Albert Suárez led the Baltimore Orioles to a 5-3 victory over the Colorado Rockies on Friday night, pitching a career-best seven innings. Emmanuel Rivera hit his first homer for Baltimore and drove in three runs, while rookie Jackson Holliday, son of former Rockies star Matt Holliday, made a significant impact on his return to Coors Field. The win keeps the Orioles close to the AL East-leading New York Yankees and secures their spot as the top AL wild card team. Suárez attributes his success to countering the Rockies’ aggressiveness at the plate with his secondary pitches.
Rookie Jackson Holliday played a key role by hitting an RBI triple and scoring on a ninth-inning error. Rivera’s two-run shot in the fourth put the Orioles ahead for good. The Orioles are also expecting RHP Zach Eflin to return from the injured list to start on Sunday.
Rockies manager Bud Black praised Suárez’s performance, noting his ability to mix up his pitches and keep the Rockies off balance. The Rockies managed to score off Suárez in the third inning, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the Orioles’ offensive production.
The win sets up an exciting matchup between Baltimore’s Dean Kremer and Colorado’s Ryan Feltner in the next game. The Orioles will look to continue their winning streak and solidify their position in the playoff race.
Source
Photo credit wtop.com