Basallo, Rutschman help Orioles curb Marlins, snap five-game skid
by Alex Butler · UPIMIAMI, May 5 (UPI) -- Samuel Basallo belted three hits, while Adley Rutschman hit a go-ahead single to help the Baltimore Orioles snap a five-game skid Tuesday in Miami.
The Orioles (16-20) built a three-run lead in the first inning, but allowed the Marlins (16-20) to surge back before late heroics clinched the 9-7 triumph.
Basallo went 3 for 4 with a single, double, triple and four RBIs. First baseman Pete Alonso went 2 for 3 with two RBIs, two walks and four runs scored.
"Honestly, I'm just super proud of the guys," Rutschman said. "We were up. They came back. Guys kept fighting and kept going. Just to pull out a win for that is huge for us.
"I think it says a lot about the character of this team."
The Orioles jumped on Marlins starter Sandy Alcantara early, ripping pitch after pitch around loanDepot park. Shortstop Gunnar Henderson hit Alcantara's second pitch to right field for a single. Alcantara, who walked designated hitter Dylan Beavers two at-bats later, went on to allow Alonso's two-run double in his fourth exchange of the start.
Basallo brought in Alonso with another RBI double off Alcantara's next pitch. The Marlins scored their first run on a wild pitch in the bottom of the inning. They tied the score when first baseman Liam Hicks hit a two-run single off Orioles starter Chris Bassitt in the bottom of the second.
Basallo gave the lead back to the Orioles with a two-run single in the top of the third. Marlins catcher Joe Mack, who made his MLB debut Monday, answered with an RBI single in the bottom of the inning for the first hit of his career.
The Orioles added cushion with a Basallo RBI triple in the fifth. But Hicks and shortstop Otto Lopez clobbered back-to-back 431- and 414-foot solo homers in the seventh to slice the deficit to a single run.
The Marlins tied the score at 7-7 in the eighth when Basallo threw the ball away as Esteury Ruiz was stealing third base, allowing the Marlins pinch runner to reach home.
Rutschman came in to pinch hit for Basallo in the ninth and gave the lead back to the Orioles with an RBI single to left field. Center fielder Leody Taveras slapped an RBI single to right in the next at-bat for the game's final run.
Hicks went 4 for 5, tying his career high for hits in a single game. He recorded three RBIs for the Marlins. Mack went 2 for 4 in the second appearance of his career.
Alcantara allowed eight hits and seven runs over 4 1/3 innings, but was not on record for a decision. Bassitt surrendered six hits and four runs over four innings. He also was not on record for a decision.
The Orioles, who own one of the worst pitching staffs in the American League, allowed just three hits over the final five innings.
The Marlins will host the Orioles in the second game of the series at 6:40 p.m. EDT Wednesday at loanDepot park. The series finale will be Thursday in Miami.