The game turned in the fourth inning. Baltimore had surrendered the lead in the second, but a five-run outburst against Hunter Greene reclaimed it for good and sent the Orioles to an 8-5 victory over the Cincinnati Reds on Independence Day.
Samuel Basallo provided the early spark. His three-run homer to right center — 406 feet — scored Gunnar Henderson and Pete Alonso in the first inning, giving Baltimore a 3-0 lead before Cincinnati had batted. Basallo finished 1-for-4 with 3 RBI, carrying a .257 average with 14 home runs and 42 RBI on the season. Alonso added a 3-for-3 effort with 2 walks and an RBI, and Adley Rutschman went 2-for-5 with 2 doubles and 2 RBI.
Cincinnati answered. The Reds scored 3 runs in the second to take a 4-3 lead: Steer scored on Trevino's double, Trevino scored on TJ Friedl's triple to tie the game at 3-3, and then Friedl scored on Elly De La Cruz's single to right, giving Cincinnati its first lead. The Reds' rally was short-lived. In the fourth, Blaze Alexander's single to right scored Cowser and Taveras to put Baltimore back in front 5-4 — the go-ahead play the Orioles would not relinquish. Rutschman then doubled to score Alexander and Holliday, and Alonso singled home Rutschman, capping a five-run inning and pushing the lead to 8-4.
Greene absorbed the damage. He lasted just 3.1 innings, allowing 8 runs on 7 hits and 4 walks while striking out 7 on 89 pitches. It was his first loss of the season, and his ERA stands at 21.60. Brandon Young earned the win for Baltimore, going 5.0 innings and allowing 4 runs on 8 hits with 5 strikeouts, improving to 7-2 with a 3.72 ERA. Rhett Lowder followed with 3.0 scoreless innings in relief for Cincinnati. Tyler Wells closed it out with a scoreless ninth for his second save of the season.
Pete Alonso is one double away from 200 career doubles. Hunter Greene needs 1 out to reach 500 career innings pitched. Baltimore extended its winning streak to two games and improved to 41-48. Cincinnati fell to 40-47.