O's used late-inning lightning to sweep the Red Sox

The Boston Red Sox began this series with the Orioles riding high at 7-3 after a season-opening West Coast road trip. Their team ERA was 1.49 at first pitch Tuesday night, the club’s lowest mark through 10 games since the Live Ball era which began in 1920.

But in this series, in which the Orioles swept them three in a row, Baltimore produced 23 runs on 31 hits, hit five homers – four last night – and went 15-for-37 (.405) batting with runners in scoring position.

Last night was their sixth comeback win of the 2024 season and they outscored Boston in the series 19-2 from the sixth inning on.

The Orioles have put up big numbers later in games this year. In fact, through the fifth innings of their games so far, they have been outscored 28-23. But from the sixth inning on, they have outscored their opponents 47-14. So they are -5 in runs in the first five innings and +33 from the sixth inning on.

That is a remarkable stat.

In the sixth they have outscored opponents 13-0, in the seventh inning the margin is 12-2. In the eighth it is 8-3, in the ninth 7-6 and in extra innings it is 7-3.

So the O’s come home at 8-4 after an AL East sweep and a 4-2 road trip.

Colton Cowser had an incredible series at Fenway Park, going 6-for-13 with three doubles, two homers and 10 RBIs. He hit his first and second career homers last night.

Some of the young players, to include Jordan Westburg and Cowser, seem like they feel much more comfortable this season. Westburg, who has hit two huge homers already, talked about that during the first homestand.

He pointed out how much more comfortable he is this year in the clubhouse and with his teammates and he felt that could translate for him on the field too.

“It’s a comfortable feeling (now),” Westburg said. "I know that last year I was kind of a little bit scared to be myself. The rookie. And I had guys like (Aaron) Hicks, Haysie (Austin Hays) and (Cedric) Mullins next to my locker. So, I wanted to make sure I was staying in my lane and playing my role.

“This year I feel more comfortable. I know these guys more and I’ve bonded with them more. We’re a little bit closer. It just makes it more fun to be here and to show up every day. Even late in the year when things can get monotonous. It keeps it fresh. Guys are always around that can make you laugh and smile if you are having a bad day. Just a fun clubhouse to be a part of.”

And that might lead to better numbers on the stat sheet.

“I hope so. I really hope so. Maybe just knowing that people have confidence in me, and I have more confidence in myself. I don’t really know how to describe it, but I think it will. I know I will always put the work in and prepare myself and hopefully that shows up in the stat sheet at the end of the day,” said Westburg.

The team’s young talent is clearly a loose and fun group of players. They are here and more are coming, and the Orioles are now playing winning baseball with a lot of homegrown talent on the field.

And the pitchers are doing well: The Orioles pitchers are off to a good start too. A 2.86 team ERA through last night’s game. The O’s starting pitchers have six quality starts already and seven times have allowed two earned runs or less, including last night by Grayson Rodriguez, who has an ERA of 2.50 in three games. And the Orioles are 6-1 in those games.

Heading into the series finale, here is where the O’s ranked in some key team pitching stats:

2.88 ERA – 5^th in AL, 5^th in MLB

9.90 K/9 – 4^th in AL, 5^th in MLB

1.00 WHIP – 1^st in AL, 1^st in MLB

2.16 BB/9 – 1^st in AL, 1^st in MLB

.586 opponent OPS – 2^nd in AL, 2^nd in MLB

11.1 percent of bullpen inherited runners scored – 1^st in AL, 2^nd in MLB

The Orioles are back home tonight facing Milwaukee with right-hander Tyler Wells (0-1, 4.76 ERA) facing righty Freddy Peralta (1-0, 3.09 ERA). On Saturday afternoon, lefty DL Hall will face the Orioles, his former team. On Sunday, right-hander Corbin Burnes will face the Brewers, his former team.

Click here and here to see Cowser's first two big league longballs.