Baltimore Orioles: Should we be concerned about Jorge Lopez?

Jordan Lyles produced a quality start for the Baltimore Orioles this afternoon at target Field in Minnesota. This after a one hour and six minute rain delay to begin the game. But once the game started, Lyles was definitely in a zone. Lyles’ line: 6.1 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 7 K.

The O’s took the lead early on thanks to an RBI-double by Tyler Nevin. He sent a loping liner into the right field power alley, splitting the outfielders – it literally couldn’t have been placed better (aside from into the stands). One inning later Anthony Santander smacked a solo homer, and the O’s led 2-0.

Jorge Mateo’s sac fly-RBI in the fourth gave the Birds a 3-0 lead. However Minnesota had settled in by then, and they didn’t allow the O’s to cross the plate again. They also chipped away at the lead.

It started with a solo homer in the last of the seventh by Gordon, which chased Lyles from the game. One inning later Correa added a sac fly-RBI, cutting the Orioles’ lead to 3-2. Which is where the score stood going to the last of the ninth, and Jorge Lopez came in.

Lopez of course had blown the save last night, his first of the season. For the record, bringing him in and getting him back in the saddle again is the right move – provided that it’s a save situation, which it was. The easiest way to get the monkey off your back is to get right back on the mound.

Sadly, this doesn’t appear to be Jorge Lopez’s series. He surrendered a leadoff home run to Polanco, promptly tying the score. A few base runners later, Miranda’s RBI-single won it once again in walk off fashion for Minnesota, with the Birds falling, 4-3. Lyles on the loss:

It’s another bad day for me. Jordan’s start was really good. I mean, it’s all on me. I’ve just got to figure it out tomorrow. These things are going to happen. It’s the first time it happened to me, so I knew something was coming and I have to figure it out. I have to control it and keep it going.

Quote courtesy of Roch Kubatko, MASNsports

Brandon Hyde and many of Lopez’s teammates (including Jordan Lyles) maintained confidence in Lopez after the game. But the question is are these two games just outliers, or is there a cause for concern about Lyles?

And I can’t answer that, folks. Again, I did support giving him the ball this afternoon in a save situation. Now having said that, in the wake of two straight blown saves, maybe Lopez shouldn’t be available tomorrow. Maybe he needs to clear his head just a bit. Give him a day off, and be ready for Monday and onward.

The series with Minnesota concludes tomorrow afternoon at Target Field. Tyler Wells gets the start for the O’s, and he’ll be opposed by Minnesota’s Devin Smeltzer. Game time is set for just after 2 PM.