Calling the Pen: Will collision wake up the Orioles?

A family friend who had gone to spring training had one observation after seeing the Orioles. “They’re big guys,” she said. “You don’t realize how big until you see them up close.”

The Athletics’ Carlos Cortes can attest to how big, and strong, catcher Samuel Basallo is after running into him in the seventh inning of the Orioles’ 2-1 win over the A’s on Sunday. Basallo completed a game-saving play for the Orioles after receiving a perfect one-hop throw from centerfielder Leody Taveras.

When Zack Gelof lined the single to straightaway center, I thought the A’s had tied the game after the Orioles had wasted another bases-loaded scoring opportunity in the bottom of the sixth. But Taveras charged the ball and caught it in stride. He then threw a strike to home plate that Basallo caught on one hop.

Cortes had reached second on a steal, and it was going to take a perfect play to prevent him from reaching home. A perfect defensive play is a lot to ask of the Orioles (18-23).

But they executed one when they desperately needed it. The 6-foot-4, 250-pound Basallo made the catch and braced for impact. Cortes didn’t slide but crashed into him, bouncing off to the left as Basallo held the ball and appeared to glare at the runner. Manager Craig Albernaz, a former catcher, came out of the dugout quickly to check on Basallo and perhaps to make sure that was the only collision to take place.

For a team that is struggling mightily, the timing of the play couldn’t have been better. The Orioles had lost eight of 10, including four to the New York Yankees, who start a three-game series with the O’s on Monday night at Camden Yards. The Yankees embarrassed them in four games in New York.

It’s difficult to predict what might jumpstart this team, or even if it can be jumpstarted. Their rally from a 7-1 deficit against the Diamondbacks — on the night when Jeremiah Jackson hit a grand slam after hitting Albernaz with a foul ball — didn’t produce any momentum. Neither did back-to-back strong starts from Shane Baz and Chris Bassitt against the Astros. Instead, the Orioles went into a tailspin that continued in the first two games against the A’s.

It created a feeling that they’d find a way to lose Sunday’s game against the A’s when they continued to falter with runners in scoring position — Gunnar Henderson’s bat toss after striking out with the bases loaded in the bottom of the sixth illustrating their frustration.

And sure enough, the Athletics got a clutch hit in the top of the seventh with a runner on second. But this time, the Orioles held their ground in the form of a 21-year-old catcher whose promise is substantial.

“Anytime a play happens at the plate, I’m expecting it, just so I’m ready for it,” Basallo said through a team translator. “Sure enough in that moment, it did happen, and thankfully I was ready for it, and I was able to brace for impact.”

The Orioles got a big play from one of their bigger men, and from the 6-foot-2 Taveras.

“I thought it was impressive,” Basallo said about the throw to the plate. “He really got the ball there in time and honestly, I think it’s one of the best throws and plays we’ve had this year.”

We’ll see if there’s a carryover effect.