The young second baseman redeemed himself with a stunning ninth-inning diving stop to preserve a narrow victory.
Jackson Holliday didn’t have much to show for himself offensively Wednesday night, but by the time the Baltimore Orioles needed one final out in St. Louis, he had already decided he wanted to make an impact somewhere else.
That opportunity came in the bottom of the ninth.
With Baltimore protecting an 8-7 lead, Holliday ranged into the hole and made a diving stop to keep Nathan Church from reaching base. Christian Encarnacion-Strand, playing first base for the first time in the majors this season, recovered the ball and finished the play for a crucial second out.
For Holliday, the moment carried a little more weight than the box score suggested.
“It’s awesome,” Holliday said postgame, via MASN. “Especially, it didn’t help too much on the offensive side tonight. So to go out there and make a play to help win the game is pretty awesome.”
There was a reason Holliday seemed particularly satisfied with the play. He admitted afterward that he had been looking for opportunities to make some of the plays that had eluded him earlier this season, including one as recently as last week.
“To be able to make that play to help us win feels pretty good,” Holliday said.
Manager Craig Albernaz has noticed the same progression.
While Holliday’s defense has had its uneven stretches this season, Albernaz said he has seen him become increasingly comfortable at second base, particularly in the less obvious parts of the position.
“He’s gotten a lot better at second base,” Albernaz said postgame, via MASN. “He’s getting more comfortable.”
That comfort has extended to Holliday’s range and awareness. Albernaz pointed to his ability to recognize where he is on the field and make plays ranging into the hole, along with a difficult play earlier in the game when Kyle Bradish moved toward the third-base side and Holliday was able to get the ball to him in stride for the final out.
Those aren't necessarily the plays that stand out on a highlight reel. The ninth-inning dive certainly did.
Albernaz called it a game-saving play, particularly after the Orioles had watched a seven-run lead disappear earlier in the night. Baltimore had opened the game with a 7-0 advantage before St. Louis rallied to tie it, forcing the Orioles to find another way to win.
Holliday understood the importance of keeping that game tied at the plate when it mattered most.
“I think if I don’t stop it, they probably tie the game and go into extras,” Holliday said. “So to be able to at least knock it down and get the out was pretty big.”
The play also required trust in the teammate behind him. Encarnacion-Strand, whom Holliday has watched since his college days, was in position to finish the play at first.
“I’ve gotten to watch Christian since college do this,” Holliday said. “His demeanor and approach has always been very steady and very professional.”
For Holliday, that steadiness is becoming part of his own development at second base.
He knows there is still plenty to improve, but said working with infield coach Miguel Cairo has helped him better understand the analytical side of the position and where that information can translate onto the field.
“I feel like I’m more comfortable over there, and my range is much better than it was last year,” Holliday said.
On a night when his bat was quiet, that improvement gave him another way to help the Orioles win. And with the game hanging in the balance, Holliday finally got the kind of defensive opportunity he had been waiting for.
