Josh Lester waited a very long time for Sunday.
Almost eight years to the day after he was drafted, Lester recorded his first main league hit, a bases-loaded single amid the Orioles’ six-run third inning that propelled them to an 8-3 victory and a highway collection win in opposition to the San Francisco Giants.
“Obviously, it’s something that I’ve looked forward to for my entire life, since I was 5 years old playing baseball,” the 28-year-old Lester mentioned. “But for it to come in a big moment of the game like that, with some guys on, was even better.”
Taken by the Detroit Tigers within the thirteenth spherical of the 2015 draft — three picks earlier than Baltimore chosen eventual All-Star outfielder Cedric Mullins — Lester reached the majors final September however went 0-for-5 in two video games as a Tiger. Signed as a minor league free agent this offseason, he impressed the Orioles in spring coaching along with his potential to play the nook spots in each the infield and outfield and hit the ball constantly onerous. After a powerful begin for Triple-A Norfolk, with 14 house runs and an .888 OPS, Lester joined the Orioles (37-22) in San Francisco on Saturday.
Manager Brandon Hyde cited the necessity for Lester’s left-handed bat forward of a run of matchups with right-handed starters because the trigger for his addition to each the energetic and 40-man rosters. Jordan Westburg, Baltimore’s No. 5 prospect based on Baseball America, was outperforming Lester in a number of metrics for Norfolk and was likewise not on the 40-man roster, however he bats right-handed, although he has had reverse splits for a lot of his skilled profession.
But even for a corporation with baseball’s high farm system, contributions from elsewhere are wanted. Lester didn’t seem in Saturday’s 4-0 loss, however with common third baseman Gunnar Henderson exiting that sport with again discomfort, Lester drew the beginning at third base Sunday. He grounded out with a runner on third in his first at-bat with Baltimore within the second inning, however got here up once more with the Orioles already holding a three-run lead and the bases loaded. Lester lined a two-out single into middle discipline, driving in two with a 3rd runner scoring on a throwing error by middle fielder Austin Slater.
“What a cool moment for Josh Lester,” Hyde mentioned. “A lot of minor league time and gets an opportunity and just gets an enormous hit for us.”
Lester mentioned his mother and father, Jimmy and Beth, have been at Oracle Park on Friday after his mother and sister made it to Saturday’s sport. He figures the ball from his first hit will both head house along with his mother and father or be shipped to the home he shares along with his fiancée. He acknowledged there have been occasions he doubted he would ever get that memento.
“Obviously, it’s a big weight off your shoulders and a big smile on your face when it does come,” Lester mentioned.
Catcher James McCann, who began the third-inning rally with a stroll, added an insurance coverage run with a sixth-inning house run. Center fielder Aaron Hicks continued his sturdy first week with Baltimore with an RBI triple within the ninth. Since signing with the Orioles on Tuesday after Mullins suffered a proper groin pressure, Hicks is hitting .455 with a 1.207 OPS.
But the preliminary outburst, which additionally included a sacrifice fly from Adam Frazier and bases-loaded stroll by Ryan Mountcastle, was greater than sufficient help for Tyler Wells, who struck out a career-best 9 batters whereas carrying a shutout into the sixth inning. Wells’ fifth straight outing with at the least seven strikeouts tied Erik Bedard for the longest streak by an Oriole since 1957.
“I wasn’t trying to strike out a lot of guys today,” Wells mentioned. “I was just trying to hit my spots, and fortunately, it worked out that way.”
After a one-out stroll within the sixth, Blake Sabol homered on Wells’ 102nd pitch, ending the shutout and his afternoon. Wells’ changeup was his high providing, with the Giants (29-30) lacking on half of their 14 swings in opposition to it.
“Wellsy was really good,” Hyde mentioned. “That’s too bad he couldn’t get through the sixth. He was getting so many strikeouts and foul balls that he was throwing a lot of pitches, but makes that one mistake there for the homer, but he was mixing speeds so well.”
Behind Wells, a bullpen that largely struggled within the Orioles’ 2-4 homestand in opposition to Texas and Cleveland completed off a bounceback weekend. Mike Baumann retired the following 5 batters earlier than a stroll opened the eighth. Yennier Cano entered and allowed a double and run-scoring fielder’s selection earlier than Ramón Urías, a Gold Glover who pinch hit for Lester within the high of the inning and changed him at third, began a double play. Austin Voth labored a clear ninth because the Orioles improved to 20-10 on the highway, tied for the second-best begin in crew historical past.
“We’ve been really scrappy,” Wells mentioned, “and we’ve done a great job of battling.”
And a participant who likewise didn’t hand over delivered the day’s largest hit.
“No matter how much you’re in the minor leagues, fast, slow, getting that first hit and getting to the big leagues is everybody’s dream,” Lester mentioned. “But obviously, spending that much time in the minor leagues and kind of grinding your way up, it definitely means a lot to me.”
Around the horn
- After exiting Saturday’s sport with decrease again discomfort, Henderson was “feeling better,” Hyde mentioned earlier than the sport, including he’s assured Henderson gained’t require a stint on the injured checklist.
- Although the Orioles will skip their fifth starter’s spot to begin veteran right-hander Kyle Gibson in Tuesday’s collection opener in opposition to Milwaukee, they’ve but to commit as to whether the rotation will proceed past that, itemizing their starters for Wednesday and Thursday as “to be announced.” Dean Kremer and Kyle Bradish, respectively, can be on common relaxation for these days.
Orioles at Brewers
Tuesday, 7:40 p.m.
TV: MASN
Radio: 97.9 FM, 101.5 FM, 1090 AM
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Source: www.bostonherald.com