BALTIMORE—Before Sunday’s game, manager Brandon Hyde had to address Alex Cobb’s postgame comments from the night before, suggesting the baseballs are juiced.
“I have no idea,” Hyde said. “The ball is flying everywhere. I’m not a scientist, and I’m not that smart. All I see is what we’re giving up, which is a lot. I look on TV, and there’s a lot of balls going out.”
For the first time all season, the Orioles played a game in which a home run was not hit, and it was just the second time in 2019 that they didn’t give up a homer.
That helped keep the game close, but the Orioles lost, 4-3, to the Minnesota Twins. It was a three-game sweep for the Twins, who lead the American League Central.
“Real good team, playoff-caliber team,” Hyde said. “And I thought we played well two games against them, just came up short in a couple games. Last night, we were not good, but two of the three games, we were right there. We were just a hit away from being 2-1 instead of 0-3.”
The Orioles lost, 6-5, in the first game of Saturday’s doubleheader before being blown out, 16-7, in a game in which the Twins homered eight times. After winning their first three one-run games of the season, the Orioles have lost their last two.
They’ve lost nine of 10 at home and are 8-15.
“I don’t think it has anything to do with the ballpark or being here,” Hyde said. “I just think we’ve played better on the road so far this year for whatever reason. I’m hoping that turns. I’m hoping we start playing better here. But I think that’s more coincidence. I don’t think it has anything to do with being here.”
On Monday, the Orioles open a three-game series with the Chicago White Sox, who are 8-12.
“We’re playing against some great clubs that have high expectations that expect to play in October,” Hyde said. “We’re going toe-to-toe with those guys almost on a nightly basis, so I’m really happy with our effort. I love our work. I like how we compete at the plate. I think we’re going to get better on the mound. You’d like to see us win more games, but I think there have been a lot of positives that have come out of the first few weeks.”
Bundy goes six: Entering Sunday’s game, Dylan Bundy had a 7.79 ERA and had given up seven home runs in 17 1/3 innings.
Bundy pitched six innings, allowing four runs, two unearned, on seven hits. He’s 0-3 with a 6.56 ERA.
Last year, he gave up a league-high 41 home runs. Sunday marked his homerless game since last September 18.
“I don’t really care too much about all the homers,” Bundy said. “You give up a solo shot, that’s fine. That’s three runs less than four, so…Yeah, just trying to limit the damage the best I could and get outs as quick as possible.”
Comeback falls short: The Orioles entered the ninth inning trailing, 4-2. Joey Rickard was hit by a pitch, and after one out, Jesus Sucre grounded to third. Ehire Adrianza’s error on the throw to second allowed Rickard to advance to third.
Jonathan Villar’s double scored Rickard, and pinch-runner Richie Martin moved to third. Trey Mancini was walked intentionally to load the bases, and Pedro Severino, who thought he walked on a 3-0 count, flied to right to end the game.
Smith hurting: Dwight Smith Jr. left the game after six innings when his right quad muscle tightened up.
Smith struck out in the sixth, but the ball eluded catcher Willians Astudillo, and he was thrown out running to first.
“I felt better after getting treatment,” Smith said. “I felt fine till I ran down the line.”
Smith doesn’t think the injury is serious.
“I’ve been dealing with it the last week, week-and-a-half,” he said. “I’ve been playing through it.
“I’ll see how I feel tomorrow. Honestly, the way I feel I probably could play tomorrow.”
Karns on hold: Nate Karns, who’s on the 10-day injured because of a strained right forearm, is likely to stay there for a while.
Karns had a difficult night at Triple-A Norfolk on Saturday, allowing three runs on two hits and two walks, and recorded just one out.
He was in the Orioles’ clubhouse on Sunday.
“We’re checking him out today to see how everything’s going,” Hyde said. “We haven’t made any kind of decision…He’s going to see the medical people and see what happens there.”
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Today’s ninth inning is a glaring example why Cedric Mullins should be sent down for more “seasoning”. Hyde had so little confidence in his ability to produce he had to put Severino in to hit thus reducing his bench to zero. If they had managed to tie it he would’ve been hamstrung going forward. Playing players out of position in a blowout loss is one thing but when you’re trying to win a game it just doesn’t fly. I know I’ll get “flamed” for this post but there are a few players the minors that have to be better than Mullins and one of them should be brought up immediately.
Mullins is a platoon-type fourth outfielder. The only reason everyone is convinced he is a future Centerfielder is because of that Mufasa and Simba moment with Adam Jones last September. The Orioles Centerfielder is more than likely not in the organization at present.
I’d argue Hays might take that role. If it’s not him then yeah I’d have to agree with you. Mullins is hard to watch play CF. That arm just won’t cut it out there. We literally do not have an alternative not named Joey Rickard at this point but he’s clearly not the future out there.
A guy who we didn’t look at that was DFA’d was an old Nat named Brian Goodwin. Hindsight is 20/20 obviously and I don’t think what he’s doing right now is sustainable but he is tearing it up in LA. He actually has has the tools to be a starting CF unlike Mullins. Honestly even if the rest of Mullins’ game was good (which it certainly isn’t at this point) I don’t see how you can play that arm in CF.
And to add to that I think the poor arm is
more visibly obvious to the fan. For example, Adam Jones graded out very poorly in his last couple of years as a CF here in Baltimore. He wasn’t getting to the baseballs that other CF’s were around the league. Which is probably just as damaging as Mullins’ lack of an arm but visually I think the poor arm gets noticed much easier.
You can thank Hays and his careless head first slide for Mullins staying here. I have no problem with Mullins starting the season in CF and even playing a few weeks in but his time is up.
My first instinct is to call Cobb a whiner and complainer but I'm sure it's more a showing of frustration and anger after Sat night's debacle. Impressed with Bundy(finally). Though the 4-3 loss was frustrating I have little concern with the offense(better than expected).
I’ll second that, he is a whiner, if someone would take him to get multiple youngens I say do it....not mentally tough at all...
As of this afternoon, (4/22) Mullins is on his way to Norfolk. We get Wilkerson as a replacement. Not sure what the thinking is on that but I’ll bet he hits better than Mullins. Just sayin...