Orioles Sweep Royals 8-2 for First 4-Game Streak, Pull Within 2 Games of Wild Card

Q: Is Pete Alonso's $155M leadership contract truly turning the tide for the sub-.500 Orioles?

Yes — the early evidence suggests Alonso’s $155 million deal is helping change Baltimore’s trajectory, even if it has not yet fully transformed the Orioles into a winning team. The clearest case is the timing. After Alonso challenged the club to make the most of its final nine games before the All-Star break, Baltimore went 6-3, capped by its first four-game winning streak of the season and a sweep of Kansas City. The Orioles are still 46-51, but they have moved from nine games under .500 to just two games out of an AL Wild Card spot. In a crowded but modest Wild Card race, that is meaningful. Alonso’s impact is not just rhetorical. After a slow start, he has rebounded into the kind of middle-of-the-order force Baltimore paid for, producing 19 home runs, 59 RBIs and a 124 wRC+ by early July, while playing every game. His presence lengthens the lineup, changes how opponents pitch, and has come with improved defense at first base. Just as important, Baltimore signed him to fill a leadership gap after a disappointing 2025, and by team accounts he has done that. He has mentored younger hitters, helped build clubhouse chemistry, and become a trusted voice for manager Craig Albernaz. Still, “turning the tide” should be framed carefully. The Orioles remain below .500, and Sunday’s momentum was tempered by Blaze Alexander’s hand fracture. Alonso appears to be a major reason Baltimore is back in the race; whether the contract truly changes the season will depend on the second half.

3 articles · Updated · MLB.com · Jul 12

Baltimore closed the first half at 46-51 with an 8-2 win over Kansas City on Sunday, finally turning its eighth try into its first four-game winning streak of 2026.
Leody Taveras drove the breakthrough, launching a 448-foot two-run homer and then snapping a 2-2 tie with an RBI single that ignited a five-run sixth inning.
Samuel Basallo added his 16th homer, but the win was tempered when utility man Blaze Alexander suffered a fractured left hand after a benches-clearing incident.
The surge followed Pete Alonso’s July 2 challenge to make a run before the break; Baltimore went 6-3 over its final nine games and now sits just two games out in the AL wild-card race.

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MLB.com3h ago

Orioles Achieve First Four-Game Winning Streak, Sweep Royals 8-2

Yahoo Sports5h ago

Orioles finally win four in a row in completing sweep of Royals - Yahoo Sports

Fox Baltimore9h ago

Taveras' homer, 3 RBIs carry the Orioles to an 8-2 win over the Royals for a 3-game sweep

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Is Pete Alonso's $155M leadership contract truly turning the tide for the sub-.500 Orioles?

Can the Orioles' playoff push survive the gut punch of Blaze Alexander's injury?

Are the Orioles true contenders or just the best team in a 'subpar' Wild Card race?

Orioles Sweep Royals 8-2 for First 4-Game Streak, Pull Within 2 Games of Wild Card

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