CHICAGO — Three-game losing streak? Nothing a date with the White Sox can’t fix.
Colton Cowser launched a go-ahead three-run home run in the sixth inning and Kyle Bradish struck out nine as the Orioles beat Chicago 4-1 on Monday night to end their skid. The victory staved off mathematical elimination from the playoffs, at least for a night, with Baltimore (70-80) entering the game one loss away from locking in an early offseason.
But in a season when victories must be savored for how difficult they’ve been to come by, the Orioles played nine clean innings against a lowly opponent Monday. Cowser homered for the second straight game, taking left-hander Sean Burke deep to the opposite field for his 15th home run of the season. Though he’s struggled with consistency in an injury-riddled season, Cowser showed he’s still capable of driving the ball with authority when he runs into one.
“This year has been a pretty adverse year for me and the team as well,” Cowser said. “Just starting out, going on the IL for two months, coming back, working through some injuries, some swing stuff, continuing to play through it. It’s been pretty tough to find a rhythm, I would say, but messing around and feels like I’m either striking out or hitting a home run right now. I sure as heck would like to stop striking out, but I think this last week or so has been better. Seen a lot of pitches.”
The blast put Bradish in line for the win after he allowed one run in five innings, exiting after hitting his prescribed pitch limit with 88 pitches (55 strikes). The right-hander lowered his ERA to 2.45 in four starts since returning from Tommy John elbow surgery in late August.
Bradish ran into some early trouble, allowing a first-inning run on an RBI single by third baseman Curtis Mead, but he was still missing bats early. He recorded seven of his first nine outs on strikeouts and finished with 17 whiffs, one short of his career high set Sept. 20, 2023 in a six-inning outing against the Houston Astros.
“I think the fastball was playing up really good today,” Bradish said. “I think early on, threw some breaking balls down in the zone that they laid off or put a good swing on. So, kind of went to the fastball up and was able to get above the bat.”
The Orioles’ deficit didn’t last long as Jeremiah Jackson tied things back up in the third with an RBI single that scored Samuel Basallo from second base. Jackson’s 19 RBIs since his MLB debut Aug. 1 are tied with Gunnar Henderson for the most on the Orioles over that span.
“I think these guys that have a little rockier paths, I think there’s just some toughness and some mental fortitude,” interim manager Tony Mansolino said. “There’s some grit that kind of comes with them.
“There’s no give up in the kid’s game whatsoever. He’s battling. He chases a couple of breaking balls in that at-bat where he knocks in the run right there, kind of wildly, hangs in there and gets a fastball and he hits a ball up the middle. It feels like he does something to help us win every night.”
After Cowser put them in front for good, the Orioles’ bullpen put an ugly weekend in Toronto behind them with four scoreless innings. Kade Strowd took over for Bradish and struck out two in a quick sixth and Dietrich Enns recorded the unconventional three-inning save as he faced the minimum for his second save of the season and fourth of his career.
Postgame analysis
Cowser is fighting just to keep his batting average over .200 right now and his strikeout rate is among the worst in the league, so there are plenty of holes he needs to fix in his swing.
But it’s still far too early to give up on the 2021 No. 5 overall pick. Since the start of last season, Cowser is tied with Henderson for the most opposite-field home runs on the team with six. His raw power and potential on defense offer plenty of hope that he can live up to his lofty potential. Even if he doesn’t, there’s still enough in the profile for Cowser to be a useful player.
The Orioles are weighing whether to give Cowser the keys to the starting center field job, and for good reason. He still has work to do to become a reliable every day player, but his upside is worth the gamble.
What they’re saying
Cowser on how he’s gotten away from himself at the plate this season:
“I feel like the foundation is always there. I think what it boils down to is getting good pitches in the heart of the plate regardless of what the pitch type is, putting a good swing on it and try to hit it to the middle of the field. I think I’ve been getting in trouble by hunting certain locations and expanding off of that, these pitches are really good and they’re going to expose that. I think just trying to remain disciplined and showing up each and every day with a good mindset and you know that’s the best thing you can do.”
By the numbers
Enns became just the third Orioles pitcher in the past five seasons to secure a three-inning save, joining Cole Irvin (Sept. 2, 2024) and Keegan Akin (twice). The feat used to be much more prevalent, having been done 221 times in Orioles history, but over the past 20 years Orioles pitchers have only completed 12 such saves.
On deck
After skipping his last start with a forearm injury, Dean Kremer returns to the Orioles’ rotation Tuesday to face off against right-hander Shane Smith. Tyler Wells will follow on Wednesday to keep Baltimore’s six-man rotation on turn.
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