BALTIMORE—The Orioles played the Boston Red Sox even for 11 innings. By the time the 12th came around, manager Brandon Hyde inserted Yefry Ramirez into the game, hoping for length in case the game dragged on.
Ramirez got the first two Boston batters out in the inning, and then Andrew Benintendi launched his fourth home run to right field, and the Red Sox beat the Orioles, 2-1.
The Orioles nearly won it in the bottom of the 11th, but Jackie Bradley Jr. leaped and with his back to the field, caught Trey Mancini’s drive chest high. Mancini doffed his helmet to salute him.
“It’s one of the worst feelings you can describe, but I didn’t get my hopes up too much,” Mancini said “I’ve hit too many balls to center that I thought were hits and Jackie’s playing center that he comes down with, so I didn’t really get my hopes up too much.
“I didn’t want to get too excited until it went over the fence. It was an amazing catch. I mean, what else can you say? It was game on the line, tie ballgame, 11th inning. Just a great catch. And it really stinks to be on the losing side of it and think you hit a walk-off, but you’ve got to tip your cap to him there. That was insane.”
Boston won two of three, but the Orioles played creditably in each of the games. They’ll head into today’s off-day with a 13-24 record, and await Shohei Ohtani’s first appearance in Baltimore as the Los Angeles Angels arrive for three games beginning Friday.
Paul Fry, Mychal Givens and Shawn Armstrong combined for five scoreless innings in relief of Andrew Cashner.
Chris Sale, who held the Orioles hitless for the first 5 2/3 innings, struck out 14 in eight innings, and four Boston relievers struck out the Orioles eight times in the final four innings. The Orioles didn’t walk, and the 22 strikeouts were a team record. In the seventh, Sale struck out Hanser Alberto, Dwight Smith Jr. and Stevie Wilkerson on nine pitches for an immaculate inning.
When Hyde was asked about the strikeouts, he interrupted a questioner.
“Let’s talk about first about how well we played, and how we took a really good club to the 12th inning,” Hyde said. “I’m just really proud of how our guys played. Big plays defensively, grind out at-bats against World Series pitching. Our guys without a whole lot of experience, major league at-bats, I’m just happy with how we played.
“Yeah, we punched out, but it’s Chris Sale. That’s an All-Star starter. And he had good stuff and we went toe-to-toe to the 12th inning. I thought we played well the whole series. It was a heck of a series and a great baseball game tonight.”
Besides the seventh, Sale struck out the side in the third. Five of his final six outs were on strikeouts, and the 14 strikeouts were one shy of his career high.
“I think they did a great job tonight,” Mancini said. “When Sale’s on the mound, it’s always going to be tough and he’s s strikeout pitcher and, yeah, unfortunately that’s a lot of strikeouts for us. Couldn’t put too many good at-bats together in a row.”
Mancini had a leadoff double in the ninth and moved to third on Rio Ruiz’s infield single. He held at third on Smith’s roller to reliever Matt Barnes. Wilkerson, who struck out four times, ended the inning with a strikeout.
“We never lost hope the whole game and, yeah, it was a good feeling and we had some chances to win it there in the ninth and later on in the game,” Mancini said. “Unfortunately, we didn’t come through. But defensively, and I thought we played well and our pitchers did a great job tonight, too. So you have to give them a lot of credit for what they did out there.”
After the catch against Mancini, the Orioles struck out in their final four at-bats, but there was no carryover after the great catch.
“Obviously, it’s like, ‘Did that just happen?’” Hyde said. “You see him flip the ball in his hand. But the game’s not over at that point and you’ve got to keep playing.
“Good players and great teams make great plays in big spots and that was an ultra-exceptional play. But you’ve got to continue to battle and I thought we did, and Benintendi beat us with a solo homer. But we had some opportunities. Those relievers for them, they’re no joke, right?”
Cashner’s night: Cashner allowed a home run to Mookie Betts in the third. It was Betts’ 14th home run in 42 games at Oriole Park.
Overall, Cashner allowed the run on four hits in six innings and threw 104 pitches, a season-high for the Orioles.
“I thought I threw the ball well,” Cashner said. “My offspeed, I can definitely work on. Some things I did well, some things I didn’t do well. Our defense was really good tonight.”
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What's doubly troubling regarding the 22 Ks is that Crush Davis accounted for only one of those at bats.
Me thinks that the shine has worn off the "Stevie" Wilkerson centerfield experiment. Can we please call someone up?
You have to tip your cap to Bradley Jr? No you don't ... whatever happened to utter disdain for your opponents? Bobby Gibson or Frank Robinson never tipped their caps to anyone. That being said, it WAS a great catch ... reminds me of the days when Brady & Devereux manned the outfield fences of OPACY.
I am starting to agree with you about Wilkerson in centerfield.
On another subject, are we nearly done with Nunez as our DH? The league has adjusted to him and we are still waiting for him to re-adjust. Last night after Mancini led off with a double, Nunez didn't even attempt to hit the ball behind Mancini to move him to 3rd and setup a sac fly potential. I feel it is time to drop Nunez down in the order.
I totally agree about Nunez. He had his nice little run AND DH is the only thing he's capable of. To pile on a little---his hitting with RISP is atrocious. Ryan Mountcastle anyone?
Think it’s a little early to start the Mountcastle experiment. Let’s let him tear up AAA pitching for awhile longer. I’d like to see D.J. Stewart called up though. I think he’s one of those guys who will perform at the ML level despite not having the gaudy minor league numbers. He draws a walk like no one on this current orioles squad can and I think there’s more pop in his bat than we’ve seen in the minors. Give him a shot.
While he’s not a center fielder, I definitely think Wilkerson has a place on this team.
0 walks 17 strikeouts for Wilkerson and he hasn’t registered 50 ABS. I don’t think there’s any place for him unless that changes. Major leaguers can’t sustain a 35% K rate and a 0% walk rate. He’s hit some balls hard but that approach won’t cut it.
That’s the problem I had with Jones he tipped his hat whenever the opponent played well. Wilkerson is a utility infielder at best definitely not a starting center fielder same goes for Rickard. Another utility guy but more of a career minor league guy. Severino is a nice second string catcher. Now that Sisco is ripping the cover off the ball he should be called up. I don’t know what’s taking so long for Hays to get back on the field but if he hits immediately he should be called up and maybe we will have a real center fielder. Also Mountcastle over Nunez should be a huge upgrade
A great game saving catch or else the O’s would have taken 2 of 3... certainly respectable/competitive and that’s what I’m looking for this season!
On a grammar note, Rich... I think your missing a number... Chris Sale, who held the Orioles hitless for the first 5 2/3 innings, struck out in eight innings,
Thank you, SS.
The Orioles had a great chance in the 9th with runners at corners and one out. Dwight Smith who has been reliable in those situations grounded out to the pitcher. Wilkerson struck out ending the inning. Bradley made a great play. Our starting pitching and bullpen did well
against a tough Boston lineup. No doubt a disappointing loss.
I don't know about giving up on some guys so early.Nunez and Wilkerson still new up here and deserve a little more time.Just my opinion as they seem capable of better.Wilkerson is somewhat versatile to so that could pan out if he starts hitting.Orioles actually could have won the game 3 times last nite but I guess it was not meant to be.I really thought Mancini could have scored on Smith's dribbler.I thought the Birds performed well despite all the K's( against one of the best) and though I know what Boog means about being hardnosed against your opponents, you have to tip your hat to Bradley Jr. as that was a great catch. And Cashner is pitching like I figured he would.I considered him a .500 pitcher or a little better who can keep you in a lot of games and he is doing just that.
In the realm of the big picture last night's game was as close to a "moral victory" as there can be. I know,I know a lot of us don't like that expression---"moral victory". Pitching was solid,defense was solid(a little lucky too),controlling the Boston running game was solid. Time to think about giving Mountcastle his shot(lineup could use a jump start). Maybe June/July for him. Tell Mr Hyde a bunt here or a bunt there wouldn't be a bad idea.
Indeed. Martin had the right idea with the bunt bunt poorly executed. However, he made up for it with the steal. Let's see some more of that too. Bottom line: somebody besides Mancini is got to get some big hits!
Eh, it was fun to watch, about all you can really ask for this year.
The catch Bradley made was reminiscent of Mike Devereaux’s great catch, while leaping, catching it and nearly landing in the left center stands at the Yard. As I recall, he was a high jumper in HS.
The Bradley Jr. catch was one of the best catches I've seen in years. Cashner pitched pretty well, and like many of other commenters have stated, the birds are just putting out placeholders in CF , which is magnified every time an excellent CF (like Bradley) plays against the O's. Also, is there any chance Cashner gets moved at the deadline? Without looking at his stats, he seems to be having a pretty good season going.
If he pitches well, I’d say Cashner being moved is almost a given.
He has a relatively high base salary for the performance he provides as well as a high incentive package for innings pitched. We might have to eat a little cash to move Cashner.
That was a great baseball game. This rebuilding team competes, to be sure that does not equal wins. Last years star filled team tanked and was an embarrassment to the fans and themselves. I much prefer this team, young and flawed as they are. The roster is already changed from opening day, and is sure to change even more as the season drones on. It’s fun watching.