Rougned Odor got here up clutch twice Sunday, producing when the Orioles most wanted him. But when a laser left his bat within the eighth inning, he took three gradual steps out of the field, watching the flight of the ball earlier than breaking right into a run.
By the time Odor started to hustle down the baseline, the ball off his bat banged off the highest of the out-of-town scoreboard in proper subject, narrowly denying him of what he thought may’ve been a house run. The tying run had crossed however the second baseman stood on first fairly than second.
There was loads of extra baseball to play, however the baserunning gaffe proved pricey in Sunday’s 6-3 loss to the Houston Astros in 11 innings, which ended the four-game sequence in opposition to the American League’s finest membership in a cut up.
The implications of Odor, who had a pair of game-tying hits, watching fairly than operating proper out of the field is what would possibly’ve led to the extra-innings collapse, with Houston scoring 4 runs off left-hander Keegan Akin and right-hander Joey Krehbiel within the eleventh inning to create the mandatory separation.
“Just made some mistakes,” supervisor Brandon Hyde stated. “I felt like we were made young team mistakes the last couple games late in the game.”
In the eighth, when Ryan Mountcastle lashed a double into right-center subject, Odor drove him in with that hard-hit ball off the best subject wall. The recreation was tied at 1, and Odor set free a fist pump and a yell towards his dugout. But he would possibly’ve scored on Kyle Stowers’ single within the subsequent at-bat, and he would’ve doubtless scored on Jorge Mateo’s infield single one at-bat later had he reached second on his game-tying hit.
Instead, the inning ended with bases loaded, Odor on third and the sport nonetheless tied. And it remained that manner into additional innings earlier than an eventual collapse — 4 of the primary 5 Astros reached safely within the eleventh, with the one out a sacrifice fly to attain the primary of the 4 runs.
“I hit it off the end of the bat,” Odor stated. “I was just trying to see if it was gonna stay in the park or not.”
When requested in regards to the play, Hyde stated: “I haven’t talked to him about it.”
Baltimore had sufficient to beat two deficits — first within the eighth and once more within the tenth. With Trey Mancini on the plate for Houston, a wild pitch from right-hander Dillon Tate introduced residence Yuli Gurriel from third. Mancini later doubled off the highest of the left subject wall, falling sufferer to the brand new dimensions for the ultimate time this 12 months.
By staying within the yard, Odor drove within the Orioles’ second run of the sport, serving because the late-game stoic for a second time to degree the rating.
“I like those situations,” Odor stated. “I think those situations are what everybody wants when we’re hitting. Just trying to stay calm and try to stay in the big part of the field, and that’s it.”
But a 3rd comeback was out of attain, whilst Cedric Mullins bought one run again with an RBI single within the eleventh.
Hours earlier, a 46-minute rain delay got here on the proper time for Baltimore, knocking Astros right-hander Cristian Javier out of the competition after he confronted the minimal by means of six innings and didn’t permit a success till the fifth.
Javier struck out seven of the primary 12 batters he confronted, then completed with eight strikeouts general. And by holding the Orioles scoreless, he prolonged his scoreless innings streak to twenty.
“We definitely had problems with Javier; only had one hit going in there into the seventh,” Hyde stated. “Nice for us to scratch a run, get a run in the eighth. But then just wasted opportunities again the ninth and the 10th inning for us to be able to win the game.”
But even with so little offensive manufacturing, right-hander Austin Voth stored the Orioles within the recreation. He gave up his lone run on a third-inning sacrifice fly, securing his ninth straight look with two runs or fewer scored in opposition to him.
The Astros broke by means of in opposition to the bullpen for the second straight recreation, although, capitalizing on a disastrous inning from Akin and Krehbiel. With simply 10 video games to play, the Orioles discover themselves 4 video games behind the Mariners, who blew a nine-run sixth inning lead and misplaced to the Royals, 13-12. Seattle, nevertheless, holds the tiebreaker over Baltimore, which complicates issues with time operating out.
The remaining 10 video games for the Orioles aren’t straightforward, both, starting with 4 in opposition to the Boston Red Sox earlier than touring to go to the New York Yankees. To finish the season, Baltimore hosts the Toronto Blue Jays, and whereas these three sequence play out, the Mariners intention for a magic variety of seven to ensure a playoff spot on the Orioles’ expense.
So a comeback fell quick Sunday. And a comeback for the ultimate wild-card spot would possibly’ve fallen quick Sunday, too.
“Anything can happen,” Voth stated. “We’re right there. We’ve just got to come out tomorrow and keep fighting, and this team has a lot of fight. I’m excited for this next series.”
Around the horn
- Tyler Wells, who will miss the rest of the season on the 15-day injured record for proper shoulder irritation, stated the harm reminds him of the ache he felt on the finish of final 12 months. The shoulder wasn’t aggravated in any manner by his earlier indirect pressure, nevertheless. Still, watching from the dugout the rest of the season is a disappointing growth. “I use the term ‘heartbroken’ because it sucks whenever you’re not able to compete with the team as we’re making the final push,” Wells stated. “It’s really difficult to sit there and be on the sidelines, but I’m trying to contribute as much as I can by being supportive.”
- Right-hander Félix Bautista threw a career-high 33 pitches in Saturday’s loss, however his lack of utilization final week makes Hyde assured there will likely be no arm fatigue for Bautista. “He’s thrown a lot this year, but we’ll just check in with him every day and see what he’s doing,” Hyde stated.
- Infielder Ramón Urías left Saturday’s recreation with a spasm between his neck and proper shoulder, one thing he’s handled over the previous few days. Hyde figured Urías will likely be again within the lineup in a day or two.
ORIOLES@RED SOX
Monday, 7:10p.m.
TV: MASN2
Radio: 97.9 FM, 101.5 FM, 1090 AM
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Source: www.bostonherald.com