The Baltimore Orioles were in control for much of Tuesday’s game against the Houston Astros. Unfortunately, they couldn’t close the show in the ninth inning, and some late heroics from the Astros led to a brutal collapse in Baltimore.
The Orioles had the Astros exactly where they wanted them, coming into the top of the ninth inning with a 6-3 lead with perhaps the best closer in baseball in Felix Bautista coming into the game.
Bautista came into the game riding a spectacular season, sporting a 0.85 ERA, allowing only five earned runs in 52.2 innings pitched.
With a three-run lead, most would assume that it is almost a foregone conclusion that the Orioles would come away with the win with Bautista on the mound.
Unfortunately for Orioles fans, the Astros had different plans, rocking Bautista and getting a great chance to score after loading the bases for star outfielder Kyle Tucker.
Tucker came through with the biggest hit of the game, crushing a grand slam to right field to give the Astros a 7-6 lead.
Kyle Tucker crushes a grand slam vs Orioles closer Félix Bautista to give the Astros a 7-6 lead in the 9th! ⚾️💣 pic.twitter.com/rMqgkYDyrU
— The Comeback (@thecomeback) August 9, 2023
Astros star closer Ryan Pressly would close out the Orioles in the bottom of the ninth inning, completing the unbelievable comeback victory.
There has been a ton of controversy around the Orioles organization after they opted to remove announcer Kevin Brown after his comments on the team’s lack of previous wins against the Tampa Bay Rays.
Fans thought that this brutal collapse in this game was very fitting given Brown’s controversial removal by the Orioles organization.
I’d say what Kyle Tucker did here, but I don’t want to get in trouble with Orioles management pic.twitter.com/J97tAGLJS8
— Ari Alexander (@AriA1exander) August 9, 2023
John Angelos when the Orioles broadcast says it was bad that they gave up a go-ahead grand slam in the 9th inning pic.twitter.com/vH3HSoHYvv
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) August 9, 2023
Kyle Tucker’s gonna get the Orioles announcer suspended again, my goodness pic.twitter.com/ZoKFJ49Neg
— astrosmemes (@astros_memes) August 9, 2023
The Orioles broadcast team watching Kyle Tucker’s grand slam and realizing they have to mention that the Astros have taken the lead. pic.twitter.com/okcUGEBow4
— Taylor Jenkins (@TJenkinsTampa) August 9, 2023
Unreal. Kyle Tucker just hit a grand slam in the 9th off the best closer in baseball to flip a 6-3 deficit into a 7-6 lead for the #Astros at the Orioles. Wow. #KingTuck
— Adam Wexler (@AdamJWexler) August 9, 2023
Kyle Tucker with a truly masterful at-bat! A 9th-pitch go-ahead grand slam 💥#Astros #Orioles
— TheLines (@TheLinesUS) August 9, 2023
Despite the loss, the Orioles still sit atop the American League East and still have the best record in the entire American League.
About Reice Shipley
Reice Shipley is a staff writer for Comeback Media that graduated from Ithaca College with a degree in Sports Media. He previously worked at Barrett Sports Media and is a fan of all things Syracuse sports.