A Five Run Inning Was All The O’s Needed

The Baltimore Orioles beat the Chicago White Sox 5-3 Saturday afternoon, scoring all five of their runs in the eighth inning. That outburst, coupled with some much needed solid pitching put the Birds in the win column.

Originally listed as TBD due to injuries to both John Means and Dean Kremer, Saturday’s starter was Albert Suarez. Despite throwing 11 pitches in a relief appearance on Wednesday, Suarez gave the team a 4.0 inning shutout effort on this day. He held the White Sox to 2 hits and 2 walks while striking out 3, throwing 80 pitches (50 strikes) in a no-decision.

Keegan Akin relieved Suarez and allowed 3 runs on 3 hits with 3 walks and 2 strikeouts in 1.2 innings. Dillon Tate (2.1 IP, 4 K) and Cionel Perez (1.0 IP, K) restored order by shutting out the Chi-Sox allowing the bats to work their magic.

Ryan O’Hearn (1 for 4, HR, R, 2 RBI) started the barrage with a one out, two-run homerun. Anthony Santander (1 for 3, HR, R, 2 RBI, BB) followed that with a two-run shot of his own and Jordan Westburg‘s (3 for 4, HR, R, RBI) two out solo homerun put the exclamation point on the inning.

Unfortunately, the Orioles could produce just three other hits off of Chicago pitching, singles by Ryan Mountcastle (1 for 5, R), Austin Hays (1 for 1) and Kyle Stowers (1 for 4).

In the end, Tate (2-0) was credited with the win and Perez earned his first save.

BOX SCORE

2024 Record: 32-18

Next Game: Sun. 5/26 @ 2:10 pm vs. White Sox in Chicago