Orioles rally, halt Cubs' 5-game winning streak

[June 19, 2023]  Ryan O'Hearn and Aaron Hicks had two hits apiece and Ramon Urias recorded two RBIs as the Baltimore Orioles snapped the host Chicago Cubs' five-game winning streak with Sunday's 6-3 victory.  

With Baltimore down 3-2 in the sixth, O'Hearn singled, went to third on Hicks' double and scored on Urias' sacrifice fly that tied the game and chased Chicago starter Jameson Taillon (2-5). Hicks then scored the tiebreaking run via Adam Frazier's single off Anthony Kay. Jorge Mateo capped the three-run rally with an RBI single as Baltimore avoided being swept for the first time this season.

Jun 18, 2023; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Baltimore Orioles shortstop Jorge Mateo (3) hits an RBI single against the Chicago Cubs during the sixth inning at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-USA TODAY Sports

Meanwhile, Dean Kremer (8-3) allowed three runs, but only one was earned. He also yielded all three Chicago hits, walked two and struck out seven to match his win total from 2022. Relievers Danny Coulombe, Mike Baumann, Yennier Cano and Felix Bautista (19th save) didn't yield a hit over the final four innings.

Christopher Morel clubbed a two-run homer and Mike Tauchman also went deep for Chicago, which has won seven of its last nine. Taillon was charged with four runs on eight hits through 5 1/3 innings.

Baltimore threatened out of the gate as Austin Hays (three hits) led off with a double. However, he was eventually thrown out by center fielder Tauchman while trying to score on a shallow fly ball. Tauchman then opened the bottom of the frame with an opposite-field solo shot over the ivy-covered wall.

The Orioles' Anthony Santander, though, led off the fourth by barely clearing the basket in right-center field for his 10th homer. O'Hearn then singled and eventually scored on Urias' liner off the glove of Cubs third baseman Nick Madrigal for Baltimore's first lead of the series.

However, Chicago regained the lead in the bottom of the frame after Cody Bellinger sent a liner to right field that O'Hearn missed, turning it into a three-base error. Morel followed with his 13th homer into the center field bleachers.

--Field Level Media

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