Povich shines, Cowser launches go-ahead homer in 4-2 win over Braves

The Orioles appeared destined for another feel good victory before one swing of the bat in the eighth inning. Cade Povich dazzled with six scoreless innings in his home debut, but Matt Olson evened the score with a two-run blast in the eighth inning. The mood shifted at Camden Yards, but Colton Cowser restarted the party in a hurry.

After entering as a defensive replacement in the seventh inning, Cowser stepped up with one on and one away in the eighth. The rookie received a first-pitch fastball and delivered the swing of the night. The Orioles’ unofficial class clown launched a ball that managed to clear the center-field wall and a leaping Michael Harris. The blast provided Baltimore a 4-2 advantage, and Craig Kimbrel slammed the door in the ninth.

Povich delivered the exact type of outing needed to remain in the rotation conversation moving forward. In his first game at Camden Yards, Povich kept Atlanta off the board for six innings. He allowed five hits, struck out six, and did not walk a batter.

The 24-year-old featured improved command after allowing six earned runs in his major league debut. He threw 63-of-89 pitches for strikes, and struck out at least one batter in each of the first five innings.

Povich retired the side in order to start the game. He danced around a hit by pitch in the second, and retired Ozzie Albies after a two-out single in the third. His first real test came in the fourth inning after consecutive singles by Marcell Ozuna and Olson to start the frame.

The Nebraska product responded with a perfectly placed curveball that sent Austin Riley down swinging. He nearly ended the inning with a grounder to third base, but Adam Duvall escaped the double play by hustling to first. Since one groundball wasn’t enough, Povich generated another quick bouncer from Sean Murphy to end the inning.

Povich struck out two during a clean fifth inning before facing his final test in the sixth. Ozuna managed a one-out single to the Bermuda Triangle in right field, and Riley ripped a two-out liner to the hole at short. Brandon Hyde allowed Povich to face Duvall, and the lefty generated a harmless pop up to end the threat.

Dillon Tate did his job in the seventh, but Keegan Akin let the big fly slip in the eighth. Akin allowed a leadoff single to Albies before Olson erased Baltimore’s advantage. He managed to complete the inning with a pair of flyouts, but things looked dicey with a few high-leverage relievers unavailable in a tie game.

Adley Rutschman struck out looking to start the bottom half, but Ryan Mountcastle put the go-ahead run on base with an infield single.

Cowser took it from there.

Kimbrel retired the side with a groundout, strikeout and a lineout to center.

The Orioles struck first with a pair of runs in the third inning. Cedric Mullins slapped a leadoff double, and Jorge Mateo reached on a bloop single to right. Mateo stole second to place two runners in scoring position, and Olson took the easy out at first on a grounder by Gunnar Henderson.

With the Birds leading, Rutschman followed with another grounder to first. This time, Olson fired home, but Mateo’s speed seemed to impact the throw. The ball sailed beyond the catcher, Mateo touched home plate, and Rutschman slid into second with a 2-0 lead.

Mullins notched Baltimore’s only multi-hit game, while seven others contributed toward the hit column. The Orioles clinched a series victory, and Baltimore will go for the sweep tomorrow afternoon with Cole Irvin on the mound.

The night was particularly special for the Nebraska family with Povich facing fellow Husker Spencer Schwellenbach. Schwellenbach did his job with only two runs allowed in six innings, but Povich won the battle.

When asked if Povich did enough to remain in Baltimore, Brandon Hyde provided a candid, but non-committal answer. “Pitching plans are definitely up in the air right now,” Hyde said. “We are series to series.”