BALTIMORE–What happened? The Orioles concluded an eventful May with an impressive performance against the Toronto Blue Jays, one of several teams they’re chasing for a wild-card spot.
The Orioles began May with a 15-16 record. After losing three straight to the Tampa Bay Rays, they were a season-low eight games below from .500 and facing a 10-game homestand, featuring a rematch with Tampa Bay.
Turnabout is fair play for the Orioles, who swept the three-game series against the Rays and, behind some dramatics, finished their longest homestand of the season with a 7-3 record.
Sunday’s game was headlined by an excellent start by Kyle Bradish and early hitting in a 9-5 win over the Toronto Blue Jays before 34,476 at Oriole Park.
The homestand was punctuated by three walkoff wins, two home runs by Colton Cowser on successive days, and Saturday’s wild five-run ninth-inning victory.
“It was a good homestand,” manager Craig Albernaz said. “Boys played well, they competed, great at-bats. Defense was awesome. Base running. It was just, we were playing the baseball that we’re capable of.
“All the work that these guys have been putting in relentlessly every day, we’re starting to see the rewards now, and against some really good teams. It’s been fun to watch. Especially with the starting pitching. The starting pitching has really taken a step forward and it’s been awesome.”
There were two bad losses. On Thursday, Pete Alonso, who won Saturday’s game, was picked off first in the eighth inning of a 2-1 loss to Toronto. A day later, the Orioles blew a 5-0 lead.
Sunday’s game was delayed when a young fan threw a ball that struck Toronto rightfielder Jesús Sánchez on right wrist. He had to leave the game, but it appeared the fan thought Sánchez raised his glove to have a catch, and he wasn’t expecting the ball to be thrown.
“That’s something that I know we’re looking into,” Albernaz said. “We don’t want anyone getting hurt or fans throwing the ball on the field or anything like that. I think the imaging came back OK for Sánchez, something you don’t want to see, but I know we’ll look into it.”
Kyle Bradish (3-6) allowed an unearned run on four hits in seven innings.
Cowser hit his third home run of the homestand, his fourth of the season in the midst of a five-run third. His three-run home run gave the Orioles (28-32) a 6-0 lead.
Toronto starter Spencer Miles (2-1) was charged with all six runs.
Cowser’s infield out scored Alonso with the first run in the second. Alonso’s single and Samuel Basallo’s double preceded Cowser’s home run.
The Orioles added three runs in the sixth against Hayden Juenger, pitching in the major leagues for the first time. Taylor Ward’s fielder’s choice, Gunnar Henderson’s double and Adley Rutschman’s sacrifice fly put the Orioles up 9-0.
Jackson Holliday’s throwing error in the seventh allowed Toronto (29-31) to score its first run.
The Blue Jays scored four runs in the eighth against Tyler Wells. Yohendrick Piñango hit a three-run home run that landed on Eutaw Street, the second this season.
What’s the difference with Bradish and the rotation? In his last five starts, Bradish has a 1.72 ERA, and the rotation has a 2.38 ERA in its last dozen.
“I’m competing better and that’s a big one for me,” Bradish said. “I’m challenging hitters, and I feel like I’m putting them on their heels instead of vice-versa. Earlier in the year I was having some tough luck, but I think the biggest issue was the walks, and right now we’re limiting those and just trying to fill up the strike zone and get early contact.
“I feel like as a whole, starting staff, we felt like we were putting our team kind of in a hole to start the games and not pitching to what we were capable of. We’ve had some conversations about it, about just attacking hitting and putting them on their heels. I think you see that from every guy. There’s a lot more confidence out there and a lot more challenging hitters and filling up the strike zone.”
Basallo was thrilled with Bradish’s start. “That’s the Bradish we know,” he said through a team translator. “He’s attacking the zone. He’s throwing a bunch of strikes, going after hitters, and all his pitches are working really well right now. He’s being very aggressive right now, and that’s the Bradish we like to see.”
He likes what he sees from the team’s rotation.
“At the end of the day, bad stretches only last for so long.” Basallo said. “You’re going to go through good stretches and bad stretches, both. I think right now we’re seeing a really good stretch out of the guys. They’re pitching very confidently and we’re seeing a lot of good stuff from them. Hopefully, they keep it going here.”
How’s Cowser doing? Cowser didn’t homer until May 15th, and on this homestand he hit three crucial home runs, each of which were 424 feet or farther.
“There’s ebbs and flows of a season,” Cowser said. “I felt like I was on kind of a negative flow there for a little bit, and being able to turn the page a little bit and just keep working and have some success show up, it’s more so a sign of the work that’s been being put in and also just the confidence in me to go out there and go out and compete.”
What does it mean? The Orioles have a six-game road trip to Boston and Toronto, and as long as they win at least three of those games, they should be fine.
What’s the stat of the day? .338/.973 Basallo’s average and OPS in May.
“Just trying to make contact, do the simple things, not trying to do too much at the plate, move runners over, things like that, doing whatever I can to help runners score,” Basallo said. “Just trying to keep it simple at the plate right now.”
What’s the word? “I think it’s a little bit different culture. You’ve got new catchers. Guys are kind of learning you as you navigate outings. I think everybody’s different in that regard. I think it just takes time for us to learn them, them to learn us and see where we can help them.”–Mitch Plassmeyer, Orioles assistant pitching coach, on the adjustment Shane Baz and Chris Bassitt have made since joining the team.
What’s going on in the minor leagues? Christian Encarnacion-Strand had four hits and a home run. Tommy Pham also homered in Triple-A Norfolk’s 7-6 loss to Durham.
Juaron Watts-Brown allowed four runs in 3 1/3 innings in Double-A Chesapeake’s 5-2 loss to Erie. Tavian Josenberger hit a two-run homer.
Vance Honeycutt hit a three-run home run in High-A Frederick’s 4-3 loss to Jersey Shore.
Christian Rodriguez allowed six runs, one unearned, on nine hits in 5 1/3 innings in Single-A Delmarva’s 5-2 loss to Fredericksburg. Enrique Bradfield Jr., who’s on a rehab assignment, struck out four times.
What’s next? After Monday’s offday, the Orioles will open a three-game series at Fenway Park against the Boston Red Sox on Tuesday night at 6:45. Shane Baz (2-5, 4.48) will start against Connelly Early (5-2, 2.95).
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