The Baltimore Orioles experienced a tough day. On Tuesday, attention was drawn to the Orioles removing lead play-by-play man Kevin Brown from broadcasts after he mentioned the team’s significant losses against the Tampa Bay Rays in recent years. This decision was met with backlash, and fans at Camden Yards chanted “Free Kevin Brown!”.
However, that wasn’t the end of their troubles. Later that night, the Orioles faced the Houston Astros and had a seemingly comfortable 6-3 lead going into the ninth inning, which they handed to their All-Star closer Félix Bautista. Bautista, who had an impressive 0.85 ERA and 102 strikeouts, suffered a huge meltdown, ultimately resulting in Kyle Tucker hitting a go-ahead grand slam off him. The Astros ultimately won the game 7-6.
According to ESPN, Tucker’s grand slam made him the first player this season to hit a grand slam when his team was trailing by three runs or more in the ninth inning or later. This loss ended the Orioles’ 97-game winning streak when leading by at least three runs going into the ninth inning. Bautista, who had only allowed five earned runs all season, gave up four earned runs in one swing, significantly impacting his ERA. Tucker’s home run was his 20th of the season, and he also stole his 24th base, making him a potential contender for a 30/30 season.
As a result of this loss and the Tampa Bay Rays’ win over the St. Louis Cardinals, the Orioles’ lead in the AL East was reduced to two games. The Houston Astros, on the other hand, now have a record of 65-49 and currently hold the second wild-card spot, with a four-game lead for a postseason berth in general.
