitching shift to Yennier Cano, Chas McCormick was struck out, sealing the Orioles’ win.
The game had several standout performers for the Orioles. Gunnar Henderson delivered three hits, including his ninth triple, the highest in the AL. Ryan O’Hearn had a remarkable game with five hits and two RBIs, stating his success was due to “good at-bats.”
Despite this loss, the Astros still lead in the AL West, with Baker optimistic about their form. Their sixth-inning surge had initially given them a 5-3 lead, but Mullins and Adley Rutschman’s efforts tied the game. The Astros did regain the lead briefly, but the Orioles fought back every time.
Both teams’ pitchers had their moments. Justin Verlander for Houston allowed eight hits and three runs over six innings, while John Means for Baltimore returned from Tommy John surgery to allow only one run in five innings.
Early game highlights included Jose Altuve’s leadoff double for the Astros and Henderson’s third-inning triple, which eventually leveled the score. O’Hearn’s strategic single later on also helped the Orioles to their eventual 3-1 lead.