Extra-Inning Drama Seals Victory
The Baltimore Orioles extended their winning streak to six games by defeating the Houston Astros 4-2 in an 11-inning contest at Daikin Park on Saturday, July 18, 2026. The decisive moments arrived in the 11th inning when O'Neill and Taveras drove in the go-ahead runs to break the tie.
O'Neill reached on an infield single to second base, allowing Henderson to score and put Baltimore ahead 3-2. Taveras followed with a single to right field, scoring Ward to make it 4-2, a margin the Orioles would not relinquish.
Scoring Sequences and Key Plays
Baltimore took an early lead in the fourth inning when Beavers doubled to right field. The hit drove in Alonso, who scored to give the Orioles a 1-0 advantage, with Basallo advancing to third. Houston responded in the seventh inning when Allen hit a sacrifice bunt to the pitcher, allowing Dezenzo to score and tying the game at 1-1, with Spence moving to second base.
The contest remained deadlocked until the 10th inning. Jackson hit a sacrifice bunt to first base, scoring Taveras to put Baltimore ahead 2-1, while Encarnacion-Strand reached second. Alvarez then hit a ground-rule double, scoring Spence from second base to tie the game at 2-2, with Allen advancing to third. The tie held through the 10th, setting the stage for the extra-inning finish.
