Orioles beat three eighth-placed homers, coming back to beat Nationals 5-3

For seven innings last night, it felt like returning from the Orioles’ offensive mojo was just a mirage. She looked much more like the team that scored one run in three games against the Marlins than they did the team that scored 18 runs in their previous two games. But then the eighth inning happened and all hope was returned.

It started with two pinch-hit homers and ended with an Earl Weaver Special. When the dust cleared, the Orioles were up 5-3, a score that would hold to give the Orioles their second straight win against the Nationals.

Nationals starter Austin Voth held the Orioles to just two hits and one run over five innings. The first two relievers who followed him were even better, as Javy Guerra and Tanner Rainey each finished 1-2-3.

The Nationals had two scores from point starter Thomas Eshelman and a third in the sixth, thanks in part to some throwing errors and wild pitch shenanigans from Tanner Scott and Shawn Armstrong. Towards the end of the seventh, that lead on three runs looked unattractive.

But then came the eighth inning. And in the eighth inning, things unraveled for the Nationals in a hurry. Armed with a 3-0 lead, lefty pitcher and very good man, Sean Doolittle came in to try and continue the dominance that the Nats had shown last night against the Orioles. It was not meant to be.

Manager Brandon Hyde sent pin-hitter Pat Valaika up in place of the lefty Chance Sisco, and Valaika homerated in the left field shots to break the shutout. It was a solid home run, in the first few rows. Before the fans of Orioles at home even finished celebrating, they were treated to a much larger dancer. Pedro Severino, pinch battle for Dwight Smith, Jr., launched the first pitch he saw 412 feet to left field. It was beautiful. It was a beauty. It cut the lead to 3-2.

The third tackle Doolittle faced was Chris Davis, which meant he got a cash machine. Davis hit one foul long ball ball, but in the end he did what we all expected and struck out. Doolittle was replaced by Daniel Hudson and I thought to myself, “Well, it’s nice that they made some noise, but that’s it.

But friends, I was wrong! Hudson was also directly in trouble. He ran Austin Hays and then singled ‘Singer’ Hanser Alberto …. That’s why we call him that. That put two rounds up for Anthony Santander, who hit the inning’s third homer to give the Orioles the lead. That’s right! They fought hard all the way back to take a two-run lead. What a cover! Sure, it would sail smoothly from here.

Well, then came the bottom half of the inning. I’m glad to let you know in advance that the Nationals did not score runes, but they knew for sure they would cause problems. It got to the point that I was ready to go crazy over the Orioles to not only lose 3-0 in the first place.

Cole Sulser came in to start the bottom of the eighth and, after knocking out Adam Eaton, ran Starlin Castro. No, do not run the man for Juan Soto! Especially with only a two-run lead! But we did not have to worry about Soto, because Sulser ran him too. No, do not run two fighters to celebrate progress!

Howie Kendrick started after the second out, pulling both runners up. Sulser only had to pull one more out. Eric Thames and his giant muscles ran to the plate and I will not lie, I was a little worried. But if Sulser was, he did not show it. He knocked out Thames and turned to end the end. Never a doubt!

After the eighth inning, the ninth was relatively quiet. The Orioles got a run to second base with two outs, but Davis could not bring him inside. Hyde decided to bring in Miguel Castro to go for the rescue. Castro, who came in to sport a 0.00 ERA this season, got the job done. He lost the strike zone just long enough to issue a one-out walk, but ended the night with a devastating shot that Trea Turner blew for before strike three.

What a game! The Orioles now equaled their record at 7-7 and secured a series win. Tomorrow they go for their second sweep of the season with Asher Wojciechowski, starting at short break against Stephen Strasburg, who will make his debut in 2020. Game time is 12:35.