The Baltimore Orioles scratched out a hard-fought 8-7 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals on Wednesday, August 26, 2026, surviving a rocky start from Kyle Bradish and a bullpen scramble to take the road win in nine innings. Christian Encarnacion-Strand led the offensive charge with a 4-for-5 performance and two RBI, while Leody Taveras delivered the decisive blow with a three-run home run. Grant Wolfram earned the win in relief, and Andrew Kittredge closed it out with his save.
Orioles Offense Overwhelms Cards Despite Shaky Starting Pitching
Baltimore needed every last hit on Wednesday night, and they got plenty. Encarnacion-Strand was the offensive engine, going 4-for-5 with two RBI — a performance that carried weight up and down the lineup. Taveras added punch from the bottom of the order, connecting for a three-run shot that pushed Baltimore's total to a level the Cardinals ultimately could not match. Pete Alonso chipped in a two-run homer of his own, going 1-for-4, while Dylan Beavers contributed two hits and an RBI. Colton Cowser and Samuel Basallo each added a pair of hits to keep Cardinals pitching under constant pressure across nine innings.
Bradish Struggles Early, Bullpen Steadies the Ship
Kyle Bradish had a night to forget. The right-hander lasted just 4.1 innings, allowing nine hits, seven earned runs, and walking two while striking out four. St. Louis tagged him early and often, and Baltimore's relievers were left to bridge a significant gap. Alex Hoppe and Josh Walker combined to get through the fifth without further damage, and Rico Garcia was particularly sharp, working 1.1 innings with two strikeouts and no runs allowed. Grant Wolfram tossed a clean frame in the eighth to earn the win, and Kittredge navigated a ninth inning that included a hit and a walk to nail down the save.
Cardinals Keep It Close But Fall Short
Give St. Louis credit — they did not go quietly. Cardinals starter Michael McGreevy gave up 10 hits and seven earned runs over five innings, but the home side kept scrapping. Bryan Torres went 3-for-3 and Iván Herrera collected three hits in four at-bats, keeping the Cardinals in striking distance throughout. Nolan Gorman added a solo home run. But the bullpen combination of Gastelum, Stanek, and Soriano held Baltimore scoreless over three innings after the fifth, meaning the Cardinals needed their offense to catch up — and it never quite did. Riley O'Brien took the loss after allowing one run on two hits in the ninth, the run that sealed Baltimore's one-run margin.
Turning Point: Taveras Three-Run Shot
The at-bat that defined Wednesday night belonged to Leody Taveras. His three-run home run gave the Orioles enough of a cushion to withstand St. Louis's persistent pressure and shifted the burden to a Cardinals offense that had been trading punches all evening. With Bradish already out of the game and the bullpen working to stabilize, Taveras's blast provided the margin that ultimately held.
Key Performers
- Christian Encarnacion-Strand: 4-for-5, 2 RBI
- Leody Taveras: 1-for-5, 1 HR, 3 RBI
- Pete Alonso: 1-for-4, 1 HR, 2 RBI
- Dylan Beavers: 2-for-4, 1 RBI
- Colton Cowser: 2-for-4
- Samuel Basallo: 2-for-4
- Grant Wolfram: 1.0 IP, 0 ER (Win)
- Andrew Kittredge: 1.0 IP, 0 ER (Save)
What's Next for Baltimore
The Orioles head forward with a road win banked after a messy but effective team effort. Bradish's outing will draw attention — nine hits and seven runs in 4.1 innings is not a performance the rotation can sustain — but Baltimore's lineup proved deep enough on Wednesday to overcome it. The next series will test whether the bullpen arms who carried the load here can recover on short rest.
