HOUSTON — Tyler O’Neill drove in the go-ahead run in the 11th inning on an infield single, and the Orioles defeated the Astros, 4-2, on Saturday, July 18, at Daikin Park.
With two outs in the 11th, O’Neill hit a slow bouncing chopper towards Jose Altuve at second base. O’Neill sprinted down the first-base line to beat out the throw. While at the same time, automatic runner Gunnar Henderson raced around from second base to score on the play, making it 3-2.
Baltimore made it 4-2 with an RBI single to center from Leody Taveras, which scored Taylor Ward from third base. Astros reliever Enyel De Los Santos was tabbed with the loss.
Cam Sanders came in for the Orioles in the 11th and set down the side in order for his first save of the season. Andrew Kittredge, who pitched the 10th inning, got his first win of the season.
O’Neill played hero on defense just an inning prior.
In the 10th, with no outs, the bases loaded and the game-winning run standing at third base for the Astros, Altuve hit a fly ball to shallow center field. With the Orioles playing a five-man infield and the right fielder O’Neill positioned in right-center, he ranged to his right, made the catch and hurled it towards home plate, falling to the ground in the process. He threw out Nick Allen for the crucial double play.
Orioles starter and Carlsbad High School graduate Trevor Rogers gave up one run on seven hits, struck out a season-high eight batters and walked one in 6 1/3 innings. Rogers was handed a no-decision for the second straight start.
The former Cavemen has a 6-7 record this season.
Rogers set down nine straight batters at one point, including striking out the side in the third inning — including a punchout of American League MVP frontrunner Yordan Alvarez on a 93 mph sinker on the outside corner to end the frame.
The Orioles were able to reward Rogers’ strong start with a win, their fifth such victory in a game he has started.
“That’s the type of win that I knew that this team could produce all season long,” Rogers said. “Everyone else believed that too.”
In May of 2017, Rogers was named the 2016-17 Gatorade New Mexico Baseball Player of the Year.
As a senior he had an 11-0 record with an earned run average of 0.33 with 134 strikeouts in 63.1 innings pitched.
He led the Cavemen to the 6A semifinals that year.
