Orioles score three runs in sixth and use Tate to close out 3-2 win (updated)

Kyle Stowers drifted back to the right field fence tonight, leaped for Xander Bogaerts’ fly ball and held up his glove after his feet again touched dirt. It was empty.

The Orioles couldn’t afford to experience that feeling hours later as they filed into the clubhouse.

A team that prides itself on its resiliency, confidence and closeness needed to tap into the supply. The games are going away. The Orioles are fighting to stick around.

Rookie Brayan Bello carried a shutout into the sixth inning before the Orioles rallied for three runs to take the lead, which they protected with a backup closer in a 3-2 victory over the Red Sox before an announced crowd of 16,451 at Camden Yards.

Dillon Tate inherited a runner from Bryan Baker with two outs in the eighth and overran Kiké Hernández’s slow roller for an error. He struck out pinch-hitter Reese McGuire, returned for the ninth and recorded his fourth save after Alex Verdugo reached with one out on an infield hit.

Félix Bautista didn’t warm. He hasn’t pitched since Tuesday’s six-out save.

"We were staying away from him," said manager Brandon Hyde. "After that last outing he just had a little bit of arm fatigue and we just wanted to give him a few days. The guy's had so many appearances and on top of the leader board in innings pitched and appearances out of the bullpen, so very, very normal. Wanted to give him a few days. Hoping he's available tomorrow."

Tate wasn't told that he'd close tonight. He had no idea until he came into the game, and he earned his first save of at least four outs since Sept. 25, 2021.

"Just one of those things where you've got to be ready when your name is called," he said. "It's just good to get back in the win column, so I'm happy about that."

The bullpen turned in five scoreless innings with Bautista unavailable.

"This club has a lot of fight," Tate said. "Guys are ready to go when their name is called. It's just good to get this win."

The Orioles improved to 73-65 but didn’t know whether they got any closer in the wild card race. The Rays and Blue Jays won. The Mariners were losing to the Braves on the West Coast.

No one denies the scoreboard watching that's now taking place.

"At this point, yeah, you watch," Hyde said. "You see what other teams around you are doing, and it's a lot of fun. That's the fun part about it and I'm glad our guys ... Most of our guys like I've said a lot are experiencing this for the first time, so that's fun."

Cedric Mullins accounted for all three of the Orioles hits after his one-out single in the sixth. Adley Rutschman drew his 51^st walk, Anthony Santander followed with his 48^th, Mullins scored on a Kaleb Ort wild pitch, Ryan Mountcastle walked to reload the bases and Gunnar Henderson lined a two-run single into right field.  

Henderson was sitting on a fastball, which Ort delivered at 96.2 mph

"Mounty had a good at-bat against him going against him," Henderson said. "He didn't really seem like he had good command whenever he was up there, so I was just looking for one specific pitch and ended up getting it in a good leverage count. After he threw the first strike, he wasn't really throwing anything else for a strike, and that was the only thing he threw. I just told myself to get on top of it and not miss it, so I was able to get the job done.

"We were in a good situation right there to put ourselves in the lead, and felt like it was a good opportunity and glad I was able to get the job done and help the team win."

Henderson was playing in his 10th major league game. He also doubled in the eighth inning.

"It's been really good just being in this playoff push and seeing how the atmosphere is and the winning atmosphere," he said, "and being able to be here and experience that, I felt like it could only help me going forward, and I'm looking forward to continuing it and hopefully making the playoffs."

Tate listed the young prospects who are contributing and said, "Having them is like a big spark for us, especially the guys that are a little bit older, got a little more miles on us. It's fun playing with them."

Asked about Henderson, starter Austin Voth said, "Him, Adley (Rutschman), all these guys who are coming up, it seems like they're not scared of the spotlight and they're helping us out every day. They're providing a presence at the plate and their defense has been great."

Voth put a runner on base in every inning and was removed after Tommy Pham’s leadoff single in the fifth. But his streak of team wins in home starts reached eight.

DL Hall stranded two in the fifth and left a runner for Jake Reed with one out in the sixth. Reed earned his first Orioles win with 1 1/3 scoreless innings.

"DL Hall was really good tonight. His stuff was outstanding," Hyde said.

"Reed's been a nice pickup for us. Keeps the ball down, puts the ball on the ground, throws strikes. Really good appearance from him going 1 1/3."

Voth was charged with two runs and five hits in four-plus innings, and he’s totaled only 7 1/3 in his last two outings.

"I grinded," he said. "Definitely didn't help myself falling behind in counts. Really struggled to throw my curveball for strikes, and they were laying off it. But first couple innings went by good and then I got a little tired. Wasn't able to locate some pitches where I wanted to, just falling behind in counts, but battled through four innings. Bullpen picked me up today."

The Red Sox are a last-place team in standings only. The lineup is dangerous, and they started a pitcher tonight who’s the No. 21 prospect in Baseball America’s top 100.

They’ll hand the ball Saturday to Michael Wacha, who’s 10-1 with a 2.58 ERA and 1.030 WHIP.

Getting the Blue Jays out of town didn’t solve every problem, but the Orioles fixed this one.

Bogaerts entered the night batting .310/.375/.595 in 12 games against the Orioles. The home run was his third against them, along with six doubles and 10 RBIs. He also singled twice tonight, but grounded into a game-ending double play.

Voth stranded Verdugo in the first inning after a one-out double. J.D. Martinez singled in the second and the next two batters struck out and grounded into a force. Connor Wong led off the third with a double, Voth got two outs and Bogaerts hit a 379-foot opposite-field homer.

A leadoff walk in the fourth didn’t hurt Voth, but Hall began to warm and Hyde intended to match him against Verdugo in the fifth.

Bello faced the minimum number of batters through the fourth. Mullins had a leadoff single in the first and Wong threw him out trying to steal. Mullins lined a single to right field leading off the fourth, Verdugo played the carom cleanly and threw him out at second base.

Henderson and Ramón Urías walked with one out in the fifth and the Orioles came up dry. Rougned Odor popped up and Austin Hays struck out for the second time.

The bottom third of the order was 0-for-6 with five strikeouts through the sixth inning and 0-for-8 with a Stowers walk for the game.

The first five made certain that the Orioles didn't lose for the fifth time in six games.

Henderson, fifth in the order, struck the decisive blow and ignited the crowd.

"Never gets old, especially being up here for just over a week now," he said. "It's awesome to have that."

"Exciting young player," Hyde said.

Note: The Orioles announced that they added an extra spring training game to their exhibition schedule, hosting the Cardinals on Monday, March 27.