Orioles beat Athletics 7-4 on June 8, 2025, with huge homers from Colton Cowser & Ramón Laureano. See how their dominant pitching aims for a series win.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
Good morning, Birdland! The Orioles are riding high after a thrilling 7-4 victory yesterday, and today they have a chance to clinch another series win against the Athletics in West Sacramento. After Colton Cowser launched a baseball into orbit and Ramón Laureano had a day against his old club, the momentum is firmly in Baltimore's corner as they look to make it eight wins in their last nine games.
The Orioles' pitching staff has extended their streak with at least eight strikeouts to 12 games, the longest active streak in the majors.
Let's talk about yesterday's win, because it was a perfect example of what makes this team so dangerous. The game was knotted up until Colton Cowser decided to play long ball, blasting a go-ahead, 455-foot home run that left no doubt. Not to be outdone, Ramón Laureano, facing his former team, put on a show with a homer of his own, three hits, and three RBIs. It was the kind of offensive explosion that demoralizes an opponent and sets the stage for a series-clinching finale.
While the bats were booming, the arms were absolutely dealing. The Orioles' pitching staff combined for a staggering 14 strikeouts in yesterday's win, extending their incredible streak of games with at least eight Ks to 12. That's the longest active streak in the majors, and it's a testament to the depth and dominance of this staff. The exclamation point came in the ninth, when Félix 'The Mountain' Bautista came in and did what he does best: strike out the side to lock down his 12th save of the season. When you have that kind of power on the mound from start to finish, you're going to win a lot of ballgames.
With the series on the line, the Orioles turn to Japanese right-hander Tomoyuki Sugano. He's been a steady force in the rotation all year, sporting a solid 5-3 record and a 3.04 ERA. Against an A's team that hasn't named a starter, Sugano has a great opportunity to continue the staff's dominant run and pitch the O's to another victory. A series win here would be a fantastic conclusion to the road trip.
The excitement isn't just happening in the big leagues. The future continues to look incredibly bright, with top prospect Samuel Basallo absolutely mashing in Triple-A. The catcher/first baseman has been on fire to start June, recently crushing another home run. Seeing our #1 prospect develop that kind of power is a thrilling sign of things to come, ensuring this wave of Orioles talent has plenty of reinforcements on the way.
The Orioles are firing on all cylinders right now. The offense is providing timely power, the pitching is setting records, and the future is getting brighter by the day. Let's see if Sugano can shut down the A's and send the Birds home with another series win under their belts. It's a great day to be an Orioles fan.
