BALTIMORE (AP) — Alec Bohm hit a two-run double in the top of the 11th inning shortly after a 71-minute rain delay and the Philadelphia Phillies outlasted the Baltimore Orioles 5-3 on Friday night.
With one out in the 11th and the automatic runner on second, the Orioles intentionally walked Bryce Harper. Bohm followed with a fly to left-center off Jacob Webb (1-4), scoring both runners.
Seranthony Dominguez worked the bottom half of the inning for his first save of the season.
The opener of the three-game series between two of baseball’s best teams drew a sellout crowd of 43,987 at Camden Yards, a crowd that included many Phillies fans who apparently made the short trip from the Philadelphia area. There was an electric atmosphere from the start, as Kyle Schwarber opened the game with a home run, and the evening only got wilder as each team scored a run in the 10th – with two replay reviews putting Baltimore on the map.
Then the sky opened and between the 10th and 11th the canvas came out. That caused a large number of fans to clear out, although those who remained were excited.
Rafael Marchán also homered for the Phillies, and Anthony Santander went deep for Baltimore. His drive to left in the eighth tied the score at 2. The two-out home run came from Matt Strahm, who had gone 27 games without allowing an earned run.
The energy in the ballpark really reached another level when Craig Kimbrel came on for the Orioles and pitched the top of the ninth inning. His struggles in last year’s NL Championship Series contributed to Philadelphia’s seven-game loss to Arizona, and the Phillies fans gave him that as he took the mound for his new team.
Kimbrel came through a scoreless ninth place, thanks in part to a diving stop by short stop Gunnar Henderson.
Schwarber came in with the bases loaded and two outs in the 10th. He hit a sharp single to right to score a run, but Santander’s throw brought in pinch-runner Johan Rojas on a close play, which was upheld after a review.
So the Orioles only needed one run to tie the score, and they started with the speedy Cedric Mullins at second. Orion Kerkering (2-0) hit Jordan Westburg with a pitch, struckout Adley Rutschman and pinch-hitter Ryan O’Hearn, then walked Henderson. With the bases loaded and Santander at bat, he threw a wild pitch that bounced almost perfectly off the barrier behind the plate to Marchán, the catcher.
Mullins charged at the plate and slid headfirst, Marchán swooped in for the tag and Mullins was initially called. But a replay showed Mullins’ arms slipped around Marchán’s glove as he reached out to touch home plate, and after a review the point counted.
Santander’s catch sent the game to the 11th – and that at-bat proved to be Baltimore’s best chance to win.
Philadelphia Ranger Suárez, looking to become baseball’s first 11-game winner this season, allowed one run in 6 2/3 innings. He also lowered his ERA to 1.77.
Kyle Bradish, who missed the first month of the season with a right UCL sprain, retired after five innings and just 74 pitches. Keegan Akin pitched three perfect innings in relief of Bradish and kept the Orioles close.
Schwarber immediately gave the Phillies a 1–0 lead when he hit his seventh leadoff homer of the season, tying Henderson for the major league lead. Henderson, who was not batting this evening, singled in the sixth inning to extend his on-base streak to 22 games.
Rutschman tied the game with an RBI double in the third, but Marchán tied the score in the fifth with his solo shot.
Phillies: Manager Rob Thomson said there is a possibility OF Brandon Marsh (right hamstring injury) could be back on Saturday.
Orioles: Top INF prospect Jackson Holliday, currently at Triple-A Norfolk, was on the injured list due to right elbow inflammation. RHP Dean Kremer (right triceps) is expected to pitch about four innings for Norfolk on Sunday.
Grayson Rodriguez (7-2) takes the mound for Baltimore on Saturday against Taijuan Walker from Philadelphia (3-1).
