It may have taken 34 innings, but the resurgent Baltimore Orioles pitchers finally gave up a run on Friday-evening.
With the Tigers on their last strike in the ninth, Javier Báez hit a tying single off Orioles closer Félix Bautista (2-1), breaking a 34-inning scoreless streak by Baltimore pitchers. The Orioles responded immediately.
Adam Frazier hit a runscoring grounder in the bottom of the ninth to give the Baltimore Orioles their fourth win in a row on Friday-evening, 2-1 over the Detroit Tigers.
The bottom of the ninth began when Baltimore’s Ryan Mountcastle hit an one-out single off Jason Foley (0-1). Mountcastle advanced to third base on a single by Anthony Santander and Frazier followed with a soft grounder to right, and first baseman Spencer Torkelson’s throw was not in time to get Mountcastle.
Orioles starter Tyler Wells gave up three hits in seven innings, and Austin Hays homered in the seventh to give Baltimore an 1-0 lead. The Orioles had not allowed a run since the first inning of Sunday’s victory over the Chicago White Sox, the longest scoreless streak by an AL team in the same season since Baltimore pitched 45 consecutive scoreless innings to end the 1995 season , according to OptaStats.
Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher Tyler Wells throws to Camden Yards during the fourth inning
Orioles’ Adam Frazier (12) is doused by left fielder Ryan McKenna (26) after Friday’s win
Frazier hit a runscoring grounder in the bottom of the ninth inning to give the O’s the win
Wells walked one batter and struckout five batters. Two of the hits he allowed were infield singles. Bryan Baker struckout two in a perfect eighth, then Bautista got into the ninth.
After pinch-hitter Akil Baddoo singled and stole second base, Bautista struckout Nick Maton. Riley Greene then hit a sharp groundout to shortstop, but Báez singled to left to tie the score.
Michael Lorenzen threw five scoreless innings for the Tigers, but the Orioles finally broke through on Hays’ two-out drive off José Cisnero in the seventh.
Baltimore has won eight out of ten.
Wells surpassed his career high of six innings pitched, which he last reached on April 9 against the New York Yankees.
ASTROS 6, BRAVES 4
Yordan Alvarez hit a two-run tiebreaking home run with two outs in the ninth inning, and the Houston Astros rallied from a three-run deficit to beat the Atlanta Braves 6-4 on Friday night in a final two matchup World Series champions.
With the score tied at 4-4, Alvarez pulled a cutter to right center for his fifth home run this season. Braves closer AJ Minter (0-1) gave up his first home run this season.
Hector Neris (1-1) earned the win with a perfect eighth inning for the 2022 champions. Ryan Pressley walked around one out in the ninth for his first save, striking out Ronald Acuña Jr. with a man up and retired Matt Olson on a game-ending groundout.
Astros left fielder Yordan Alvarez (44) celebrates in the dugout after homering in the ninth
Houston made up a 4-1 deficit in the seventh against Jesse Chavez, who had not allowed a run in 10 appearances this season. Yanier Diaz hit an RBI double and scored on Jake Meyers’ single, and Mauriciio Dubón followed with a run-scoring double.
Braves catcher Sean Murphy threw out Corey Julks trying to steal third base for the eighth inning final. Kevin Pillar made a diving left backhand catch to rob Alex Bregman with a runner on first base in the ninth.
Bregman and Jake Meyers both went 2 for 4 with an RBI for the Astros.
Atlanta’s Bryce Elder defeated Hunter Brown and lowered his ERA to 1.14, holding Houston to an unearned run over six innings while striking out six.
Brown hadn’t given up and earned a run in 14 innings going into Friday, but gave up four in the first as he worked his way through a 29-pitch inning.
Ozzie Albies had a two-out, two-run double, and Austin Riley and Vaughn Grissom also drove in runs. Acuña doubled twice, including one as first.
Cubs 13, Dodgers 0
Drew Smyly and Yan Gomes tumble to the grass under a sunny sky at a picturesque Wrigley Field. Lying on his side for a moment, Smyly grinned.
It was over, but it was a really fun afternoon for the Chicago Cubs.
Smyly lost his bid for a perfect game when he collided with his catcher while attempting to field an eighth inning dribbler on Friday who went for an infield single in a 13-0 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers.
“That’s a hard way to end it,” Smyly said. “You feel like you’re very close.”
Nico Hoerner, Cody Bellinger, Trey Mancini and Patrick Wisdom homered as Chicago won for the fifth time in six games. Hoerner finished with four hits and four RBIs, and Wisdom and Mancini each drove in three runs.
Relying heavily on his fastball and curveball, Smyly (2-1) struckout 10 batters and walked none in 7 2/3 innings. He threw 68 of his season-high 103 pitches for strikes.
Peralta’s hit dribbled onto the third baseline as Smyly and Yan Gomes each went for the ball