Baltimore Sports Roundtable

Orioles Snap Six-Game Losing Streak Behind Coby Mayo’s Two-Homer Game Against Guardians

Orioles Snap Six-Game Losing Streak Behind Coby Mayo’s Two-Homer Game Against Guardians

The Baltimore Orioles finally found a much-needed victory Monday afternoon, defeating the Cleveland Guardians 6-4 at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. The win snapped Baltimore’s six-game losing streak and moved the Orioles to 70-75 on the season. Cleveland fell to 73-72.

Coby Mayo was the offensive star of the afternoon, launching two home runs and driving in three runs. Mayo’s first homer came in the third inning, a 426-foot solo shot to left field that extended Baltimore’s lead to 2-0. His second blast came in the sixth, a 411-foot two-run homer that scored Jackson Holliday and gave the Orioles a 6-1 advantage. The two-homer performance pushed Mayo’s season total to 20.

Baltimore got on the board in the second inning when Dylan Beavers doubled to right field, scoring Samuel Basallo and putting Rece Hinds at third. The Orioles added three more runs in the third. After Mayo’s home run, Blaze Alexander drew a bases-loaded walk that brought home Christian Encarnacion-Strand. Pete Alonso followed with another bases-loaded walk, allowing Basallo to score.

The Orioles finished with nine hits, matching Cleveland’s total, but Baltimore made its opportunities count. The Guardians left only three runners on base, while the Orioles stranded 12. Cleveland’s offense produced two hits apiece from Steven Kwan and Jo Adell, while José Ramírez and Brayan Rocchio each scored a run.

Trevor Rogers delivered one of his strongest outings of the season. The left-hander worked 7⅓ innings, allowing six hits and one earned run while striking out six and walking nobody. Rogers earned the victory to improve to 10-9, giving him his first 10-win season.

Cleveland starter Joey Cantillo struggled with his command, allowing three hits, four earned runs and five walks over just 2⅓ innings. The Guardians used five pitchers in the game, but Baltimore built enough of an early cushion to withstand a late Cleveland rally.

Cleveland made things interesting in the ninth inning when Nathaniel Lowe hit a three-run homer, scoring Adell and Ramírez and cutting the deficit to 6-4. But Josh Walker recorded the final out to earn his first career save and preserve the Orioles’ victory.

The box score tells the story of a Baltimore team that needed this win badly. Mayo supplied the power, Rogers supplied the pitching, and the Orioles took advantage of Cleveland’s wildness early. After six straight losses, Baltimore finally had something positive to build on as the September playoff chase continues.

The Orioles now turn their attention to the remainder of the series, looking to carry Monday’s momentum into Tuesday and keep themselves in the postseason conversation.

Ravens Name Jovaughn Gwyn Week 1 Starter, But Ethan Pocic Could Take Over in Week 2

The Baltimore Ravens have named Jovaughn Gwyn their starting center for Week 1 against the Indianapolis Colts, giving the young offensive lineman the opportunity to open the season in the middle of the offensive line. Head coach Jesse Minter made the announcement Monday, ending one of Baltimore’s most closely watched position battles of the offseason.

Gwyn’s promotion comes after Danny Pinter, who had been competing for the starting job, suffered a serious knee injury that is expected to keep him out for an extended period. Once Pinter went down, Gwyn began working with the first-team offense and continued to make his case for the position.

The Week 1 decision, however, may not be the final answer for the Ravens.

Minter described the decision to start Gwyn as one based on what gives Baltimore the best opportunity to operate effectively in the opener. He also made clear that the move is not necessarily permanent, leaving the door open for veteran Ethan Pocic to eventually take over the job.

Pocic brings something Gwyn does not: extensive NFL experience. The veteran center has made 97 career starts over nine NFL seasons and was signed by Baltimore this offseason after spending the previous four seasons as Cleveland’s starting center. However, Pocic is returning from a torn Achilles suffered last December, which has been an important part of the Ravens’ evaluation throughout training camp.

That creates an interesting situation heading into the regular season. Gwyn has the momentum and has earned the opportunity to start against Indianapolis, while Pocic has the experience that could become increasingly valuable once he is fully comfortable following his injury.

If Gwyn performs well in Week 1, the Ravens could allow him to continue developing with the first team. But if Baltimore believes Pocic is physically ready and offers greater consistency, Week 2 could become an important turning point.

The center position is especially important for Lamar Jackson and a reworked Ravens offensive line. The center is responsible for making protection calls, communicating with the quarterback and helping establish the rhythm of the entire offensive front.

For now, Gwyn gets the first opportunity. But Ravens fans should not assume the competition is over. Pocic remains a legitimate option, and his experience could put him in position to challenge for the starting job as early as Week 2.

The Ravens are betting on Gwyn to handle Week 1. What happens afterward could determine whether Baltimore has found its long-term answer at center or simply the best option for the opening game.

Maryland-UConn: Terps Face Their First Real Test of the 2026 Season

Maryland football gets its first real test of the 2026 season Saturday when the Terrapins travel to Connecticut to take on the UConn Huskies at 3:30 p.m. ET. After opening the season with a dominant 62-0 victory over Hampton, Maryland now faces a UConn team that should provide a much better indication of where the Terps stand.

The biggest question heading into the matchup is whether Maryland's offense can carry the same explosiveness against stronger competition.

Quarterback Malik Washington enters the game coming off a solid but somewhat uneven performance against Hampton. Washington completed 19 of 31 passes for 186 yards and one touchdown without throwing an interception. He also rushed three times for four yards.

Those numbers show both the potential and the areas Maryland needs to improve. Washington was able to make enough plays to keep the offense moving, but his accuracy was inconsistent at times. Against UConn, Maryland will need its starting quarterback to be more efficient and make the throws that can keep drives alive.

The Terps also have an exciting weapon in running back DeJuan Williams.

Williams needed only three rushing attempts against Hampton to produce 116 yards and two touchdowns. His first touchdown was a spectacular 94-yard run, while his second came on an eight-yard touchdown run. He averaged an incredible 38.7 yards per carry and also caught two passes for 35 yards, giving him 151 total yards from scrimmage.

Williams' 94-yard touchdown was the second-longest run in Maryland history, making his performance one of the biggest highlights of the Terps' opening night.

The challenge now is doing it against UConn.

UConn is led by Jason Candle, who is entering his first season as the Huskies' head football coach. The Huskies also opened the season with a dominant victory, defeating Lafayette 56-7. That means both teams enter Saturday with 1-0 records and plenty of confidence.

Maryland's 62-0 victory produced 646 total yards, including 365 rushing yards and six rushing touchdowns. The Terps' defense was just as impressive, holding Hampton to only 85 total yards and recording five sacks.

But none of those numbers will matter nearly as much if Maryland cannot duplicate that performance against UConn.

For head coach Mike Locksley, Saturday represents the first opportunity to see his team tested before the schedule gets more difficult. Maryland will eventually enter Big Ten play, but the UConn game gives the Terps a chance to prove that the Hampton blowout was not simply the result of playing an overmatched opponent.

Washington will be under the microscope, while Williams gives Maryland a potentially explosive weapon out of the backfield.

Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. ET Saturday. After a 62-0 opening-night statement, Maryland now has a chance to show what this team can really be in 2026.

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