In a thrilling comeback that snapped a five-game losing streak, the Baltimore Orioles rallied past the Miami Marlins 9-7 on Tuesday night, thanks to some late-inning heroics from Adley Rutschman and Leody Taveras.
With the game tied at 7-7 in the top of the ninth, the Orioles turned to their star catcher in a clutch pinch-hit situation. The switch-hitting Rutschman stepped in for Samuel Basallo—who had already put together an impressive night with a triple, double, and single—to face Marlins lefty Andrew Nardi. Rutschman delivered a line drive to left field, scoring Taylor Ward from second base and giving Baltimore the lead. Taveras then followed with a run-scoring single to right, bringing home Pete Alonso and extending the advantage to 9-7. Both Ward and Alonso had reached base via walks, setting the stage for the decisive rally.
Basallo was a force throughout the game, driving in four runs, while Alonso added a double, two walks, and scored four times. Rico García earned the win with 1 1/3 scoreless innings of relief, improving to 3-0 on the season.
The Marlins didn't go down quietly. Liam Hicks homered and collected three singles, driving in three runs for Miami. The game's drama peaked in the eighth inning when Miami rookie Joe Mack singled against reliever Andrew Kittredge. Pinch-runner Esteury Ruíz advanced on a walk, stole third as part of a double steal, and then scored on a throwing error by Orioles catcher Basallo to tie the game at 7-7.
Baltimore had built a 7-4 lead in the fifth inning when Basallo crushed an RBI triple and later scored on a fielder's choice by Colton Cowser, chasing Marlins starter Sandy Alcantara. The Marlins answered in the seventh with back-to-back homers from Hicks and Otto López off reliever Anthony Nuñez, cutting the lead to 7-6.
Alcantara endured his shortest outing of the season, allowing seven runs on eight hits over 4 1/3 innings while striking out five. The Orioles jumped on him early, scoring three runs in the first inning. Alonso put Baltimore ahead 2-0 with a two-run double, then scored on Basallo's double to make it 3-0.
Miami chipped away in the bottom half against Orioles starter Chris Bassitt, who allowed four runs and six hits over four innings with three walks and three strikeouts. The Marlins tied the game at 3-3 in the second on Hicks' two-RBI single, setting the stage for a back-and-forth battle that ultimately ended with Baltimore's dramatic ninth-inning surge.
