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Kevin Gausman, who was one strikeout away from matching a career-high (10) in Saturday’s 8-5 loss to the New York Yankees, exited the game with one out in the sixth. And what transpired prior to his exit shouldn’t be a surprise considering how Baltimore’s 2018 season is going.
In the top half, Gausman induced a grounder following Giancarlo Stanton’s single — an easy double play ball, right?
Well, Manny Machado fielded it cleanly, flipped it to Jonathan Schoop who threw the ball past Chris Davis at first, resulting in Gary Sanchez reaching second. The next batter, Didi Gregorius, recorded an RBI single which skipped past Adams Jones — the team’s second error of the inning — advancing Gregorius to second. And, like clockwork, Aaron Hicks singled up the middle, scoring Gregorius — the Yankees’ sixth run of the game. On that play, Hicks reached second on the Orioles’ third error of the inning.
“There’s a lot of things that happened in that game, but those are some things that we know it’s been a challenge, especially against a good team, you can’t do those things,” Showalter said Saturday evening. “I’ve said many times, you look out at the error column at the end of a game, it usually tells who won the game.”
Gausman added, “It comes down to execution of pitches, and after that, it kind of seemed like I really had a hard time throwing my changeup and my split down in the zone and I got in some counts where they battled and put together good at-bats and I just didn’t execute my pitch.”
He continued, “We go out there and shut the door, I go out there and shut the door in that sixth and we might win that ball game. That’s where it comes down to being more consistent.”
Gausman didn’t help himself early on. He gave up a two-run homer in back-to-back innings. Making matters worse: They both occurred with two outs.
In the second, the right-hander gave up a two-out single to Hicks. Miguel Andujar then sent an 0-2 pitch over the wall in left center.
An inning later, Gausman struck out Aaron Judge and Greg Bird following Brett Gardner’s double — his second of the game. Stanton then laced the first pitch he saw into the right-field bleachers.
“Kevin was holding good stuff. He’s trying to go in on Stanton and jerked it, middle-middle where you don’t want to get the ball,” Showalter said. “Just like all hitters, if you can follow a certain approach to them you can really — greatly — multiply your chances of getting them out. You get the ball into some places you know it can’t go, you’re going to pay the price.”
Five of New York’s six runs against Gausman were earned.
The Yankees tacked on two more runs in the eighth in a game that was delayed one hour and 44 minutes before the first pitch due to the threat of inclement weather.
Revolving door at leadoff continues
The Orioles used three different leadoff hitters this past series against the Washington Nationals.
Combined, Joey Rickard, Jonathan Schoop and Jace Peterson, went 1-for-11.
“We’ve been talking about that for awhile,” said Showalter, regarding quality at-bats. “(In the past) we’ve been able to make a pitcher really grind all the way through the batting order and we haven’t done that this year.”
Peterson hit in the No. 1 spot Friday as well, going 0-for-4. But Saturday, Rickard’s name was called again.
In five at-bats, the right-handed hitter had one hit — a solo shot to left field on a 3-2 pitch.
Adam Jones and Manny Machado also went deep, but runs have been hard to come by.
“We’ve got to grind it out. We have to make the pitcher work, try to get a good pitch to hit,” Jones said. “Try to grind it out. … I feel like we are, we’re just not getting the results.”
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Your leadoff hitter was out there most of the offseason, Jon Jay. Signed for 3m. Currently hitting .305 with a .359 obp...But DD opted to pay an injured Colby’s Rasmus more money because he at 1 point could hit the homer. And chicks come no where close to digging the long ball like DD does.
This team is extremely flawed. but they are finding ridiculous ways to lose. The report i read of the Orioles having interest in Hanley Ramirez is absolutely insane.
This team is 99% flawed. I'll give them credit on occasional starts by Bundy,Gaussman and Manny's offense( not his defense). Other than that from owner to towel boy they're a disaster. Schoop/Mancini have no business being this bad. My worse fear is that value at the trade deadline may even be a reach.
If the O’s go on a 35-5 run like the 1984 Tigers did to open that season, they will be 52-46 with some incredible momentum! Then they will boost the club by trading prospects for rentals at the trade deadline.
I’m just kidding! They’d be lucky to go 15-25 in their next 40.
Oh, and everyone loves Adam Jones. He’s been a great Oriole but it’s time to move on. It’s not his fault he’s no longer a CF (playing 150+ games every year is Buck’s fault) and I’m sure he could play a decent LF, but he can’t get on base. Time to move on from him (and so many others). He brought incredible value in the Bedard trade (along with others) but they’ve kept him a year or two too long.
Adam Jones has quietly put together a helluva May. He slashed .351/.523/.875 and is off to a great start in June. So he's been getting on base and hitting for power for over a month now.
I was saying this to my fellow suffering Orioles fan and buddy about Jones, and he immediately scoffed. I said this to others, same thing. Then I showed them his actual stats for May, and they were stunned. Had no idea. It's Baltimore's best-kept secret and really, right now other than Manny he's their best trade chip.
They may have and I just missed it, but I don't think even the writers here have made note of how well Jones is hitting right now.
His days in CF should be in the past.
This team is shittier than a three-day old's diaper. What an embarrassment.
Worst team since the 62 Mets.
Someone please tell me why Dan is looking at Hanley? it was already reported that there was a lack of chemistry in clubhouse. I'm sure Hanley on a last place team would just be what the doctor ordered. Not to mention the season is OVER! Does this mean Raffy will get a look too
Anyone know if there is some mega stud for the 2019 draft we can get?
Kind of a relief that they only lost twice to the Yankees over the weekend.
Orioles Magic, not the good kind.
The Peter Principle is clearly defined at Camden.
Schoop is mailing it in both at the plate and in the field, his career MLB OBP blows. I'd trade him soon, his value continues to plummet. Our lead off hitter, Ryan McKenna, is farting around in Frederick with a 0.444 OBP. Our number two hitter, DJ Stewart, is at Norfolk with a 0.363 OBP.
To explain how to overcome the total impossibility of how to make this work to Dan "He's Not on the 40 Man Roster" Connolly I shall type slowly: release the $3M waste Colby Rasmus and hook Craig Gentry up with a team making a playoff run, he deserves as much. See DC? It's not impossible, just take a pair to pull the trigger and make some moves. It's not a miracle, just a couple of decisions and poof it's done.
It was 4-2 before the 3 error inning...so no, the defense did not lose this game. Plus name whatever defensive stat you'd like and it is pretty meaningless statically to a team W/L record. So pooh on your article and its underlying premise.