# Orioles fall to Brewers in 10-inning playoff-like battle > Baltimore loses 6-5 in extra innings as playoff hopes grow dimmer with nine games left in the season. - Title: Orioles fall to Brewers in 10-inning playoff-like battle - Summary: Baltimore loses 6-5 in extra innings as playoff hopes grow dimmer with nine games left in the season. The Orioles remain three games back of the wild card… - Keywords: baltimore orioles, milwaukee brewers, mlb, wild card race, extra innings, craig albernaz, gunnar henderson, pete alonso, coby mayo, jackson chourio, september 2026, news - Source: The Banner — https://thebanner.com/sports/orioles-mlb/orioles-brewers-series-opener-10-innings-2HQUZJN5WVATTEEG2BYEJ2BZ7M - Author: Andy Kostka - Published: 2026-09-19T03:07:15.483+00:00 - Read time: 2 min - Topics: baltimore orioles, milwaukee brewers, mlb, wild card race, extra innings, craig albernaz, gunnar henderson, pete alonso, coby mayo, jackson chourio, september 2026, news ## Orioles lose playoff-intensity game Baltimore fell to Milwaukee 6-5 in 10 innings Friday, dropping a must-win contest with nine games left in the season. ## Playoff hopes hinge on final stretch The Orioles are three games back of the wild card with eight games remaining. They must win nearly every game to make October. ## Chourio's three-run homer sets tone Jackson Chourio blasted a three-run home run off starter Cade Povich on a 3-0 changeup in the first inning, giving Milwaukee an early lead. > Don't know how many 3-0 changeups I've thrown, but wasn't expecting that result ## Alonso matches Chourio with homer Pete Alonso answered with his own three-run home run in the third inning, tying the game and keeping Baltimore in contention. ## Brewers take lead in ninth inning William Contreras hit an RBI double and Christian Yelich added an RBI single in the top of the ninth to give Milwaukee a 5-3 lead. ## Orioles rally to force extra innings Gunnar Henderson singled and Coby Mayo doubled to start the ninth. Sacrifice flies from Samuel Basallo and Christian Encarnacion-Strand tied the game at 5-5. > Losing right now is tough. Obviously, we did a great job rallying back, and you're going to have those games where you rally back and lose. ## Frelick's single puts Brewers ahead In the tenth inning, Sal Frelick hit a go-ahead RBI single to give Milwaukee a 6-5 lead. ## Albernaz declines bunt in tenth With the automatic runner on second, manager Craig Albernaz chose to have Jeremiah Jackson swing rather than bunt, a contrast to his seventh-inning strategy. > We felt more comfortable with J.J. swinging than getting the bunt down. We all talked, and we liked the matchup and taking our shot to win the game. ## Jackson strikes out to end game Jeremiah Jackson struck out, followed by two flyouts, ending the Orioles' comeback attempt and the game. ## Basallo's bunting gamble in seventh Samuel Basallo, a power hitter signed for his bat, asked manager Albernaz if he could bunt in the seventh with runners on. He missed twice and struck out. > He came up to me when Coby was on second base, and he was like, 'Hey, if it's first and second, can I bunt?' I said 'absolutely,' ## Brewers manager praises Orioles effort Milwaukee manager Pat Murphy told reporters the Orioles are playing like a first-place team despite being in last place in the AL East, impressed by their commitment. > they're playing like a first-place team. That guy managing the team over there, he's got their attention. That was special. ## Nine games remain in do-or-die sprint The Orioles face eight more games after Friday's loss, each one carrying playoff-level importance as they chase the wild card. ## Key takeaway The Orioles remain three games back of the wild card but must win nearly every remaining game to have any chance of making October.