Much like Mordor, one does not simply go into Tampa Bay and win baseball games. Clearly, though, no one told Adley Rutschman that.
Down 3-2 with the rest of the team showing little signs of life, the rookie sensation came off the bench in the 8th and sparked a turnaround that saw the Orioles earn their first win in Tampa since July 2021.
Facing Rays’ flamethrower Jason Adam, Rutschman launched a 2-0 fastball toward right field. Almost like a metaphor for the entire Orioles season, the towering fly looked like it might stay in the yard, but it just kept going and going—sailing into the right field stands and tying the game.