Orioles 5, Athletics 3: Taveras’ Two Doubles Lead Baltimore to Victory
Leody Taveras’ breakout night sends Orioles to a 5-3 win over the Athletics at Sutter Health Park; Colton Cowser also homered. (Aug. 29–30, 2026)
Key plays power Baltimore’s offensive surge
Leody Taveras broke out of an 0-for-12 stretch with two doubles and three RBIs, driving the Baltimore offense in a 5-3 road victory over the Oakland Athletics. Colton Cowser added a solo home run and Coby Mayo reached base and scored twice as the Orioles built a decisive lead in the middle innings. The win came against a struggling A’s pitching staff and helped Baltimore extend its recent run of games with at least one home run. (cbssports.com)
How the scoring unfolded in the middle innings
Baltimore first scored in the third when Taveras hit a ground-rule double that brought Coby Mayo home to put the visitors on the board. Cowser followed with a fifth-inning homer over center field, and Taveras’ second double in the sixth inning produced two more runs to give the Orioles a 4-0 advantage. The sequence of timely extra-base hits against the A’s relievers set the tone for the remainder of the contest. (cbssports.com)
Pitching performance and bullpen details
Shane Baz worked 5 2/3 innings for Baltimore, allowing two runs on five hits while striking out four and walking three in a quality start that ended his recent losing stretch. Andrew Kittredge closed out the game with a clean ninth to record his eighth save, and the Orioles’ bullpen held when Oakland mounted pressure late. The pitching mix combined with the timely hitting to preserve the margin in the final innings. (cbssports.com)
Athletics fight back but fall short
Oakland chipped into the deficit in the sixth when a bases-loaded walk and a hit-by-pitch cut the lead to 4-2, and Carlos Cortes delivered an RBI single in the eighth to make it a one-run game. Despite the late rally and aggressive baserunning, the A’s were unable to overcome a miscue in the ninth when Cowser scored from third on a passed ball, stretching the advantage back to two. The comeback bid never fully materialized, leaving Oakland with the loss. (cbssports.com)
Notable individual lines and milestones
Taveras finished 2-for-3 with a walk, two doubles and three RBIs, marking one of his most impactful games of the season for Baltimore. Cowser’s homer was his 13th of the year and continued Baltimore’s recent power surge, which included homers in 16 of 17 games for the club. For Oakland, rookie Henry Bolte extended a productive August with two hits, highlighting some bright spots amid a difficult stretch for the Athletics. (cbssports.com)
Implications for both clubs and next steps
The Orioles improved their record and carried momentum into the series finale, with Chris Bassitt lined up to start the following day for Baltimore. The Athletics remained mired near the bottom of the American League standings, continuing a season of roster experiments and opportunities for young players. Both teams head into the next games with clear areas to address: Baltimore to shore up consistency and Oakland to find sustained offensive support. (cbssports.com)
Leody Taveras’ two doubles and three-run night showcased the kind of timely hitting Baltimore needs down the stretch, and the Orioles will seek to build on that combination of power and bullpen depth as the season moves forward. (sportsnet.ca)
