Orioles 9, Marlins 7: Adley Rutschman Pinch-Hits Baltimore Ahead in the Ninth

The lead

May 5, 2026 - Miami - The Baltimore Orioles snapped a five-game skid with ninth-inning theater. Adley Rutschman—pinch hitting for rookie Samuel Basallo—lined a go-ahead single to left, Leody Taveras followed with another RBI knock, and Baltimore held on 9-7 over the Miami Marlins, per ESPN.

Pete Alonso doubled, walked twice, and scored four times; Basallo tripled, doubled, singled, and drove in four before yielding to Rutschman against lefty Andrew Nardi (2-2). Liam Hicks answered for Miami with a homer, three singles, and three RBI.

How the game turned

The Orioles ambushed Sandy Alcantara for three in the first—Alonso's two-run double and a run-scoring Basallo double—before Miami tied it 3-3 in the second on Hicks' two-run single and a wild pitch off Chris Bassitt. Xavier Edwards sparked the rally with a single and heads-up baserunning.

Baltimore reclaimed 7-4 in the fifth when Basallo tripled and scored on Colton Cowser's fielder's choice, chasing Alcantara after seven runs, eight hits, and 5 1/3 innings—his shortest outing of the season, per ESPN. Miami drew within 7-6 on consecutive homers from Hicks and Otto Lopez off Anthony Nuñez in the seventh.

The eighth delivered chaos: Joe Mack singled, Esteury Ruiz pinch-ran, advanced on a walk, then stole third as part of a double steal before racing home when Basallo's throw sailed for an error—7-7 with one out still loomed large until Baltimore rallied in the ninth. Rico Garcia (3-0) recorded the final four outs for the win.

Pitching and matchup notes

Neither starter finished pretty—Bassitt allowed four runs and six hits in four innings with three walks—but Baltimore's offense and Garcia's bridge mattered more than traditional quality starts. Alcantara's ERA took a hit on a night Miami's pen almost salvaged a comeback.

Bats that changed the board

Rutschman's pinch hit flipped leverage after Taylor Ward and Alonso reached on walks—the sequence underscored Baltimore's willingness to play matchup chess late. Basallo's earlier fireworks made the pinch opportunity possible while keeping his legs fresh for nine defensive innings behind the plate.

Hicks supplied Miami's loudest night at the plate, yet the Marlins could not strand Orioles traffic once Baltimore's middle of the order cycled a third time.

AthX Engine fantasy angle

Baltimore posted 14 team FP on May 5, sixth on the AthX Engine board, with Pete Alonso's 11 hitting FP pacing one of the slate's best bat lines despite no home run. High-run games with multiple walk-drawn innings inflate team totals when OBP piles up alongside extra-base power from rookies like Basallo. AthX Engine daily scoring is not dynamic pricing.

What comes next

Brandon Young and Eury Perez were announced for Wednesday, per ESPN. Baltimore hopes Rutschman's moment sparks a wider turnaround; Miami needs Alcantara to rediscover efficiency before another homestand series slips away.

*Sources: MLB.com schedule, MLB Gameday, ESPN recap, Associated Press via ESPN, and AthX Engine scoring. Information only; not financial advice.*