Adley Rutschman's clutch 8th-inning double leads the Orioles to a 3-2 win over the Blue Jays on July 30, 2025, sealing a dramatic doubleheader sweep.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
There's sweeping a division rival, and then there's what the Orioles did to the Toronto Blue Jays on Wednesday. After a 16-4 demolition in the matinee, the Birds delivered a thriller in the nightcap, with Adley Rutschman lacing a go-ahead double in the eighth inning to seal a 3-2 victory, a perfect day at Camden Yards, and the team's fifth straight win.
With the doubleheader sweep, the Orioles have now won five straight games, improving their record to 50-58 and moving to 27-26 at home.
The nightcap was a nail-biter that showcased the team's resilience. With the game knotted 2-2 in the bottom of the eighth, Gunnar Henderson worked a walk and promptly advanced to second. That set the stage for Adley Rutschman, recently back from the IL, who ripped a double to bring Henderson home for the decisive run. The offense was also sparked by a Ryan O'Hearn triple. On the mound, Andrew Kittredge picked up the win in relief before handing the ball to Corbin Martin, who navigated a tense ninth inning—aided by a key block from Rutschman—to lock down his first career save.
In a truly bizarre twist, a player the Orioles traded away hours earlier ended up pitching against them. The O's sent reliever Seranthony Domínguez and cash to the Blue Jays for pitching prospect Juaron Watts-Brown. In a move that could only happen in baseball, Domínguez was immediately activated by Toronto and trotted out to the mound in the seventh inning of the nightcap, where he tossed a scoreless frame against his former teammates. The deal continues GM Mike Elias's trend of selling high on veteran relievers to acquire future assets.
The Domínguez trade was just one part of a dizzying day of roster management. The team placed RHP Colin Selby on the 15-day IL and shuffled the pitching deck by recalling Elvin Rodríguez and Houston Roth from Double-A Chesapeake. These moves came on the heels of reinstating Rutschman and Keegan Akin, designating catcher Jacob Stallings for assignment, and signing catcher Jakson Reetz to a minor league deal. It's a clear sign the front office is constantly evaluating and adjusting, looking for the right combination of arms and depth for the stretch run.
While the playoffs may be a long shot for 2025, this five-game heater shows the Orioles are far from finished. With a blend of veteran grit and emerging talent, they're playing an exciting brand of baseball that makes them a dangerous opponent for anyone down the stretch. As the front office continues to make moves, one thing is clear: the future is bright, and the present is suddenly a lot of fun.
