LOS ANGELES — Hollywood is supposed to be the place where the stars shine the brightest, but on Tuesday night, the Orioles’ biggest names ceded the spotlight to players like Ryan O’Hearn, Ramón Urías and Matt Bowman in their 3-2 series-opening win over the Dodgers.
O’Hearn and Urías left the field to lead an Orioles offense that did just enough against Los Angeles starter Jack Flaherty — facing Baltimore for the first time since entering free agency last offseason — to give the bullpen a one-run lead to defend. Bowman, who has suited up for four MLB teams this season, walked two runners taken on in the fifth inning and pitched a clean sixth inning for the win.
The Orioles (77-56) struck first when O’Hearn hit a solo home run in the second inning. O’Hearn, who will play first base every day while Ryan Mountcastle is on the injured list with a sprained wrist, worked his way to a 3-1 count before catching a Flaherty fastball over the middle of the plate and firing it just over the right field wall. It was O’Hearn’s first home run since July 20, ending a 33-game home run-less streak.
The Los Angeles offense responded with runs in two consecutive innings against Orioles starter Cole Irvin. The left-hander allowed a leadoff triple down the left field line to center fielder Tommy Edman, aided by an unfortunate bounce in the corner that sent the ball away from Colton Cowser. Edman scored three pitches later on a sacrifice fly by shortstop Miguel Rojas.
The Dodgers then took the lead in the third when their top hitters, missing Freddie Freeman with a broken finger, rallied for two outs. Designated hitter Shohei Ohtani came in with a single and moved to second base on a walk by Mookie Betts before scoring on a base hit by left fielder Teoscar Hernández.
But while those three players have combined to win three Most Valuable Player Awards, 14 All-Star nominations and a Home Run Derby title, the game-winning hit ultimately belonged to Urías. The former Orioles waiver claimer continued to swing a hot bat, hitting Jackson Holliday with a two-run homer to left field in the fifth inning that gave Baltimore the lead for good. Urías’ home run was his 10th in 2024; the Orioles have nine players with double-digit home runs, the most in the major leagues.
Irvin went out again for the fifth inning to qualify for the win, but manager Brandon Hyde pulled him with two runners on and one out in favor of Bowman. The 33-year-old Chevy Chase native rose to the challenge, striking out both Betts and Hernández to preserve the Orioles’ lead. He then mowed down the middle of the Dodgers’ lineup in the sixth inning, extending his streak of consecutive batters struck out to 12 early in his Orioles career.
The Orioles offense had chances to extend their lead by getting their first batters on board in both the sixth and seventh innings. But Flaherty got out of a tough spot in the sixth inning to secure his first good start with the Dodgers, and the Los Angeles bullpen dashed any hopes of more runs.
That put the game in the hands of the Orioles bullpen, a unit that was coming off a rocky series against the Houston Astros over the weekend. Left-hander Cionel Pérez took over for Bowman and retired all four batters he faced, including Ohtani, who came out on top in the bottom of the eighth inning. Yennier Cano then worked around a single and a stolen base from Betts to end the inning before Seranthony Domínguez earned his sixth save with a clean ninth inning.
With the New York Yankees losing earlier in the evening, the Orioles (77-56) have moved to within one game of the top spot in the American League East. They will be in position to take a series win over the Dodgers on Wednesday when Corbin Burnes starts alongside Walker Buehler. Burnes has struggled recently, allowing 13 earned runs in his last two starts, but Buehler has a 6.09 ERA in 10 starts this season.
Around the Horn
• Starting pitcher Zach Eflin wants to forgo a rehab assignment and remains in contention to return to the Orioles’ rotation once he is able to return from the 15-day injured list on Sunday, Hyde said before the game. Eflin began throwing again last week while recovering from inflammation in his right shoulder.
• Hyde also announced that reliever Jacob Webb is heading to Triple-A Norfolk this week for a rehab period and could return “anytime” after he pitches. Webb has been out since Aug. 2 with elbow inflammation. The right-hander avoided surgery and has a chance to play a key role in the Orioles’ bullpen in the final stretch.
• First baseman Ryan Mountcastle landed on the 10-day injured list Monday because his sprained wrist didn’t respond to treatment as the Orioles had hoped, Hyde said. Mountcastle jammed his wrist while sliding headfirst into second base on a double Thursday and hasn’t appeared in a game since. Hyde was “optimistic” that Mountcastle wouldn’t be out long, but wouldn’t commit to a firm timetable.
• The Orioles have agreed to terms with right-hander Nick Anderson, his agency, Gaeta Sports Management, announced on social media. Anderson opted out of a minor league contract with the Dodgers after posting a 4.04 ERA in 37 appearances for the Kansas City Royals earlier this season. Terms of the deal have not been announced.
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