Orioles beat Rockies, 2-1, on Colton Cowser's game-winning HR robbery

DENVER — In a game played at the most hitter-friendly ballpark in MLB, started by a pair of pitchers who both have career ERAs north of 5.00, on a warm night in late August, the Orioles' game against the Colorado Rockies on Monday was naturally a low-scoring affair.

COLTON COWSER GAME-ENDING HOME RUN ROBBERY 🤯 pic.twitter.com/wHivffl0Fu

Baltimore beat the Rockies, 2-1, at Coors Field to improve its record to 69-69, marking the first time the club reached the .500 mark since it was 15-15 between games of a doubleheader on April 30. The win, which was punctuated by Colton Cowser robbing a potential game-winning home run to end the game, pulled the Orioles to within half a game of the idle Cleveland Guardians for the American League's third wild-card spot.

It marked the fourth straight victory for the Orioles and their eighth in their past 10 games. Since selling at the Aug. 3 trade deadline, they've gone 15-11 and hung around in a crowded wild-card race.

The two starters were locked in a pitcher's duel before a 98-minute rain delay in the top of the sixth inning cut their evenings short. Cade Povich and Rockies right-hander Tanner Gordon each allowed one run; Colorado scored on an RBI single by left fielder Jordan Beck in the fourth and Samuel Basallo doubled home Dylan Beavers the next frame.

Povich was making his first start back in the Orioles' rotation after being recalled from Triple-A Norfolk before the game. Manager Craig Albernaz said in his pregame news conference that moving to a six-man rotation was "on the table" and the left-hander worked out of a few jams to allow just the one run on five hits and three walks.

The Orioles scored the winning run in the seventh when they loaded the bases with one out for Cowser, who legged out a groundball to avoid the double play. Cowser was originally called out, and it took replay review to overturn the call. It was one of several missed calls for the umpiring crew in the game, including five pitches called by home plate umpire Sean Barber that the Orioles and Rockies successfully challenged.

Following the delay, Albernaz replaced Povich with Grant Wolfram out of the bullpen. The left-hander pitched two innings to earn the win before Alex Hoppe and Rico Garcia combined to pitch a scoreless eighth, and Andrew Kittredge secured his ninth save of the season to break a tie with Ryan Helsley for the most on the team.

Colorado didn't make it easy on Kittredge. Designated hitter Troy Johnston doubled with one out to put the tying run in scoring position and, after pinch hitter Zac Veen struck out, center fielder Jake McCarthy hit a deep fly ball to right-center that threatened to walk it off for the Rockies.

That is until Cowser made a leaping grab over the wall to pull the ball back over, ending the game emphatically. Cowser knew he had it before he hit the dirt, pumping his fists in celebration as everyone in the ballpark stood in awe.

The Orioles go roaring back to the .500 mark.

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