MIAMI — What a difference a day makes. After watching Pete Alonso score four runs in Tuesday's victory, the Orioles' slugger wasted no time making an impact Wednesday, crushing a three-run homer in the first inning that had Baltimore fans dreaming of another blowout.
Alonso's seventh home run of the season extended his hitting streak to seven games, and for a moment, it looked like smooth sailing. The prized offseason acquisition has been heating up after a slow start, going 9 for 25 (.360) with three homers and four doubles during his recent tear. When he sent a 407-foot missile to left-center off Marlins starter Eury Pérez, the Orioles seemed poised to roll.
But baseball has a funny way of keeping things interesting. Starter Brandon Young couldn't hold the lead, surrendering three runs in the bottom of the first — all with two outs. After getting two quick outs, Young allowed five straight Marlins to reach base, with Jakob Marsee's two-run double and Owen Caissie's RBI single bringing Miami right back.
This has become an all-too-familiar script for Baltimore. They've scored three or more runs in an inning 16 times this season, only to allow at least one run in the immediate following frame on 10 occasions. It's a trend that needs fixing, but Wednesday showed signs of progress.
Young settled in beautifully after that rough start, retiring 15 of the final 17 batters he faced. The right-hander finished with six strong innings — his first quality start of the year — allowing just three runs on four hits with three walks and five strikeouts. It was a welcome bounce-back after his disastrous 10-run outing in Thursday's doubleheader.
The Orioles' offense picked up the slack with timely hitting. Dylan Beavers and Adley Rutschman delivered RBI doubles (Rutschman had two), while Blaze Alexander added a run-scoring triple. The 7-4 victory showcased Baltimore's resilience, even if the first inning felt like a wash.
With Cade Povich set to start Thursday and Trevor Rogers nearing a return from the injured list, Young made a strong case to keep his spot in the rotation. For a team finding its rhythm, every quality start matters — and Wednesday's effort was a step in the right direction.