Orioles can't complete comeback, lose 9-5 to Guardians in must-win game

Jacob Calvin Meyer, The Baltimore Sun on Sep 8, 2026

Published in Baseball

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BALTIMORE — The Orioles entered their series with a simple prompt: Sweep the Cleveland Guardians, and keep playoff hopes alive.

That, however, is much easier said than done, and the Orioles proved that Tuesday with a 9-5 loss to one of the teams they’re chasing in the American League wild-card standings.

After winning Monday’s series opener, the Orioles trailed 6-0 early as the Guardians pounded starter Brandon Young and Baltimore’s bats were dormant. They made a comeback attempt in the middle innings, including a four-run fifth powered by Pete Alonso’s two-run homer.

But it was an Alonso throwing error in the seventh that helped ignite the Guardians’ three-run rally and sink the Orioles’ chances of a second comeback.

While the Orioles aren’t mathematically eliminated from playoff contention, their odds have dropped precipitously over the past week. After getting back to .500 on Aug. 31, the Orioles have opened September with a 1-7 record — falling to 70-76 on the season. Baltimore had a 25% chance of making the postseason eight days ago, according to FanGraphs. Now, the club’s odds are under 5%.

This series against the Guardians presented the Orioles with an opportunity to make up ground against the AL’s third and final wild-card team. A sweep was necessary because it was the only way for Baltimore to win the season series and own the tiebreaker over Cleveland. To make the playoffs over Cleveland, the Orioles will almost certainly have to win one more game than the Guardians — a Herculean task considering Baltimore is four games back with only 16 to play.

It was clear from the beginning of Young’s evening that he didn’t have the same stuff or command he normally does. The right-hander gave up eight hits and six runs across 3 2/3 innings for one of the worst starts of his breakout sophomore campaign. It marked the first time Young allowed more than four earned runs in an outing this season.

Jo Adell’s RBI single in the first inning put Cleveland (74-72) on top, while Patrick Bailey’s single in the second doubled the advantage. Travis Bazzana’s three-run homer put the Guardians up 5-0, and an RBI single from Petey Halpin resulted in the last run Young surrendered.

After the Orioles went nine up, nine down against Guardians starter Tanner Bibee, they had a chance to rally for a big inning in the fourth. But they squandered the chance, coming away with only one run on a Samuel Basallo grounder. In the fifth, Blaze Alexander and Leody Taveras both doubled to score Baltimore’s second run, and Jackson Holliday brought home a third with an RBI single. Alonso’s 34th homer — and 298th of his career — then put the Orioles down only one run as he raised his MLB-leading RBI total to 97.

The Orioles’ bullpen was strong in relief of Young — until it wasn’t. With runners on first and second and one out in the seventh, Angel Martínez’s chopping grounder to Alonso gave the first baseman an opportunity to make a tough throw to second to prevent a second runner from getting into scoring position. Instead of taking the easy out at first, Alonso threw to second, and his toss ricocheted off the runner’s back, bringing home a run and setting Cleveland up to put up a crooked number against reliever Alex Hoppe, who allowed two hits and two walks. Brayan Rocchio’s two-out, two-run single served as plenty of run support for Cleveland’s bullpen.

The Orioles’ offense did not record a hit off the four relievers Guardians manager Stephen Vogt called upon while striking out seven times.

It’s almost certainly too late, but Baltimore can take the series with a win Wednesday as Shane Baz takes on left-hander Foster Griffin.

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