The Orioles discover themselves atop the American League East largely as a result of they’re masters of the nail-biter. Games similar to Tuesday evening’s blowout loss to the San Diego Padres have been unusual, together with people who finish with them on the successful facet.
Baltimore’s 10-3 loss, which featured backup catcher James McCann’s first main league pitching look, left the Orioles at 74 victories. Exactly half have are available video games determined by two or fewer runs. Despite a file 17 video games above their opponent’s, Baltimore’s run differential is barely seven higher than San Diego’s.
The Padres (57-63) minimize into that deficit early Tuesday by rapidly creating one for the Orioles. Making his third begin for Baltimore after being acquired in a commerce deadline take care of the St. Louis Cardinals, right-hander Jack Flaherty issued a bases-loaded stroll earlier than surrendering a grand slam to Gary Sánchez in a primary inning by which he threw 18 strikes and 16 balls. The inning’s 5 runs had been scored with two outs, as had been San Diego’s different 5 on the evening.
“His command just wasn’t there from the start,” supervisor Brandon Hyde mentioned. “Tough time landing his breaking balls. All the breaking balls were down out of the zone, and everything was just kind of to extension side. They got enough of the bat on the ball. A lot of the damage was with two outs. But just a tough time commanding his pitches tonight.”
Despite getting two fast outs, Flaherty’s second body was maybe extra laborious, with one among his 39 pitches inside it leading to a two-run double by former Orioles infielder Manny Machado. He struck out three of his subsequent 4 batters, however with 83 pitches and 7 runs allowed, Flaherty’s evening ended after three innings. He has a 7.07 ERA for the Orioles (74-46), solely as soon as pitching previous the fifth inning.
“Just a bad night,” Flaherty mentioned. “Just didn’t execute.
“It wasn’t just one thing. [Catcher Adley Rutschman] did a good job back there. I just didn’t do a good job on the mound.”
The outing marked the second time in 5 video games one among Baltimore’s veteran starters put the membership in an insurmountable early gap. Kyle Gibson, who joins Flaherty as the one members of the Orioles’ rotation to pitch within the postseason, allowed 9 runs in 5 1/3 innings Friday in Seattle.
Most of the crew’s different starters are early of their careers and both have surpassed or are approaching their profession highs for innings, prompting the usage of a six-man rotation. Because of that, the Orioles’ bullpen is working a person quick. Nick Vespi allowed three runs over two innings earlier than Shintaro Fujinami and Mike Baumann labored a scoreless inning every. McCann, a 10-year veteran, took the mound for the primary time for the underside of the eighth, stranding two runners in scoring place whereas throwing solely one among his 14 pitches above 50 mph.
“He had a smile on his face coming off the mound, so that was nice,” Hyde mentioned. “It was the best part of the game.”
Before Austin Hays’ solo house run and Gunnar Henderson’s RBI single plated runs within the ninth, Baltimore’s offense got here on Cedric Mullins’ single within the sixth. San Diego starter Michael Wacha pitched 5 scoreless innings in his first begin since July 1.
Perhaps the one excellent news for the Orioles was the Tampa Bay Rays additionally dropping by seven, leaving Baltimore’s lead within the AL East at three video games.
Around the horn
- Outfielder Aaron Hicks exited Monday’s recreation, his first off the injured record for a left hamstring pressure, with a sore again and was not in Tuesday’s lineup. Hyde mentioned pregame that Hicks was out there to play, however he didn’t seem within the loss.
- Continuing his development after Tommy John elbow reconstruction, left-hander John Means made his second rehabilitation begin with Double-A Bowie on Tuesday, permitting 4 runs in 1 1/3 innings. Means threw 45 pitches, up from 28 in his first begin.
- Left-hander Drew Rom, one of many three prospects Baltimore despatched to St. Louis for Flaherty, pitched six scoreless innings towards Triple-A Norfolk on Tuesday, placing out eight and permitting two hits. Infielder César Prieto, additionally a part of the bundle, went 2-for-5 with a double in Memphis’ 5-0 win.
Orioles at Padres
Wednesday, 8:40 p.m.
TV: MASN2
Radio: 97.9 FM, 101.5 FM, 1090 AM
Orioles at Athletics
Friday, 9:40 p.m.
TV: MASN2, MLB Network (out of market solely)
Radio: 97.9 FM, 101.5 FM, 1090 AM
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Source: www.bostonherald.com