BALTIMORE -- Every game for the Orioles has a postseason-like feel at the moment, as they try their hardest to keep their slim American League Wild Card hopes alive. It’s why manager Craig Albernaz pulled starter Cade Povich after 3 2/3 innings on Friday night and deployed seven relievers in a competitive contest vs. the National League Central-leading Brewers.
However, the O’s playoff odds took another hit with time beginning to run out.
Baltimore’s three-game winning streak was snapped by a 6-5, 10-inning series-opening loss to Milwaukee at Camden Yards. Sal Frelick lifted the Brewers with a go-ahead RBI single in the top of the 10th, while the Orioles went down quietly in the bottom of the inning.
At 75-79, the O’s remain three games back of the third AL Wild Card spot, following the White Sox 11-8 loss to the Tigers.
Through eight innings in Baltimore, the only offense had been a pair of three-run homers. Jackson Chourio gave the Brewers a 3-0 lead with a three-run blast in the second, then Pete Alonso responded with a game-tying three-run shot in the third.
It marked the third consecutive game with a home run for Alonso, who has a team-high 38 home runs and continues to do all he can to keep the Orioles in the chase.
Milwaukee took a 5-3 lead in the top of the ninth, as William Contreras broke the tie with an RBI double and Christian Yelich tacked on a run with an RBI single. However, Baltimore responded with two of its own in the bottom of the ninth via sacrifice flies from Samuel Basallo and Christian Encarnacion-Strand.
The first four O’s relievers to follow Povich combined for four scoreless innings, before right-hander Rico Garcia was charged with two runs allowed during Milwaukee’s rally in the ninth. Lefty Grant Wolfram gave up both Yelich’s RBI single, then also Frelick’s winning knock.
The Orioles have only eight games remaining. They play two more vs. the Brewers this weekend, then host the Blue Jays for three and end the campaign with a three-game series against the Yankees in New York next weekend.