The Pittsburgh Pirates, desperate to snap a four-game losing streak, clashed with the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on September 10, 2025. The matchup marked the second game of a tightly contested three-game series, with the Pirates coming in at 64-81 and the Orioles holding a 67-77 record. Both teams, sitting fifth in their respective divisions, were looking for a spark as the regular season wound down.
Coming off a heartbreaker in the series opener—a dramatic 3-2 Orioles victory in 11 innings—Pittsburgh was eager to turn the tide. The previous night, Samuel Basallo delivered a walk-off RBI single with the bases loaded, sending Baltimore fans into a frenzy and extending Pittsburgh’s skid to four consecutive losses. The Pirates’ Tommy Pham had kept things interesting with a clutch solo home run in the ninth to force extra innings, but ultimately, the Buccos fell short. As a result, the Orioles led the 2025 season series 1-0 heading into Wednesday’s contest.
The stakes were high for both clubs. For the Pirates, the game represented a chance to regain some momentum and perhaps restore some pride after a string of tough losses. The Orioles, meanwhile, were looking to build on their recent success, having gone 7-3 in their last 10 games with a .241 team batting average and a 4.10 ERA. Pittsburgh, by contrast, had posted a 5-5 record over their last 10, with a .222 average and a 3.40 ERA—a sign of their recent struggles at the plate.
The pitching matchup promised intrigue. On the mound for Pittsburgh was Paul Skenes, who entered with a sparkling 1.98 ERA and a 10-9 record. Skenes, the odds-on favorite to win the NL Cy Young Award, had been a model of consistency all year, boasting a 0.94 WHIP, 2.0 walks per nine innings, and a robust 10.1 strikeouts per nine. His last outing was a gem: six innings of shutout ball against the Los Angeles Dodgers, allowing just two hits and fanning eight in a 5-3 home victory. Skenes had never faced the Orioles before, adding a layer of unpredictability to the contest.
Baltimore countered with right-hander Tyler Wells, making just his second start of the season. Wells was coming off a solid debut, having surrendered two earned runs on five hits with four strikeouts and no walks over five innings in a 6-2 win at San Diego. In 2024, Wells had made a road start against the Pirates, going 5 1/3 innings and allowing three earned runs, but earning no decision in an 11-inning loss. This time, with home-field advantage and a bit of momentum, Wells hoped to give the Orioles another quality outing.
The game’s key performers were no strangers to the spotlight. For Baltimore, Gunnar Henderson continued to impress, compiling 30 doubles, five triples, 16 home runs, and 61 RBIs on the year. Jeremiah Jackson, who had gone 12-for-42 with two doubles, four homers, and eight RBIs over his last 10 games, was another player to watch. However, injuries had taken their toll on the Orioles’ roster, with several players—including Jackson (elbow), Samuel Basallo (hand), and Adley Rutschman (oblique)—listed as day-to-day or on the injured list.
Pittsburgh’s offensive hopes rested on the likes of Bryan Reynolds, who had notched 35 doubles, three triples, and 15 home runs, and Nick Gonzales, who was 11-for-40 with three doubles and three RBIs over his last 10 games. The Pirates, too, were dealing with their share of injuries, with Ronny Simon, Jack Suwinski, and several others sidelined.
The Pirates’ struggles on the road were well documented, coming into the game with a 22-48 away record. The Orioles, meanwhile, had posted a 34-38 mark at home. Both teams had fared well in games where they managed to keep the ball in the yard: Baltimore was 30-14 when not allowing a home run, while Pittsburgh was 41-25 under the same circumstances. With both pitchers known for limiting the long ball, fans wondered—would the bats break through, or would this be another low-scoring affair?
BetMGM Sportsbook set the line with the Pirates as slight favorites at -152, while the Orioles were listed at +127. The over/under was pegged at 7.5 runs, reflecting expectations of a tight, possibly pitcher-dominated contest. Expert predictions leaned toward the Pirates, citing Skenes’ dominance, with some analysts picking Pittsburgh to win 4-3 and recommending bets on the Pirates for the first five innings and the under 7.5 runs. However, as every baseball fan knows, predictions are just that—anything can happen between the lines.
Looking back at the previous night’s dramatics, the Pirates had their chances. In the top of the 10th, Bae Ji-hwan entered as a pinch runner, representing the go-ahead run on second base. But a double play by Spencer Howitz and a strikeout by Bryan Reynolds squandered the opportunity. Pittsburgh’s inability to capitalize on key moments proved costly, and in the bottom of the 11th, a sliding attempt by Tommy Pham on Samuel Basallo’s bases-loaded shot slipped out of his glove, sealing the walk-off win for Baltimore after a video review confirmed the hit.
"It was a tough loss, but we’ve got to flush it and get ready for tomorrow," said a Pirates player, echoing the team’s determination to move forward. The Pirates had jumped out to an early lead with Andrew McCutchen’s RBI single in the first, only to see Ryan Mountcastle’s sacrifice fly knot things up in the bottom half. Jeremiah Jackson’s solo homer in the sixth put the Orioles ahead, but Pham’s ninth-inning blast sent the game into extras—proof that, even amid a losing streak, the Pirates still had some fight left in them.
As the teams prepared for the second game, both managers looked to their bullpens and bench players for an edge. With rosters stretched thin by injuries and the grind of a long season, every decision felt magnified. Would Skenes’ electric arm be enough to quiet the Orioles’ bats? Could Wells build on his promising start and keep the Pirates’ offense in check?
The answer was unfolding in real time as first pitch approached. For fans in Pittsburgh and Baltimore alike, the series offered a glimpse of young talent, gritty veterans, and the unpredictable magic that only baseball can provide. With the Orioles holding a slight edge in the season series and the Pirates desperate for a win, something had to give.
As the sun set over Camden Yards, anticipation hung heavy in the air. Would the Pirates finally snap their losing streak, or would the Orioles extend their dominance at home? One thing was certain: with Paul Skenes and Tyler Wells on the mound, and both teams hungry for a win, baseball fans were in for another night of drama in Baltimore.
