BALTIMORE — While Jackson Holliday’s bat made headlines Wednesday night, the true fan favorite sat just outside the clubhouse, wagging his tail and soaking it all in.
That would be Coconut, Holliday’s dog — and the unofficial MVP of the night.
As part of the Orioles’ “Bark at the Park” event, Coconut was on hand at Camden Yards to cheer on his 21-year-old owner. And Holliday didn’t disappoint, launching a grand slam in the second inning to help Baltimore cruise to a 9-1 win over the Cleveland Guardians.
It was the second grand slam of Holliday’s young career, and perhaps not coincidentally, another one that happened with dogs in the stands.
“I’ve had some good luck on Bark in the Park nights, even in the minors,” Holliday said with a smile. “It’s always a fun atmosphere. I love dogs — my family has a bunch.”
Coconut is no stranger to baseball, either. Holliday said his furry friend has been with him on the road during his time in the minors.
“He’s been to games in Norfolk and Charlotte,” Holliday said. “He’s kind of a veteran of these events. Big night for Coconut.”
The win helped the Orioles continue a rollercoaster start to their season, where their offense has swung between explosive and quiet. This was the fifth time in 17 games they’ve posted at least eight runs, but they’ve also been shut down for one run or fewer four times.
In addition to Holliday’s grand slam, Ramón Laureano and Ryan O’Hearn each added home runs to cap off the team’s dominant offensive showing.
“We’ve shown flashes of how great we can be — how well we can play together and really click offensively,” Holliday said. “At the same time, we’ve had some tough stretches. But I think our approach at the plate has been solid overall.”
Holliday came into the game in the midst of an 0-for-17 slump. His bases-loaded blast to center field was a much-needed breakthrough.
“There’s nothing like hitting a home run and watching your team pile on the runs,” he said. “It was a good night for all of us — and a great one for Coconut.”
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