Félix Bautista escapes a bases-loaded jam as the Orioles beat the Rays 5-3 on July 20, 2025. HRs from Holliday and O'Hearn helped avert a tense series sweep.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
Exhale, Birdland. With the bases loaded, two outs, and the tying run on first in the bottom of the ninth, Félix Bautista stared down Junior Caminero and did what he does best: he slammed the door. A final, furious swing-and-miss on a 96.2 mph sinker secured a nail-biting 5-3 victory over the Rays, allowing the entire Orioles fanbase to collectively unclench after a tense series finale at the Trop.
Félix Bautista used a 96.2 mph sinker to strike out Junior Caminero with the bases loaded, securing his 25th save of the season.
Before the ninth-inning drama, the Orioles' offense provided the necessary cushion with a barrage of home runs. Jackson Holliday set the tone immediately, launching the first pitch of the game for his 13th homer of the season. Not to be outdone, catcher Alex Jackson, making a spot start, blasted his first long ball of 2025—a 405-foot shot to give the O's a 2-0 lead. Ryan O'Hearn added his 12th homer later in the game, providing a critical insurance run. This display of power from up and down the lineup was exactly the spark Baltimore needed to break out of its funk and salvage a win in the series.
While the bats provided the lead, it was Félix Bautista who preserved it with a signature high-wire act. Entering a tense ninth inning, 'The Mountain' found himself in a jam with the bases juiced and the dangerous Junior Caminero at the plate representing the winning run. In a classic battle of power vs. power, Bautista won, getting Caminero to swing through a devastating sinker to end the threat and the game. It was a heart-stopping finish that earned Bautista his 25th save and reminded everyone why he's one of the most dominant closers in baseball.
The good news wasn't confined to Tropicana Field. Down in Sarasota, the Orioles received a major boost as star catcher Adley Rutschman progressed to taking live batting practice. It's a significant step in his recovery from right UCL repair, keeping him on track for a potential mid-August return that could supercharge the lineup for the stretch run. Furthermore, lefty reliever Keegan Akin is set for a rehab outing in the Florida Complex League, signaling that bullpen reinforcements are also on the way. The health of the club is trending in the right direction at the perfect time.
Snapping a losing streak and avoiding a sweep against a division rival is always huge, but doing it with a power display and a heart-stopping finish makes it even sweeter. This win, coupled with the promising news on the injury front for stars like Rutschman and key relievers like Akin, provides a massive momentum boost. As the O's head home with a 55-44 record, this victory feels like more than just one game; it feels like a turning point, a reminder of the team's resilience and a sign of the strength yet to come.
