Orioles, Helsley collapse in 9th after stirring comeback in crushing 6-5 loss to Dodgers

LOS ANGELES–What happened? The Orioles looked as if they were going to pull off an incredible comeback against the two-time World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers.

But after coming back from a 3-0 deficit to take a 5-3 lead into the bottom of the ninth, closer Ryan Helsley allowed three runs and the Orioles had had to swallow a hard-to-digest 6-5 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers before 51,939 at Dodger Stadium.

Helsley, who missed seven weeks because of inflammation in his right elbow and had just two rehab appearances at Triple-A Norfolk, allowed back-to-back home runs when he pitched for the first time since April 28^th on Wednesday in Seattle.

Given a two-run lead, Mookie Betts homered with one out. Helsley walked Max Muncy and, after Tommy Edman fouled out, he also walked Ryan Ward.

With a 1-2 count, Dalton Rushing hit a sharp single to right that scored pinch-runner Alex Call with the tying run. Oriole rightfielder Tyler O’Neill fielded the line drive on one hop and made a hurried throw home, but his one-hop throw was up the third base line and skipped off the mitt of catcher Samuel Basallo to allow Ward to score the winning run. O’Neill was charged with a throwing error.

The Orioles (35-42) were 30-0 when leading after the eighth inning, and Helsley (0-3) suffered his first blown save.

“Didn’t know off the bat if we were going to be able to catch it, and obviously didn’t,” Helsley said about Rushing’s liner to right. “As soon as it got down, I knew it was going to be tight, and I think it just took a weird hop on Sammy. It’s probably my fault. I wasn’t back to the net close enough to back him up, and the ball got away and obviously they scored.”

Manager Craig Albernaz said Basallo should have been able to make that catch.

“It looked like it took a weird hop,” Albernaz said. “I think if you ask Sammy, it’s a play he should have made. But, yeah, it looked like it took a weird hop.”

When Albernaz was asked if Basallo should have blocked the ball instead of just sticking out his glove, he bristled.

“I think we’re fixated on the wrong player right now,’ he said. He thought Helsley’s ineffectiveness was to blame.

“I mean, the two walks,” he said. “First off, that’s what hurt, was the uncharacteristic of Helsley. Like obviously, he’s getting back, getting back in the groove, but the two walks hurt that inning.”

With Helsley obviously struggling, Albernaz gave no thought to using Rico Garcia instead.

“No, that’s Helsley’s inning,” he said.

Basallo wasn’t sure about the play.

“I tried to trap that ball there,” he said through a team translator. “I think it took a bad bounce there, so to speak. But I feel like I tried my best to trap it, and I should’ve.”

What was the comeback like? For five innings, the Orioles looked as if they’d continue their Seattle slumber. On Thursday, they suffered their first shutout of the season, managing just three hits. A night later, they had just one hit in five innings against Roki Sasaki.

Trailing 3-0, Gunnar Henderson hit a two-run home run and Pete Alonso followed with another, and the Orioles tied it, 3-3, in the sixth.

Jeremiah Jackson’s two-run single in the seventh put the Orioles ahead, 5-3, and seemingly headed toward an uplifting victory.

“Sasaki, the velo was there, he was throwing 100,” Albernaz said. “Some splits he was throwing it was 93, 94, late action to it. And he had the slider going, too, and he was pumping strikes.

“It was tough for our guys to calibrate early, and then big swing by Gunnar and Pete followed up. So just waiting him out, I guess. But you never know, and with our offense, you never know when it’s going to happen.”

How hard was this game to lose? Basallo was hitless in four at-bats, striking out three times and grounding to second.

“You don’t want to lose,” Basallo said. “It’s difficult. You want to try and win as much as possible. It’s not fun to lose. I put some of it on myself, as well. Tomorrow’s a new day, and we’ll come back tomorrow and we’ll try to do our best to win tomorrow’s game.”

About two hours before gametime, the Dodgers announced that Shohei Ohtani wouldn’t be playing on Friday night. He was about to become a father and given paternity leave. He’s expected back this weekend.

The Orioles nearly took advantage of it.

What’s wrong with Helsley? Helsley (0-3) acknowledged that he was to blame.

“I wasn’t really ahead of guys and didn’t put guys away when I had the chance,” Helsley said. “Maybe just trying to be too fine. Should’ve just got back right in the zone, attacked hitters again. Instead, was falling behind and making it really hard on myself.”

Helsley didn’t think he needed more than two innings at Norfolk before being restored to the closer role.

“Yeah, I felt pretty good, especially after Seattle,” Helsley said. “I thought I was in a good spot, and those two rehab outings went well. Obviously, tonight didn’t go well, but made it out healthy and hopefully bounce back tomorrow and get back out there.”

How was starter Trey Gibson? Gibson allowed three runs on seven hits in five innings, walking four and striking out eight.

Muncy had a two-run single in the first, and Andy Pages hit an RBI double in the second that scored Alex Freeland on a play at the plate that had to be reviewed. Jackson, playing left field, slipped slightly before making his relay throw to Henderson, whose throw home was toward the first base line. Basallo made a diving tag after catching the ball, but Freeland just touched home with his right hand before Basallo tagged him on the chest.

In the third, Gibson loaded the bases with none out before striking out Ward, Rushing and Freeland on sliders to keep the deficit at 3-0. He screamed into his glove as he walked off the mound.

“I think it was just the execution,” he said. “I think the execution found itself after that. I think it was just kind of letting those pitches, eat, to be honest.”

The 24-year-old right-hander said he’ll continue to use his slider, which he calls the death ball.

“I feel really good with the death ball. If I’m gonna die out here, I’ll die with the death ball,” he said. “There was a lot of adrenaline going through my body coming off the mound. Just kind of bared down, made some pitches in that inning and just kept the team in the [ballgame]. Just tried my best to get length and keep the bullpen fresh for the weekend.”

What does it mean? The Orioles failed to capitalize on an excellent opportunity to win on a comeback against the Dodgers, who were playing without Ohtani.

What’s the stat of the day? 30-1. It seems strange that a team with a losing record had gone nearly half the season without blowing a ninth-inning lead.

What’s the word? “Being the reason your team loses is never fun. Those guys battled and played a heck of a game and unfortunately didn’t close the deal for ’em tonight.”-Helsley on the loss.

What’s going on in the minor leagues? Triple-A Norfolk hit five home runs in its 14-3 win over Syracuse. José Barrero hit two, Jud Fabian, Johnathan Rodriguez and Ryan Noda each hit one.

José Espada pitched 2 1/3 hitless innings.

Frederick Bencosme, Thomas Sosa and Ethan Anderson homered in Double-A Chesapeake’s 4-2 win over Richmond.

Evan Yates allowed one run on three hits in six innings.

Eduardo Cartaya pitched six scoreless innings, allowing three hits as High-A Frederick beat Hub City, 3-2. Emil Bucce homered.

Elvin Garcia drove in three runs as Single-A Delmarva beat Myrtle Beach, 8-4.

What’s next?  Trevor Rogers (3-7, 5.86) will start against Yoshinobu Yamamoto (7-4, 2.52) on Saturday at 10:10 p.m.

Call for questions: Most weekdays, I’ll be answering at least one Orioles question. Please send yours to: Rich@BaltimoreBaseball.com