Title: Orioles Closer Félix Bautista Leaves Game with Arm Discomfort, Team Holds on for Victory
Subtitle: Gunnar Henderson’s Late Home Run Secures 5-4 Win Over Rockies
BALTIMORE — In a thrilling game at Camden Yards on Friday night, rookie sensation Gunnar Henderson came through with a dramatic two-run homer that put the Baltimore Orioles ahead of the struggling Colorado Rockies. However, the night ended on a somber note as the Orioles’ stellar closer Félix Bautista left the game due to arm discomfort.
Henderson’s 22nd home run of the season, off Rockies reliever Brent Suter, lifted the Orioles to a one-run lead in the bottom of the ninth inning. All-Star right-hander Félix Bautista then took the mound and promptly dispatched pinch-hitters Jurickson Profar and Harold Castro, bringing the Orioles within one out of their 80th victory of the season.
However, as Bautista fired a two-strike, 102.3 mph fastball high and outside to pinch-hitter Michael Toglia, the right-hander stumbled a bit on the front of the mound, raising concerns among the crowd and the Orioles’ coaching staff. Manager Brandon Hyde and head athletic trainer Brian Ebel rushed to the mound, and after a brief discussion, Bautista was forced to leave the game.
With Danny Coulombe coming in as the reliever, he struck out Toglia on the very next pitch, securing a 5-4 Orioles victory. However, the focus immediately shifted to the condition of their dominant closer.
“Bautista left the game with some arm discomfort,” revealed manager Brandon Hyde in the postgame press conference. “He is still being checked out. I’m not going to discuss it any further than that. We are going to get a bunch of tests and see how it is. When the best closer in the game leaves the game, that’s never a good feeling. Hopefully, he’s okay tomorrow.”
Henderson’s clutch home run came in the eighth inning when the Orioles were trailing 4-3. He connected on a slider from Suter and launched it over the right-field wall, extending the Orioles’ lead and pushing them three games ahead of the Tampa Bay Rays for first place in the competitive AL East.
Reflecting on his game-changing hit, Henderson expressed his excitement, stating, “It was really awesome. I was really happy to be able to help the team come back and play like that. It’s what you dream of as a kid, to hit a homer like that. It was pretty cool.”
Manager Hyde also acknowledged the significance of Henderson’s contribution, saying, “On a night where we didn’t have our best offensive approach, I thought with Gunnar getting a huge hit there, we needed it.”
This unfortunate incident is not Bautista’s first encounter with injury. In the 2022 season, he spent time on the injured list due to left knee discomfort. However, the closer had been performing excellently recently, coming off a successful 1-2-3 save against the Blue Jays on Thursday night.
Teammates and fans expressed their concerns for Bautista and their hope that the injury is not severe. Henderson commented, “I just hope that it’s nothing serious. Hopefully, it’s just day-to-day. I don’t know what it was or any details or anything. I hope he’s okay and hope he gets better soon.”
Starter Cole Irvin also shared his thoughts, saying, “He’s been our closer all year. He’s been electric for us. I know the fans love us. You want one of your best guys to still be pitching for you. Hopefully, it’s nothing negative and maybe just needs a little bit of time. Just praying for him. That’s the biggest thing and all we can do right now. He’s been huge for us. Honestly, he’d have my Cy Young vote. He’s been that good. It’s been a ton of fun to have him. Hopefully, he comes back solid.”
The Orioles will anxiously await the results of Bautista’s tests as they continue their push for the postseason, relying on the strength of their roster to compensate for the potential absence of their dominant closer.