Lot of Orioles played key roles in the win over the Yankees

Before Anthony Santander could hit the Orioles first walk-off homer since Aug. 11, 2019 as they beat the New York Yankees today 9-6, there were some other players that camp up big as the Orioles ended a six-game losing streak.

Like right-handed reliever Dillon Tate, who somewhat quietly is having a solid year.

He put up a zero in the seventh to preserve what was then a 6-5 Orioles lead. They got a win after losing three in a row in this series to the Yankees and by a single run the last two nights.

“This one was huge,” said Tate, who has a 2.33 ERA and 0.88 WHIP in 17 games. “I think it’s a big weight off the guys’ shoulders. You know, came up short a few games and it really did sting because we were playing good baseball and it’s just good to get back in the win column.”

Tate came on for the seventh, right after the O’s had scored three runs to take a 6-5 lead. He allowed a single to No. 9 hitter Marwin Gonzalez and then got leadoff man DJ LeMahieu, who would later tie the game with two outs in the ninth, on a foul fly ball to right.

Then up came right fielder Aaron Judge, the MLB home run leader. He went 4-for-5 with two homers here Monday night and was 5-for-12 in the first three games of the series.

Tate threw him a 1-0 sinker at 93 mph and Judge bounced to third. Tyler Nevin charged in a step and started an inning-ending, 5-4-3 double play.

Tate was pitching in a so-called high-leverage situation for the 11^th time in his 17 games according to Baseball-Reference.com.

“I think the more that I’m in those situations where the game is tight, it does make it a little bit easier when I go out there the next time. I think (I was) just having trust in Robbie (Chirinos). Robbie has a lot of experience and just calling a good game, so throw whatever he puts down," Tate said.

Judge is now 0-for-8 against Tate with three strikeouts and today’s double play. Does Tate look forward to facing such a hitter with the game on the line?

“Yes. I’m going to say that for myself, just because I want to face the best the other team has to offer in order to make myself the best possible player I can be,” he said.

Tate is pleased with his season to this point. He was the losing pitcher in Tuesday’s game with New York, but bounced back today and has allowed two earned runs in his last 11 innings.

“So far, so good,” he said. “Just need to keep doing what I’m doing. Trusing my stuff and getting after it.”

The Orioles turned three more double plays this afternoon and lead the AL now with 49. Shortstop Jorge Mateo was involved in two of them.

“We have a really good feeling,” Mateo said about the infield turning two so much. “But we have to continue to work and try to improve every day.”

Mateo had an RBI single today, scored a run and stole his 11^th base, which has him currently tied for the major league stolen base lead.

He said it was big to end that six-game overall losing streak and also a six-game losing streak to the Yankees.

“Yeah for sure, really important. We had close games the last two days and it is very important for us to get that win. That was really fun, the walk-off. We enjoyed it. We have a good team that is together and that is going to work for us,” said Mateo.

O’s pinch-hitters were 4-for-26 this season until Cedric Mullins produced a sac fly to tie the game in the sixth and Rougned Odor did the same with a go-ahead pinch-hit single that same inning. The Yankees tied it with two outs in the ninth, setting the stage for Santander’s seventh homer and his first career walk-off hit.

At 15-24 and 10-10 at home, this homestand continues Friday night as the Orioles host the Rays to begin a three-game series.