A 12-1 Demolition of the Dodgers: Why the Orioles' Inconsistency Still Matters
Alright, Emerald City! You gotta hear about what just went down in Chavez Ravine this weekend. We're talking about the two-time defending World Series champs, the LA Dodgers, getting absolutely shelled on their home turf. No, it wasn't our M's, but the Baltimore Orioles rolled into Dodger Stadium, which, let's be real, is always a tough place to play with those 50,000-plus screaming fans, and they didn't just win, they absolutely demolished them in the series finale, 12-1!
Cowser's Explosion and a Bombing Run
Sunday afternoon was just a masterclass in hitting. Colton Cowser, that dude was on fire! He led the charge with a season-high three hits and a massive four RBIs. One of those hits was a solo home run, part of four dingers the Orioles dropped on LA. Taylor Ward got in on the action too with his own solo shot in the second inning. The O's were scoring from the jump, building a 6-1 lead by the fourth, after scoring in each of the first four innings!
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Cowser even smacked a two-run single off Jack Dreyer, showing off some surprising pop against a southpaw, considering he was only 3-for-16 against lefties this season before that. Then, things got really wild in the seventh with a four-run explosion. Blaze Alexander and Jeremiah Jackson started it off with back-to-back doubles. Then Pete Alonso, who's having a monster year, clubbed his team-high 18th home run, a three-run bomb to right-center field. That was also his career-high-tying 10th opposite-field homer, matching his 2025 total with the Mets. Alexander wasn't done, adding a two-run homer in the eighth, his third hit of the day, pushing it to a ridiculous 12-1!
"A really good day from us at the plate," Cowser said after the game. "I felt like we made them work from the start there, and yeah, couldn't have asked for a better day for us." Pete Alonso echoed that, saying it "shows a lot of this team's character, but also the team's ceiling." He thinks this team can play with anyone. Manager Craig Albernaz agreed, noting, "it's tough to play in Dodger Stadium, and our boys did a great job of coming out and competing. That's what we can show. We can show that we can play with anyone. Now the real task is being consistent."
The Messy Road to Consistency
That word, "consistency," is the real key here. This series win was huge, but it wasn't a clean sweep. On Friday, the Orioles had a heartbreaker, losing 6-5 after Ryan Helsley coughed up three runs in the ninth for a walk-off Dodgers win. They bounced back Saturday with a tight 3-2 victory, but even then, LA plated both runs in the ninth and had the tying run on third. So Sunday's blowout was a much-needed sigh of relief, with pitcher Brandon Young continuing his hot streak, tossing five innings of one-run ball. He's got a 2.15 ERA over his past six starts and the O's are 10-2 in his outings. Young himself put it bluntly: "It's nice to beat some [butt] sometimes, honestly."
But here's the kicker for us Seattle fans: on this very same West Coast road trip, the Orioles dropped two of three games right here in our own T-Mobile Park. They're only 3-3 on this trip, and their overall record stands at 37-42. They still haven't won more than three consecutive games all season! It’s wild to see such a high ceiling, yet so much up-and-down play. Still, the American League is so congested that despite their struggles, they're only two games out of a playoff position. Can you believe it?
What's Next for the Birds?
The Orioles are heading to Anaheim next for a three-game set against the Angels, starting Monday night. Pete Alonso said it best: "Now's the time. This has to be the time." With the way they handled the two-time defending champs, you gotta wonder if this is the turning point, the moment they finally find that consistency. It’s early season still, but these kinds of performances can be game-changers. Keep an eye on 'em, 12s, because if they figure it out, the AL just got a lot more interesting!
This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.