CLEVELAND (AP) — Jeremiah Jackson's three-run homer capped Baltimore's six-run outburst in the eighth inning against Cleveland's bullpen, sending the Orioles to a 6-4 win over the Guardians on Friday night.
The Orioles' rally came after Daniel Schneemann hit a grand slam to give Cleveland a 4-0 lead in the seventh.
Click to Gallery
Baltimore Orioles' Gunnar Henderson, right, forces Cleveland Guardians' Daniel Schneemann, left, at second base but his throw to first was not in time for a double play during the sixth inning of a baseball game, Friday, April 17, 2026, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Phil Long)
Baltimore Orioles' Jeremiah Jackson (82) is greeted by Colton Cowser, left, Weston Wilson (32) and Leody Taveras (30) after hitting a three-run home run off Cleveland Guardians relief pitcher Connor Brogdon during the eighth inning of a baseball game, Friday, April 17, 2026, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Phil Long)
Cleveland Guardians' Daniel Schneemann, right, is greeted by Steven Kwan (38) and Jose Ramirez after hitting a grand slam home run off Baltimore Orioles relief pitcher Anthony Nunez during the seventh inning of a baseball game, Friday, April 17, 2026, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Phil Long)
Cleveland Guardians' Daniel Schneemann watches his grand slam home run off Baltimore Orioles relief pitcher Anthony Nunez as catcher Samuel Basallo looks away during the seventh inning of a baseball game, Friday, April 17, 2026, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Phil Long)
Baltimore Orioles' Jeremiah Jackson (82) is congratulated by third base coach Buck Britton, left, after hitting a three tun home run off Cleveland Guardians relief pitcher Connor Brogdon during the eighth inning of a baseball game, Friday, April 17, 2026, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Phil Long)
But Guardians' reliever Scott Armstrong couldn't get an out, giving up two walks and hitting a batter before being pulled. Johnathan Rodríguez's sacrifice fly off Erik Sabrowski (0-1) made it 4-1 and pinch hitter Weston Wilson roped a two-run double to get the Orioles within one.
Sabrowski struck out Coby Mayo before giving way for Connor Brogdon to face Jackson, whose fielding error at second helped set up Cleveland' four-run seventh. Jackson then pulled a 1-0 fastball over the wall in left for his fifth homer.
Rico Garcia (2-0) pitched a perfect eighth for the win. Ryan Helsley worked the ninth for his sixth save.
With the score tied 0-0, Schneemann connected on a 0-1 pitch from Anthony Nunez, driving it 407 feet into the right-field seats. The shot came after the Guardians loaded the bases off Grant Wolfram on Jackson's error, a double and an intentional walk.
One day after being no-hit for eight innings by Cleveland's Parker Messick, the Orioles collected their first hit off Tanner Bibee in the first inning. However, they couldn't string any together and stranded seven runners over the first five.
Bibee had his best outing this season, holding the Orioles without a run over six innings.
Orioles starter Chris Bassitt matched Bibee, blanking the Guardians for five innings despite four walks.
Baltimore right fielder Colton Cowser stayed in after banging his right knee into the padded wall while snagging a foul drive in the fifth.
Orioles RHP Dean Kremer (0-0, 3.60) faces Gavin Williams (2-1, 2.38), who has 29 strikeouts in his first four starts.
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB
Baltimore Orioles' Gunnar Henderson, right, forces Cleveland Guardians' Daniel Schneemann, left, at second base but his throw to first was not in time for a double play during the sixth inning of a baseball game, Friday, April 17, 2026, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Phil Long)
Baltimore Orioles' Jeremiah Jackson (82) is greeted by Colton Cowser, left, Weston Wilson (32) and Leody Taveras (30) after hitting a three-run home run off Cleveland Guardians relief pitcher Connor Brogdon during the eighth inning of a baseball game, Friday, April 17, 2026, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Phil Long)
Cleveland Guardians' Daniel Schneemann, right, is greeted by Steven Kwan (38) and Jose Ramirez after hitting a grand slam home run off Baltimore Orioles relief pitcher Anthony Nunez during the seventh inning of a baseball game, Friday, April 17, 2026, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Phil Long)
Cleveland Guardians' Daniel Schneemann watches his grand slam home run off Baltimore Orioles relief pitcher Anthony Nunez as catcher Samuel Basallo looks away during the seventh inning of a baseball game, Friday, April 17, 2026, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Phil Long)
Baltimore Orioles' Jeremiah Jackson (82) is congratulated by third base coach Buck Britton, left, after hitting a three tun home run off Cleveland Guardians relief pitcher Connor Brogdon during the eighth inning of a baseball game, Friday, April 17, 2026, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Phil Long)
VIENNA (AP) — The Eurovision Song Contest reached its sequin-drenched final on Saturday, with tight security and rainy weather failing to dent the enthusiasm of fans, or the opposition of critics who think Israel shouldn’t be invited to the party.
After a week’s buildup, acts from 25 countries took to the stage at the Wiener Stadthalle arena in Vienna to battle for the continent’s pop crown. Millions of viewers around the world will cast judgment on a fiery Finnish violinist, a Moldovan folk rapper, a Serbian metal band and many more at Eurovision’s 70th anniversary event.
The campy, colorful contest has been likened to the World Cup with songs instead of soccer. And like global sports, it often becomes entangled in politics. The contest has been clouded for a third year by calls for Israel to be excluded over its conflicts in Gaza and elsewhere, with five longtime participants — Spain, the Netherlands, Ireland, Iceland and Slovenia — boycotting in protest.
The show opened with a performance by last year’s winner, the operatically trained Austrian singer JJ, and an Olympics-style flag parade of the 25 finalists. Then it was on to performances by the musicians, who had just 3 minutes to win over millions of viewers who, along with national juries of music professionals, pick the winner.
First up was Denmark’s Søren Torpegaard Lund, among the contest favorites for the sultry “Før Vi Går Hjem” (“Before We Go Home”), followed by Germany’s Sarah Engels with the power ballad “Fire,” the first of doubtless several performances to make liberal use of jets of flame.
Israeli competitor Noam Bettan was cheered as he performed “Michelle,” a rock ballad in Hebrew, French and English. Earlier in the week, four people were ejected for trying to disrupt his semifinal performance. Then came “Dancing on the Ice,” a techno-ballad by Belgium's Essyla.
Ukrainian singer Leléka offered the ethereal, beautiful "Ridnym,” and Australian star Delta Goodrem showed what a diva should be like with her slick midtempo ballad “Eclipse” — and a bravura performance that sees her raised into the air above a glittery piano. A European country would likely host for Australia next year if she wins.
Serbian metal band Lavina provided a dramatic change of pace with the angsty “Kraj Mene” — the sort of head-spinning variety that is the joy of Eurovision.
Pleasant ballads like “Bella” by Aidan from Malta alternated with the five-part vocal harmonies of Croatian folk-pop group Lelek, the operatic voice of France's Monroe and British act Look Mum No Computer’s jokey oddity “Eins, Zwei, Drei.”
Newcomers looking to grasp the essence of Eurovision and its interplay of pop and politics should look no further than two of the fan favorites. Rapper Satoshi’s ebullient “Viva, Moldova” is a bouncy, pro-European song from a country moving toward the European Union after decades in Moscow’s orbit. Greek artist Akylas’ song “Ferto,” or “Bring It,” provides a playful take on conspicuous consumption in a country still scarred by the economic wounds of the 2008 financial crisis.
Both are likely to score highly with viewers, though national juries, which tend to be more impressed by technical excellence, may be less impressed. Winners are chosen by a mix of votes from the two, translated into points by a system confusing even to Eurovision fans. The act with the most points wins, and their country gets to host the competition next year.
Finland is the favorite in betting odds with “Liekinheitin,” or “Flamethrower,” a fiery duet between the singing of pop star Pete Parkkonen and the fiddling of classical violinist Linda Lampenius.
But Eurovision often produces surprises.
“Eurovision has never really been a contest for big stars. It’s largely been a contest for underdogs,” said Eurovision historian Dean Vuletic. “People like to see the underdog on stage. They like to the artist-in-the-making on stage or an artist from a smaller, poorer country on stage.”
Viewers around the world can vote for their favorites during and for a short time after the performances, before the results are tallied. Viewers in participating countries can vote up to 10 times but aren’t allowed to vote for their own country’s act. Viewers in the U.S. and other nonparticipating countries can vote online at www.esc.vote.
Street protests opposing Israel’s inclusion over the conduct of its war against Hamas in Gaza have been smaller in Vienna than at the 2024 contest in Malmo, Sweden and last year’s event in Basel, Switzerland.
Hundreds marched near the contest arena before Saturday's final, some holding placards saying “Block Eurovision.” Pro-Palestinian groups also staged an outdoor concert on Friday under the banner “No stage for genocide.”
“Inviting Israel on such a beautiful stage as the Eurovision Song Contest stage is an affront to all the people who believe in humanity, who believe in love and togetherness,” said Congolese-Austrian artist Patrick Bongola, one of the organizers.
The five-nation boycott is a revenue and viewership blow to an event that organizers say was watched by 166 million people around the world last year.
Still, Eurovision is eyeing expansion, with a spinoff Eurovision Song Contest Asia due to take place in Bangkok in November.
Eurovision director Martin Green urged viewers to put politics aside and enjoy the “brilliant, wonderful, heartfelt show.”
Vuletic says political controversy is nothing new. The first Eurovision boycott was in 1969 — ironically, by Austria, which refused to send a delegation to Spain under dictator Francisco Franco.
“We’ve seen very politicized editions of the contest in the recent past,” Vuletic said. “All of them were very much mired in political controversy, yet Eurovision continues."
Associated Press writers Hilary Fox and Philipp Jenne in Vienna contributed to this report.
Delta Goodrem from Australia performs the song "Eclipse" during the Grand Final of the 70th Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna, Austria, Saturday, May 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
Noam Bettan from Israel performs the song "Michelle" during the Grand Final of the 70th Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna, Austria, Saturday, May 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
Delta Goodrem from Australia who will perform the song "Eclipse" walks onstage with her counties flag during the Grand Final of the 70th Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna, Austria, Saturday, May 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
Noam Bettan from Israel walks onto the stage carrying his countries flag ahead of the Grand Final of the 70th Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna, Austria, Saturday, May 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
Soren Torpegaard Lund from Denmark performs the song "For Vi Gar Hjem" during the Grand Final of the 70th Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna, Austria, Saturday, May 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
Demonstrators protest against Israel ahead of the Grand Final of the 70th Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna, Austria, Saturday, May 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
Spectators wait for the start of the Grand Final of the 70th Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna, Austria, Saturday, May 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
Delta Goodrem from Australia performs the song "Eclipse" during the dress rehearsal for the Grand Final of the 70th Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna, Austria, Friday, May 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
Satoshi from Moldova performs the song "Viva, Moldova!" during the dress rehearsal for the Grand Final of the 70th Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna, Austria, Friday, May 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
Akylas from Greece performs the song "Ferto" during the dress rehearsal for the Grand Final of the 70th Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna, Austria, Friday, May 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
Linda Lampenius and Pete Parkkonen from Finland perform the song "Liekinheitin" during the first semifinal of the 70th Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna, Austria, Tuesday, May 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
Aliona Moon sings "Viva Moldova" during her featured performance with Satoshi from Moldova during the dress rehearsal for the Grand Final of the 70th Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna, Austria, Friday, May 15, 2026. CORRECTS PERFORMERS NAME TO ALIONA MOON FROM SATOSHI. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
