Colton Cowser's 3-run homer lifts the Orioles over the Rays 4-1. Now the O's, with Charlie Morton's milestone win, face the Yankees on June 20, 2025.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
Fresh off a thrilling victory against Tampa Bay, the Baltimore Orioles rolled into Yankee Stadium on Friday night for a true test of their mettle. The Birds are opening a massive three-game series against the AL East-leading New York Yankees, a matchup that could set the tone for the rest of the month. With Tomoyuki Sugano on the hill against the formidable Max Fried, the O's are looking to prove they can hang with the best, even as they sit in 5th place in the division.
Three games, three home runs. Colton Cowser is single-handedly providing the power surge the Orioles desperately need.
The Orioles wouldn't even be in this position without the heroics of Colton Cowser on Thursday. With the team deadlocked in a 1-1 tie against the Rays, Cowser stepped to the plate with two outs in the sixth and blasted a go-ahead, three-run homer that sealed a 4-1 victory and a crucial series split. It was Cowser's third homer in as many games, a blistering hot streak for the young outfielder. The win was also a special one for veteran Charlie Morton, who was brilliant in his 400th career major league appearance. Morton spun six innings of one-run ball, striking out seven without a single walk. Félix Bautista later shut the door for his 15th save, giving the team some much-needed momentum.
The vibe shifts from celebration to challenge as the scene moves to New York. The Yankees are a juggernaut, leading the division with MVP candidate Aaron Judge (.366 AVG, 26 HR) at the heart of their lineup. The pitching matchup is daunting, with Orioles ace Tomoyuki Sugano facing Yankees lefty Max Fried and his microscopic 1.89 ERA. For the Orioles to steal a win, they'll need their own leaders like Ryan O'Hearn (.301 AVG) and Cedric Mullins (12 HR) to find a way to generate offense against one of the league's best. With a team ERA of 4.92, Sugano will need to be nearly perfect to keep the potent Yankee bats at bay.
While the big-league club battles in New York, the front office continues to tinker with the roster, optioning infielder Christian Walker and pitcher Dylan Bundy while reassigning Hunter Harvey and releasing veteran Mark Hendrickson. These moves are part of the ongoing effort to find the right combination for a team struggling to climb the standings. At the same time, the organization has its eyes firmly on the future. Scouts and executives are currently at the MLB Draft Combine, evaluating the next wave of talent that could one day be starring in these very series. It's a reminder that while the present is a grind, the plan to build a long-term winner is always in motion.
This weekend in the Bronx is more than just a series; it's a measuring stick. Can the Orioles build on the momentum from Cowser's late-game heroics? Can they overcome the odds against a division powerhouse on the road? The outcome of this series against the Yankees will tell us a lot about the fight this team has as we head into the thick of summer.
