Sometimes a change within the calendar might be all that’s wanted. For as dreary as July and August have been for Ryan Mountcastle, the begin to September has been extra optimistic.
That optimism took the type of Mountcastle gazing upward, following the hovering parabola of a ball headed over the left discipline fence at Oriole Park earlier than starting the primary of two dwelling run trots Saturday night time. Between July 1 and Aug. 30, Mountcastle hit 5 homers.
But in his final 4 video games, the Orioles first baseman has gone deep 3 times, together with his first-inning blast and his third-inning opposite-field shot. With every, there’s a rising sense that Mountcastle has turned a nook on his midsummer doldrums. The quick good thing about these 4 RBIs on Saturday was powering Baltimore to an 8-1 win towards the Oakland Athletics to maintain tempo within the American League wild-card race.
With their fourth straight victory, the Orioles (71-61) transfer a season-high 10 video games above .500 and keep inside 1 1/2 video games of the ultimate postseason spot.
Mountcastle’s two homers have been a part of the Orioles’ lengthy ball barrage, which included solo pictures from Cedric Mullins, Anthony Santander and Adley Rutschman.
On an evening stuffed with dwelling runs, maybe essentially the most spectacular swing from any Baltimore participant is the one which didn’t find yourself counting. The sheer neck-craning nature of the blast, leaving followers and gamers alike to stare up and gape because the ball hurtled a fraction proper of the foul pole, was one thing to marvel at.
Gunnar Henderson’s foul ball left his bat at a 40-degree launch angle and traveled an estimated 409 toes down the precise discipline line towards the B&O Warehouse.
Henderson reached base with a single, and Rutschman and Kyle Stowers additionally produced. The three rookies — chosen with Baltimore’s prime three picks within the 2019 draft — began collectively for the primary time. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, it’s the primary time in Orioles historical past the highest three picks from one draft have began collectively.
The offense supplied loads of respiratory room for a pitching workers that danced out of hazard early earlier than dominating late.
Right-hander Austin Voth wanted 30 pitches to flee the primary inning with only one run towards him, however he quickly discovered hassle within the fourth. Voth conceded three straight singles to load the bases, then pressured a shallow flyout earlier than his early hook after 3 1/3 innings.
Left-hander Keegan Akin escaped the jam by forcing Chad Pinder into an inning-ending double play that introduced the 30,853 followers at Camden Yards to their toes. Akin labored a hitless two innings in aid to cowl for Voth’s shortest outing since July 25.
The remainder of the bullpen held Oakland scoreless, too, together with a aid debut for left-hander DL Hall. The rookie threw a three-pitch mixture of his four-seam fastball, curveball and changeup to strike out two batters within the eighth inning. And with no want to look at his pitch rely, he reached 98 mph together with his heater.
A benchmark
The doubts crept in as a 24-year-old, already seven years into his minor league profession. That’s when Robinson Chirinos, a center infielder within the Chicago Cubs system, was despatched to prolonged spring coaching in Arizona. Once there, within the blistering July warmth, he donned catchers gear for the primary time and ready to be taught a brand new place.
“That’s probably the lowest point of my career,” Chirinos stated 14 years later exterior the Orioles dugout. “But for some reason, it clicked. That morning in Arizona, I told myself, ‘You know what? You’re gonna break into the big leagues as a catcher.’”
Two and a half years later, Chirinos made it as a 27-year-old.
And he’s been right here ever since, reaching 10 years of main league service time Saturday, qualifying him for MLB’s pension program. The 38-year-old has made a bigger affect within the clubhouse for Baltimore than he has on the diamond, serving as a mentor for Rutschman.
Before Chirinos arrived this offseason, supervisor Brandon Hyde had heard from pals across the league that the catcher was a superb teammate.
“But he has definitely exceeded those lofty expectations already, just how much he’s impacted our team, impacted our clubhouse, impacted our dugout,” Hyde stated. “I think a huge accomplishment for a player is being an ultimate teammate and how you make players better around you, and Robbie has done that he’s made our whole clubhouse better. He’s helped change the culture of our team, and I can’t thank him enough for that.”
Early on, Chirinos by no means considered reaching 10 years of service time. He was extra involved with the day-to-day side of sustaining his function. But in 2019, he realized how shut he was. And now he’s arrived.
“Can’t take it for granted,” Chirinos stated. “It’s been a long journey, but I enjoy every step of the way.”
Around the horn
- Right-hander Tyler Wells struck out three batters in 2 1/3 innings throughout a rehab look with High-A Aberdeen on Friday. Hyde stated Wells will “more than likely” make one other rehab look after he throws a bullpen session in Baltimore. Wells has been on the injured checklist with an indirect pressure since late July.
- Right-hander Grayson Rodriguez will make his subsequent rehab begin Tuesday for Double-A Bowie as he continues to work again from a proper lat muscle pressure suffered in June. Rodriguez made his first look Thursday for High-A Aberdeen, recording 4 outs on 31 pitches.
- The Orioles claimed right-hander Anthony Castro from the Cleveland Guardians on Saturday and optioned him to Triple-A Norfolk. To make room on the 40-man roster, Baltimore designated right-hander Phoenix Sanders for task. Castro has a 7.43 ERA in 13 1/3 innings with Cleveland this season. Additionally, infielder Richie Martin cleared waivers and was assigned to Norfolk.
This story can be up to date.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com