They took three of four from the Tampa Bay Rays and then flew east and lost two of three against the Philadelphia Phillies.
After splitting the first two games with the Rays the Birds won the third game 6-5 thanks to a pinch hit 9th inning RBI single by “Hitman” Ryan O’Hearn. Good thing he came through as they had blown a fifth inning 5-0 lead.
O’Hearn, not a starter and playing because first baseman Ryan Mountcastle was out struggling with Vertigo, is hitting .302 and although he came off the bench to bring in the winning run in this game has earned his way into the starting lineup.
He also showed up for the fourth game, a 5-3 Orioles win, going 2-4 with a double, home run and an RBI.
Shortstop Gunnar Henderson joined the hit parade also going 2-4 with a two-run homer, his 16th of the year.
Orioles third game starter Grayson Rodriguez who, was called up from the minors July 17th and pitched well against the Los Angeles Dodgers, struck out six, surrendered three hits, walked two and gave up two runs in 5.2 innings of work.
Making his Orioles debut, former Oakland A’s reliever Shintaro Fujinami gave up two runs but has a lively arm and will be a good addition to the O’s Bullpen.
All-Star closer Felix Bautista settled things down and struck out two while earning his 27th save. The six-foot-eight Bautista has earned the nickname “Mountain Man” by the Baltimore faithful and when he enters a game it is now called “Mountain Time”.
He may be the best closer in the MLB as he has a (6-1) record with an astonishing 0.90 ERA while striking out 98 batters for the season.
The Orioles fourth game starter Tyler Wells struck out five while giving up three runs and walking four. He allowed only one hit but struggled with his command and was lifted after 77 pitches and 4.1 innings of work.
The Bullpen came to the rescue as reliever and winner Mike Baumann went 2.2 innings running his record to an impressive (7-0). Bautista recorded his 28th save tied for third best in MLB.
Baltimore won the first game of the Philadelphia series 3-2. Rookie Jordan Westburg hit his first MLB home run to give the Birds a 1-0 second inning lead. Mountcastle back from the IL, broke a 1-1 tie with his 12th homer making the score 2-1 in the 6th inning.
The Phillies tied the game 2-2 in the 8th inning but the Birds got some late inning magic from another rookie, Colton Cowser. His 9th inning two out double brought home the winning run.
In the second game Baltimore lost a heart breaker 4-3 as the Phillies enjoyed a 9th inning walk off celebration.
With the series tied 1-1 the Orioles got off to a good start with a three-run homer from All-Star catcher Adley Rutschman, his 14th of the season. The Phillies rallied in their half of the third inning making the score 3-2.
Baltimore tied the score at 4-4 in the 7th but the Phillies rallied to plate two more runs, eventually winning 6-4.
The Orioles finished the road trip (62-40) good for first place and a 1.5 game lead over the Rays in the AL East. The Phillies improved to (55-47) good enough for second place in the NL East.
