Baltimore Orioles soar on pitching, Trey Mancini

Jorge Lopez turned in perhaps his best effort last night as a starter for the Baltimore Orioles. He didn’t stay around long enough to secure the win, but he put the Birds in a position to win the game. And that’s all one can ask, and it’s the job of a starting pitcher. Lopez’s line: 5.2 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 5 K.

The O’s took a 1-0 lead on a solo homer by Ryan Mountcastle in the second inning. Lopez struggled just a bit in the fourth, giving up a base hit and a HBP, and allowing both runners to advance on a wild pitch. Devers’ sac fly-RBI would later tie the game.

But Lopez limited the damage, which is a good thing. He also pitched out of a situation with a runner at third early in the fifth inning, not allowing the run to cross. In any of the first three games of the series that run would have scored, and probably led to a big inning for Boston. Not last night.

The Birds got the lead for good in the last of the sixth when Trey Mancini smacked a solo homer of his own. They say that solo home runs don’t beat you, but in a tie game they’re huge. Not only did that give the Orioles the lead, but also gave them momentum in the game.

Two innings later Mancini would net an RBI-single to give the Birds an insurance run. Freddy Galvis would add a second insurance run with a sac fly-RBI later in the inning. Boston went quietly in the ninth, and the O’s salvaged the series finale by a 4-1 score.

Manager Brandon Hyde praised Jorge Lopez after the game, along with the entire pitching effort overall:

So happy for Lopie. Got over the hump tonight, got through five and got into the sixth inning. Probably could have gone longer, but he hasn’t gone that far so far this year. We pitched so well tonight. I was so impressed with Lopie’s stuff, once again throwing 97 (mph) sinkers, utilizing all pitches, even throwing some sliders tonight. And then the other guys who came in just did a great job on the mound.

Quote courtesy of Roch Kubatko, MASNsports

But also keep in mind that Trey Mancini’s timely hitting played a huge role. He took advantage of the opportunities he was given to drive in runs. And that, along with solid pitching, is what wins you games.

The Orioles now head to Queens (NY) for a short two-game set with the New York Mets at Citi Field. John Means gets the start for the Orioles, and he’ll be opposed by New York’s Marcus Stroman. Game time is set for just after 7 PM.

Baltimore Orioles: Aggressive approach doesn’t always work

Dean Kremer took to the mound for the Baltimore Orioles this afternoon, and you might argue that he kept Boston more at bay than the O’s had done in the first two games of the series. However Boston’s a very aggressive team at the plate; and as a close friend pointed out to me this morning, there’s something about the Orioles that ticks Boston off. And he isn’t wrong. They just seem to play out of their minds against the Birds, and the bounces seem to go their way. Kremer’s line: 5.0 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 1 BB, 3 K.

The Orioles seemed to want to adopt Boston’s philosophy of being aggressive today. They swung earlier in counts, as is reflected in the fact that the Birds only mustered four hits. I suppose that you chalk that up to not being able to con a con man.

The O’s took a 1-0 lead in the first on Ryan Mountcastle’s RBI-single. But Boston came right back with a solo homer in the second off the bat of Devers. But the Orioles got the lead back in the fifth with a solo homer by Cedric Mullins. However they couldn’t put any insurance on the board past there.

Which lends an ear to not being able to con a con man. Boston apparently is a team that can get away with being aggressive early in the count. The Orioles aren’t. You have to play your game. And Boston was able to get the Orioles out of their game today.

Devers’ RBI-double in the sixth and Renfroe’s solo homer in the eighth ran the score to 4-2. But Mountcastle (who had a great game) would come through for the Orioles once again in the eighth. His RBI-single cut the lead to 4-3, which was the eventual final.

The series concludes tomorrow evening at Camden Yards. Jorge Lopez gets the start for the Birds, and he’ll be opposed by Boston’s Martin Perez. Game time is set for just after 7 PM.

Baltimore Orioles: Zac Lowther struggles in spot start

The Baltimore Orioles called Zac Lowther up from the minors to make a spot start last night against Boston. And the results were pretty much what you would have expected, as the Birds fell prey to the BoSox once again. Lowther’s line: 2.1 IP, 7 H, 7 R, 2 K, 3 BB.

The O’s actually held the lead in this game, albeit ever-so-briefly. DJ Stewart’s RBI-single in the last of the first gave the Orioles a 1-0 edge. But Boston came right back with four in the second. Gonzalez’s run-scoring double tied the game in the second (due in part to a throwing error). Following Renfroe’s RBI-single, Chavis smacked a two-run homer before the inning ended.

The Orioles were able to put some runs up in this game, however while Boston was scoring in buckets, the O’s were piecemealing their way to the end. Freddy Galvis’ solo homer in the last of the second cut the lead in half at 4-2. However Boston would put three up in the third, two in the fourth, and another two in the sixth.

Trey Mancini and Ramon Urias would add RBI-doubles and singles respectively in the sixth. Luckily however by that point the faucet had been turned off in Boston’s scoring. Austin Hays would add a two-RBI single in the last of the ninth, but the Birds fell 11-6.

After the game Lowther pointed at his execution as the reason why he struggled, but also felt he made some good pitches:

Just not executing in the right spots. When I was missing I was missing over the heart of the plate, and to a good lineup like that you’re going to get hurt. I made a lot of good pitches, maybe not when I needed to, but I’m going to take the good from this and kind of just dump the bad. You can always learn from this stuff. I know what I need to do to get better, so just being able to work on that between outings is something I’m going to take forward.

Quote courtesy of Roch Kubatko, MASNsports

The series continues this afternoon at Camden Yards. Dean Kremer gets the start for the O’s, and he’ll be opposed by Boston’s Nick Pivetta. Game time is set for just after 1 PM.

Baltimore Orioles fall after lengthy rain delay

I suppose the Baltimore Orioles should consider themselves lucky that last night’s game wasn’t rained out. It isn’t like we haven’t seen our share of seven inning doubleheader’s thus far in 2021. However Matt Harvey’s four-run fourth inning did the Birds in following an hour and thirty-eighth minute rain delay. Harvey’s line: 4.0 IP, 4 H, 4 R (0 earned), 1 BB, 3 K.

You notice that all four of those runs were unearned. Harvey himself committed a fielding error, allowing a runner to reach base. That runner then stole second, and reached third on a fielder’s choice. Therefore any runs in the inning were unearned.

Renfroe’s RBI-single scored the run, and following a walk Dalbec’s three-run homer gave Boston a 4-0 lead. But the O’s made a go of it in a sense. Trey Mancini smacked an RBI-single in the fifth, and Ryan Mountcastle a solo homer in the eighth. That cut the lead in half at 4-2.

However Boston would put two insurance runs across. They’d bet two RBI-doubles, one in the eighth and the other in the ninth. And in doing so they took the first game of the series, 4-2.

After the game Matt Harvey admitted that he wasn’t feeling it going in. He didn’t blame the weather or the delay, however that couldn’t have helped. Harvey on his outing:

I just really didn’t have it tonight. Kind of just was all over the place, really just physically didn’t feel that great and wasn’t able to get it done. I wasn’t able to limit the damage when I needed to that inning and it just wasn’t a good start. Didn’t feel good mechanically, didn’t feel good physically, didn’t feel I was that strong out there. It was a rough day. Chalk it up and move on and get ready for my next one.

Quote courtesy of Roch Kubatko, MASNsports

The series continues this evening at Camden Yards. Zac Lowther comes up from the minors to make the start for the O’s, and he’ll be opposed by Boston’s Garrett Richards. Game time is set for just after 7 PM.

Baltimore Orioles: Where does John Means’ performance rank?

John Means of the Baltimore Orioles throwing a no-hitter is nothing new. That is if you were born yesterday at least. Means threw the first no-hitter for the franchise since four pitchers shared a no-no in Oakland in 1991. And he became the first singular pitcher in Orioles’ history to throw a no-hitter since Jim Palmer in 1969.

It’s tough to compare no-hitters and say this one is better than that one. But consider this; Means is the only pitcher in history to toss a no-hitter and not surrender a walk, hit batsman, or have a batter reach base on an error. If not for the dropped third strike rule, we’d be talking about a perfect game this morning.

Again, I can’t tell you that Means’ no-hitter is more special than Palmer’s in terms of franchise history. However both in essence serve as 1 and 1A in terms of the best pitching performances in team history. Which one is which can be left up for debate.

Incidentally, the dropped third strike rule is an interesting one. In general I kind of understand the logic behind it. But the fact is that it cost Means a perfect game. But I’m not in favor of changing a rule just to be able to classify something as a perfect game. One thing however is for sure, and that’s the fact that Means faced only 27 hitters – the minimum. That he has in common with anyone who pitches a perfect game.

One way or the other, what we saw yesterday is something of which we haven’t seen much. It’s a special moment for Means, his teammates, and the Orioles fans. And it’s one that was a long time coming.

Baltimore Orioles: John Means No-Hits Seattle in an immortal effort

John Means is the story today – not the Baltimore Orioles. He became the first Oriole since Jim Palmer in 1969 to throw a no-hitter. (Four different Oriole pitchers shared a no-hitter in 1991.) That‘s pretty select company. Means’ line: 9 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 12 K.

Obviously a no-no doesn’t really mean much unless you score some runs. And the Orioles did; DJ Stewart and Ramon Urias would smack RBI-singles in the second inning. I’m theory those two runs would have been enough, but Pat Valaika would smack a solo homer in the seventh, and Trey Mancini added some insurance runs in the eighth with a three-run homer.

The image of John Means sitting alone in the dugout in the later innings isn’t one that Orioles fans will soon forget. Heck, the entire game is one that Orioles fans won’t soon forget. And let’s be frank; this much-maligned franchise and fanbase deserved this moment. It was a long time coming.

And one can’t even begin to imagine what was going through John Means’ head after the birth of his son this past off season, and the death of his father last year. And now this. It had to be a heck of a moment.

For the record, this easily could have been a perfect game. A Seattle hitter (Haggerty) struck out in the third, but the ball rolled away from the catcher. Haggerty took first base and was promptly thrown out stealing. All other things being equal, if not for that play we’re talking about a perfect game.

There were a couple of close calls. In the eighth inning a ball was hit to the warning track, but caught by Austin Hays. In a lot of parks that might have been a home run, which obviously would have broken up the no-hitter. Heck maybe even at Camden Yards. But today’s game was in Seattle – not Oriole Park. So it was an out.

Even the last out…could have been a flair into the outfield. But games such as no-hitters or perfect games always require great defense behind the starting pitcher. And we saw it today. And it won’t be quickly forgotten.

I’ve obviously glossed over the overall game highlights. Because in games like this they’re almost unimportant. ALMOST. But make no mistake that the Mancini three-run homer was huge at the time. It gave the O’s a sizable lead. Which in theory may have allowed them to relax a bit.

But here’s another point; the unwritten codes of baseball dictate no bunting in a no-hitter (after the seventh inning). But what happens in a close game? A 3-0 lead in theory is a save situation.

A smaller lead might have given Seattle an opening to lay down a bunt to break up the no-hitter, and justify it by saying it was a close game. Mancini’s home run took that option away.

As I’ve said, the Orioles and Orioles fans won’t soon forget this game. And I hope that people realize what happened here. Richard Nixon was President the last time a single Oriole pitcher threw a no-hitter. Let that sink in. Let it all sink in. John Means, of the Baltimore Orioles, threw a no-hitter today.

Baltimore Orioles: Four-run eighth dooms the O’s

Jorge Lopez got the start last night in Seattle for the Baltimore Orioles. It ended up being another short(ish) start, as Lopez couldn’t qualify for a win with five innings pitched. Lopez’s line: 4.2 IP, 3 H, 1 R 2 BB, 4 K.

Lopez in effect did put the O’s in a spot to win. And again, that’s all you can ask of a starting pitcher. However after the game Lopez himself admitted he needed to get deeper into games:

It is something I have to work on. Last couple of outings been the same and same and same. I just go through, pitch by pitch again. When you try to do too much and or be better than last time, it doesn’t have to be like that. Sometimes it’s frustrating. I know everybody wants to get me, as a starter, seven innings. When are winning when we get to six or seven innings.

Quote courtesy of Steve Melewski, MASNsports

Seager’s solo homer in the fourth gave Seattle a 1-0 lead. But that’s the only run Lopez would surrender, and the Birds got it back an inning later. Rio Ruiz would tie the game at one with a solo shot of his own in the fifth.

But it would be Seager who would give Seattle the lead back. His sac fly-RBI in the eighth gave Seattle a 2-1 lead. Later in the inning Seattle broke the game open with Lewis’ three-run homer. Trey Mancini’s RBI-single in the ninth cut the final to 5-2.

Monday night the O’s got some clutch hits. That didn’t happen last night. One thing which sticks out is the Orioles loading the bases in the second inning, only to let Seattle off the hook. You have to at least push one across in that situation. Otherwise you embolden your opponent, and reject the opportunity. But this is part of growing as a young team.

The series and road trip conclude this afternoon at T-Mobile Park. John Means gets the start for the Birds, and he’ll be opposed by Seattle’s Yusei Kikuchi. Game time is set for just after 3:30 PM.

Baltimore Orioles: Cedric Mullins, Freddy Galvis slug the Birds to victory

The Baltimore Orioles got a quality start out of Dean Kremer last night in Seattle. Unfortunately, Kremer didn’t get the run support necessary to get the win. The run support came, just after Kremer had exited. Kremer’s line: 6.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 4 K.

However the job of a starting pitcher is to put the team in a position to win the game. Kremer did that and then some last night, leaving manager Brandon Hyde gushing about him after the game:

I thought Dean was really good. Aggressive with his fastball. Just got beat on a good cutter, down and away. Tip your hat to Murphy there for a really good piece of hitting and not an easy park to leave. But I thought Dean was in control the whole way through. I liked his tempo. He had life to his fastball. Saw some good changeups tonight. He pitched extremely aggressive tonight and that was fun to watch.

Courtesy of Steve Melewski, MASNsports

Kremer’s line run surrendered came on a solo homer by Murphy in the fifth. But that was his only mishap. And as we know, solo home runs generally don’t beat you.

Cedric Mullins came up with a runner on in the eighth, and promptly smacked a two/m-run homer. That put the Orioles in the lead, and for good at that. But they wanted more.

Maikel Franco’s RBI-groundout later in the inning ran the score to 3-1, but the O’s still weren’t done. They needed insurance, and it came in the form of a two-run homer by Freddy Galvis. In all, it was a five-run Orioles’ eighth inning.

And seeing that Seattle’s Haniger responded with a two-run homer of his own in the bottom of the inning, it’s a good thing they got those insurance runs. End of the day however, the Orioles’ pen held the lead without further incident. And the Birds took game one in Seattle.

The series continues tonight at Safeco Field. Jorge Lopez gets the start for the Birds, and he’ll be opposed by Seattle’s Justin Dunn. Game time is set for just after 10 PM.

Baltimore Orioles: Eighth inning does in the Birds

The Baltimore Orioles sent Bruce Zimmerman to the mound this afternoon in the series finale in Oakland. Zimmerman delivered one of those “in between” starts, which was consistent with the rest of the game. It was back-and-forth all day. Zimmerman’s line: 4.2 IP, 7 H, 4 R (3 earned), 2 BB, 4 K.

Oakland took an early 2-0 lead in the first inning. However the Birds came right back, cutting that to 2-1 on Freddy Galvis’ RBI-single in the second. And an inning later, the game would be tied. Austin Hays smacked a solo home run in the third, tying things up at two.

But then Oakland came back. Olson’s two-run homer in the bottom of that third inning gave them the lead back at 4-2. This was a game and a series of two teams with a lot of heart. And even in a losing effort, the Orioles showed that today. Trey Mancini’s two-RBI single in the fifth tied the game back up at four.

And it was Mancini who would also give the Orioles the lead in the seventh. His RBI-single gave them a one-run lead at 5-4. This appeared to put the Birds in the driver’s seat. But in the bottom of the inning Lowrie would appear to ground out to Franco at third, with Chapman on second. However Franco’s throw to first was off line. To further compound things, Mancini had trouble getting the ball out of his glove…

…all this while Chapman rounded third base. Whether or not Mancini would have been able to throw Chapman out at the plate had he gotten the ball cleanly out of his glove, I don’t know. But ultimately Chapman came around to score, tying the game at five.

DJ Stewart appeared to have a go-ahead RBI-double in the eighth. He drove the ball deep with a runner on second, only to have Laureano catch the ball in dramatic fashion at the wall. To add insult to injury, Laureano came up in the last of the eighth with a runner on, and smacked a two-run homer, which won the game for Oakland.

You never want to lose, but the O’s battled in this game. And in this series. I always say that if you’re going to take two-of-three in a series (which the Orioles did this weekend), you want the loss to come in games one or two. If you win the first two games and lose the finale it almost feels like you dropped the series.

The Orioles now head to Seattle for three games at Safeco Field starting tomorrow night. Dean Kremer gets the start for the O’s, and Seattle has yet to announce a starter. Game time is set for just after 10 PM.

Baltimore Orioles: Good things can happen with runners on base

The Baltimore Orioles got another strong start this afternoon out of Matt Harvey at the Oakland Coliseum. Luckily however he was also gifted several runs that all but marginalized how solid Harvey was. That isn’t meant to marginalize Harvey’s effort, of course. Harvey’s line: 5.2 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 3 BB, 1 K.

The game was won for the O’s in a monster third inning. Austin Hays hit what should have been a two-RBI single. A good thing for the Orioles, but by no means a game-changer. Not in the third inning, not even with nobody out. However Oakland committed a throwing error, allowing a third run to score. And Hays himself would later score on Trey Mancini’s run-scoring single.

I’ve written a million times that getting guys on base will cause good things to happen. Anything’s possible at any moment – if a pitcher uncorks a wild pitch with nobody on base, did he really throw a wild pitch? Does it even matter? But do it with ducks on the pond, and it’s different. And Hays doesn’t score on that hit if he isn’t at third base; and he got there because of the error.

The Orioles have been held accountable left and right for their mistakes in games. And they’re finally holding other teams accountable now as well. Ryan Mountcastle’s sac fly-RBI later in the inning would score Mancini and run the score to 5-0. And to round out the inning, Maikel Franco would score on a wild pitch.

DJ Stewart would give the Orioles some insurance runs in the sixth with a two-run homer. And it’s a good thing he did, as Oakland made a bit of a comeback. They managed to put four runs on the board, two of which came on solo homers. And one of those was in the ninth inning. 8-4 is a lot different than 6-4 when trying to close out a game.

But again, the Orioles are holding teams accountable for their mistakes, and finding ways to score. Three of those runs were unearned. However they still count. If you can find ways to score, you’ll win a lot of games. Taking advantage of the opportunities you’re afforded is a part of every sport. Also a part of life.

The series concludes tomorrow afternoon at the Oakland Coliseum. Bruce Zimmerman gets the call for the Birds, and he’ll be opposed by Oakland’s Sean Manaea. Game time is set for just after 4 PM.