The Astros stole a win from the Orioles thanks to a complete defensive collapse in the ninth inning. With the Orioles up by one, Michael Brantley came to the plate with two on and hit a routine line drive into right field. What should have been a simple play turned into a mess. The ball rolled deep into the corner in right, and the Orioles outfielders couldn’t keep it under control. Miscommunication and sloppy throws let all three Astros baserunners come around to score. Brantley ended up with what looked like an inside-the-park three-run homer, though the whole thing was a gift from Baltimore’s outfield.
The moment was a perfect snapshot of why the Orioles rank as the league’s worst defensive outfield. There was no urgency, no clean relay, and no backup. The ball seemed to just roll away from them while the Astros ran wild. The broadcast showed multiple angles of the breakdown, and it didn’t look better in slow motion. No one bobbled the play once — it was more like every outfielder failed at once. The ball didn’t want to stay with anyone, bouncing off gloves and skipping by throws.
Fans at Minute Maid Park exploded as the Astros turned a one-run deficit into a two-run lead in seconds. Whether it goes into the books as a clutch hit or an error-fueled meltdown, Brantley’s swing flipped the game. The Orioles, once again, found a way to lose late and ugly.