Mayo, Orioles Edge Mets in Middle Game

Photo by Evan Bernstein/Getty Images

September 15, 2026

Orioles 7, Mets 5

Coby Mayo hit a three-run inside-the-park home run in the 11th inning of Tuesday’s middle game at Citi Field to help the Baltimore Orioles defeat the New York Mets 7-5. With runners in scoring position, Mayo lifted the ball to deep center field past rookie outfielder A.J. Ewing, who would have ended the inning if he made the catch. Pete Alonso eclipsed 300 career home runs with a game-tying ninth-inning solo shot, which came against the team he spent the first seven seasons of his career with. Additionally, Christian Encarnacion-Strand and Jeremiah Jackson went yard in the second.

The performance came as right-hander Shane Baz went four innings with two strikeouts. He allowed seven hits and three earned runs. Still, the Orioles’ relief unit did enough to seal the extra-inning win over the Mets, who are eliminated from playoff contention.

Playing From Behind

Juan Soto and Bo Bichette singled off Baz to start the first. Carson Benge drew a walk to load the bases. Jared Young scored Soto with a deep sacrifice fly. Yet, Marcus Semien flew out to end the inning with his team ahead by one.

In the second, Encarnacion-Strand tied the game with a solo shot to center field off left-hander Sean Manaea. Jackson followed up with one of his own to center field, which put the Orioles in front. Manaea quickly recovered and struck out Leody Taveras to end the inning.

Benge got the third inning started with a solo shot to right field, marking the 18th home run of his rookie season. Baz, however, kept the Mets off base for the remainder of the inning. He did the same in the fourth, although he walked Francisco Lindor before striking out Soto swinging.

Bichette singled to start the fifth, but was picked off when he attempted to swipe second. Young doubled, and Semien drew a walk. Yet again, Ewing left both runners stranded when he struck out swinging.

Moving In Front

After three straight scoreless innings, Alonso broke the stalemate in the ninth with a solo shot to deep center field. This accounted for his 300th career home run as his former teammate Kodai Senga blew the save. Yet, the right-hander struck out Mayo and Encarnacion-Strand to end the inning.

Gunnar Henderson lined a single to center field in the 10th, which advanced Encarnacion-Strand, who was the free runner, to third. A wild pitch allowed the Orioles third baseman to score. But his teammates came up short of scoring any more runs.

Semien responded to this with an RBI double that scored Benge, who was the Mets free runner, to tie the game at 4-4. The Orioles then intentionally walked Ewing before right-hander Alex Hoppe struck out Francisco Alvarez to end the inning.

In the 11th, right-hander Jonathan Pintaro walked Dylan Beavers and struck out Alonso. With the game tied, Mayo blew it open with a three-run inside-the-park home run that was in large part due to Ewing missing the catch in the outfield.

Right-hander Andrew Kittredge gave up an RBI single to Bichette in the bottom half of the frame. But this came too late as the Orioles sealed the win and took the series from the Mets.

What Went Right For The Orioles

Mayo hit a three-run inside-the-park home run to give the Orioles a three-run lead in the 11th. Alonso smashed his 300th career home run as Encarnacion-Strand and Jackson homered in the second.

Grant Wolfram, Luis De Leon and Anthony Nunez pitched four scoreless innings with a combined three strikeouts. Kittredge sealed the win in the ninth.

What Went Wrong For The Orioles

Baz surrendered seven hits and three earned runs in four innings. He recorded two strikeouts, and his ERA did slightly increase to 4.06. Hoppe, on the other hand, gave up a hit and an earned run to Semien in the 10th.

Looking Ahead

After taking the last two matchups, the Orioles need one more win to complete the series sweep of the Mets. Right-hander Chris Bassitt (7-5, 4.88) will start for the Orioles against right-hander Robert Stock (1-3, 5.93 ERA) of the Mets. First pitch for Wednesday’s series finale from Citi Field is at 7:10 pm Eastern.