The star made a successful return from the injured list, carrying a perfect game into the sixth inning and leading Baltimore to a 6-1 series-clinching win over the Colorado Rockies. Eflin retired the first 15 batters he faced and struck out six, but his bid for perfection ended when Jake Cave broke it up with a swinging bunt down the third base line. Despite the setback, Eflin delivered an impressive performance, allowing just one run on four hits over seven innings. His dominant outing demonstrated that he had not lost any form after missing 15 days with right shoulder inflammation. Since joining the Orioles from the Tampa Bay Rays, Eflin has posted a 1.95 ERA and 34 strikeouts in five starts, with Baltimore winning each of those games.
Eflin attributed his strong performance to focusing on his command and pitching on the corners during his time on the IL. “It was just nice to go back and compete again and to be able to live on the corners and keep them guessing,” he said.
The Orioles’ offense bounced back from a tough August with a solid showing, featuring smart base running and situational hitting, including a powerful home run by James McCann. Gunnar Henderson contributed with two RBI singles, the first of which gave Baltimore an early lead. Henderson, who had struggled recently, found his rhythm and was pleased with the team’s performance, noting it felt like they were playing more naturally.
Baltimore put together a four-run fourth inning, highlighted by McCann’s 429-foot homer to left-center. Eloy Jiménez started the rally with a walk, and Coby Mayo and Cedric Mullins both played key roles in driving in runs. The Orioles’ 5-0 lead marked their largest at any point in a game since August 20.
In the seventh, Jackson Holliday added another run with a single and stolen base, scoring on Henderson’s second RBI hit. Holliday had a hit in all three games of the series in Denver, where his father, Matt Holliday, played six seasons in his MLB career.
The win was a strong rebound for the Orioles after a rough Saturday, which saw both Dean Kremer and Ramón Urías leave with injuries. Urías was placed on the 10-day injured list with an ankle sprain, and Kremer’s status for his next start remains uncertain. Despite these setbacks, the team remains focused on the postseason push.
Eflin’s only blemish came in the seventh inning when the Rockies scored a run on three consecutive singles. Eflin finished his outing with 85 pitches, a decision made by manager Brandon Hyde to manage his return from the IL carefully.
Matt Bowman and Gregory Soto handled the final two innings, securing the win and ensuring a scoreless eighth and ninth. With this victory, the Orioles secured their first series win since early August and head home for a three-game series against the Chicago White Sox, trailing the New York Yankees by half a game in the AL East. Corbin Burnes is scheduled to start against Chris Flexen on Monday.
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