The Orioles stunned the Yankees 5-4 on June 22, 2025, to avoid a sweep. Ryan O'Hearn's clutch double and Dean Kremer's grit led the charge. Recap the win!
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
After a soul-crushing 9-0 beatdown on Saturday, the Baltimore Orioles walked into Yankee Stadium on Sunday with one mission: do not get swept. Facing their bitter AL East rivals in a hostile environment, with their backs against the wall, the Birds showed the fight fans have been desperate to see, clawing their way to a crucial 5-4 victory to salvage the series.
After being shut out 9-0 the day before, every single run felt like a statement.
Dean Kremer took the mound with the weight of a struggling team on his shoulders and delivered a gutsy performance, battling through six innings against a potent Yankees lineup. While he wasn't perfect, he kept the O's in the game. The offense, which has been stagnant and ranks just 24th in the league in runs per game, finally woke up. Cedric Mullins blasted his 13th homer of the season to tie the game, and Ryan O'Hearn, the team's leading hitter, came through with a clutch go-ahead double in the eighth inning. The bullpen bent but didn't break, closing the door for a nail-biting win that improved the team's record to 34-42.
Sunday's victory is all the more impressive considering who wasn't on the field. The lineup is still trying to generate offense without the power of Gary Sanchez (right wrist inflammation) or the spark of Jordan Westburg (strained left hamstring). On the pitching side, the absence of Grayson Rodriguez, still on the 60-day IL with elbow inflammation, looms large over a staff with a collective 4.95 ERA. This win wasn't just against the Yankees; it was a victory over attrition, a testament to the 'next man up' mentality the club will need to lean on heavily in the coming weeks.
While the big-league club fights for every win, the front office has its eyes firmly on the future. With the MLB Draft Combine underway and the Men's College World Series showcasing the nation's top amateur talent, Orioles brass is hard at work identifying the next wave of impact players. This focus on replenishing an already strong farm system is the long-term plan, a promise that even in a challenging season, the foundation for future contention is constantly being reinforced. It's a reminder that help is on the way, even if it's not arriving tomorrow.
This 5-4 win was more than just a single victory; it was a desperately needed morale boost and a rejection of a demoralizing sweep. But one win doesn't make a season. The question now is whether the Orioles can carry this momentum forward. They'll need to keep getting gritty pitching performances and find consistent offense if they want to climb back into the AL East picture. The fight they showed today is the blueprint; now they just have to follow it.
