Dodgers get big inning early to beat O's and take series (updated)

LOS ANGELES – In the early innings tonight, Orioles lefty Cade Povich was getting into and out of trouble. But he could not keep escaping damage.

The Dodgers scored four off him in the last of the fourth to open a 5-0 lead. They beat the Orioles 6-3 to take two of three in this series pitting two of baseball’s best clubs against each other.

Los Angeles (80-54) becomes the first team in the majors to hit the 80-win mark and has won eight of 10, 14 of 19 and 17 of its last 24.

The Dodgers are 5-0 this year in series versus American League East teams, going 11-4 over 15 games.

At 77-58, the Orioles have lost three of four and eight of 13 games. They end a two-series stretch versus the first-place Astros and Dodgers going 3-4. And they are now 1 1/2 games behind the Yankees, who had tonight off.

Povich allowed one run and six hits the first three innings to trail 1-0. But he stranded five baserunners in that span. There were several hard-hit balls against him and he was living on the edge.

Ironically, when Los Angeles opened the 5-0 lead in the fourth, not every ball was smoked. In fact, a couple were soft hits. But hits nonetheless.

That inning started with Chris Taylor’s bloop single. He went to third on Gavin Lux’s ground-rule double. Then a high chop toward third base went over the infield for a two-run double for the No. 9 hitter, catcher Austin Barnes. Mookie Betts singled to score him for a 4-0 lead. Miguel Rojas singled home the fifth run after the O’s could not retire anyone when a runner broke from first with a man also on third. Teoscar Hernández made it back safely to first, with first sacker Ryan O’Hearn initially charged with an error, but it was later taken away.

That made a final line for Povich of 10 hits and five runs allowed over 3 1/3 innings with one walk and three strike

outs. He is now 1-7 with an ERA of 6.58. The Dodgers hit seven balls against him 95 mph or harder.  

Los Angeles had moved ahead 1-0 in the second when Kiké Hernández doubled and scored on Taylor’s single to left.

The O’s got back in the game with one big swing in the top of the fifth. Colton Cowser blasted a three-run homer to center to pull the O’s within 5-3.

Eloy Jiménez was hit by a pitch to lead off that inning and Ramón Urías walked with one out. Cowser connected on a 3-1 fastball from Los Angeles starter Bobby Miller that was thrown 98 mph and exited off the bat at 105.9 mph.

With that homer, Cowser tied San Diego's Jackson Merrill for the MLB lead among rookies and became the 10^th O’s rookie to hit 20 or more.

That listed is headed up by Ryan Mountcastle, who hit 33 in 2021. It also includes Gunnar Henderson, Cal Ripken Jr., Eddie Murray, Trey Mancini, Curt Blefary, Sam Bowens, Ron Hansen and Jim Gentile.

Cowser is also the ninth rookie in club history with a season of 20 doubles and 20 home runs. 

With a chance to get closer, tie or move ahead in the seventh, the O’s left the bases loaded and were still down 5-3.

Reliever Daniel Hudson got the first two outs, but Jackson Holliday singled, while Cowser and Adley Rutschman walked. That loaded the bases and righty Blake Treinen came in for Gunnar Henderson. He fanned Henderson on a high 2-2 cutter to keep the two-run advantage.

Miller, who entered with a 7.49 ERA, allowed three runs and two hits with three walks and three strikeouts. He threw 86 pitches over five innings.

A sac fly in the eighth by Tommy Edman extended the lead to 6-3 and was charged to Matt Bowman. It was the first run he's allowed as an Oriole and the first run given up this series by the Baltimore bullpen.

The O’s had a great chance to win this series after Tuesday’s series-opening victory. But back-to-back losses set them back as they now head to Colorado to continue their road trip.

The Dodgers improved to 27-14 versus the American League and the Orioles fell to 17-23 versus National League clubs. 

The Orioles are 0-5-1 in their past six series with NL teams, going 5-12. 

The O's have scored just 16 runs their last five games, 26 in the past eight and 43 runs their last 12 games. The O's have scored five runs or more just twice in that 12-game run.

A few postgame quotes ...

Manager Brandon Hyde on another night without enough offense: “We had opportunities, but we only had four hits. Tough to beat the Dodgers with four hits. We had some guys on base. Our at-bats early in the game weren’t very good. I thought they got better as the game went on. We created some traffic, but just not enough offense."

Hyde on any lineup changes: “I’m always contemplating lineup changes. I mean, tomorrow we are facing a lefty, so you will probably see a couple of guys in there (that were) not in there. But I mean, I’ve kind of shaken it up a couple of times already. But we’ll see. I’ll take everything into consideration.”

Povich on his night: “I mean, stuff I looked to improve after coming up was fine. Command was better, only one walk. But I’ve got to make pitches when it counts.”

Henderson on making an out in the seventh with two men on: “I mean, coming out of the ‘pen, you get down 2-0, obviously you are looking for the pitch you want. Top-shelf cutter is probably not the most ideal pitch to swing at. Felt like I was waiting on a good pitch and didn’t really get one.”