ANAHEIM, California—Mychal Givens came to Brandon Hyde before Sunday’s game and told his manager he wanted to pitch. Givens threw 30 pitches in saving Saturday’s exciting win, and in a 4-4 tie on Sunday, Hyde thought his closer was his best option.
After getting one out, Matt Thaiss hit his second home run of the game, and the Orioles’ three-game winning streak was over as was a chance for their first four-game road series sweep in nearly eight years.
The Orioles’ 5-4 loss to the Los Angeles Angels still gave them three wins in four games and a chance for a winning road trip if they win one of two in San Diego.
Givens, who survived a rugged ninth inning on Saturday, retired his first batter, Andrelton Simmons, on a grounder to third. Thaiss, who hit a two-run homer against Dylan Bundy in the second inning, then hit a 3-2 pitch over the center-field wall to give the Angels a walk-off victory.
“I checked before the game,” Hyde said. “He said he felt great, wanted to be in there today. I think this was his third time pitching in the last [four] days. I didn’t want to use the two kids [Evan Phillips and Dillon Tate], to be honest with you in a tie game, and we didn’t have a whole lot of options in the bullpen.”
With John Means missing Monday’s scheduled start because of biceps soreness, Hyde was unsure about his starters against the Padres. After Thursday’s 16-inning win, the Orioles added Phillips and Tate for the bullpen.
Shawn Armstrong retired five of six hitters, and Paul Fry set down all four of his. Hyde hoped the Orioles could send this game to the 10th inning.
“I was a little sore, but trying to get through it and help us win a ballgame,” Givens said.
The Orioles have been playing their best ball of the season and are 13-12 since June 28. Their record is 35-70
“We won three out of four,” Hyde said. “We feel good about that. It doesn’t feel good to lose the fourth one like that, but you win a series on the road, and it’s positive.”
Villar stays hot: During the Orioles’ three-game series in Arizona, Jonathan Villar was 0-for-15 with seven strikeouts.
“In Arizona, I felt a little bit late with my mechanics,” Villar said. “We checked out how we can avoid being late.”
In this series, Villar was 10-for-18 with two home runs, three RBIs and five stolen bases.
“The games this series, he’s almost like taking over the game with his legs and his bat,” Hyde said. “He can do a lot of things offensively that help you win. He did a bunch this series.”
The Orioles’ major league record streak of homering at least twice in 10 straight games came to an end.
Bundy’s day: Dylan Bundy allowed four runs on seven hits in five-plus innings. He gave up two-run home runs to Thaiss in the second and Albert Pujols in the sixth. Bundy departed after Pujols’ home run on a 3-0 pitch.
“A 3-0 count you know you make a good pitch, it could be a double play,” Bundy said. “Bad pitch and it’s a two-run homer. Pretty simple.”
Pujols is 6-for-12 against Bundy with four home runs and eight RBIs.
“I was hoping he’d get through six, and didn’t quite get there,” Hyde said.
It was the 650th home run of Pujols’ career. He’s 10 behind Willie Mays for fifth place on the all-time list.
San Diego starters unknown: Hyde isn’t sure who will start either game in San Diego. Tom Eshelman could start on Tuesday or he could follow an opener.
Rutschman update: No. 1 draft pick Adley Rutschman went 2-for-4 in his second game for Short-Season Aberdeen. Rutschman, who went 0-for-5 for the IronBirds as the designated hitter in his debut on Saturday, caught on Sunday and threw out two baserunners.
Trade deadline approaching: The trade deadline is less than three days away, at 4 p.m. on Wednesday.
“I think we’ll handle it,” Hyde said. “I think we’ll handle it fine. It’s not a secret that things might happen. I think we’re all prepared for something to happen if it does.
“We’ve all been around enough. We understand that it’s part of the game.We’re used to movement.
“It’s not like we have this veteran club that we’ve grinded it out with this entire year and all of a sudden there might be a handful of these guys gone. There’s been so much movement on our club that I think guys are used to it.”
Hyde is more comfortable: In Hyde’s time with the Orioles, he’s lauded players for their growth, but he’s learned and changed during his four months as the team’s manager.
‘This is one job, where I think you can prepare all you want,” Hyde said. “There’s nothing like doing it. There’s nothing like going through it, like managing games the last few nights.
“It’s a lot of fun, and I’ve had a great time, a great experience this year. It’s been fantastic. I’ve had to learn where you have to deal with a ton of adversity, bullpen guys struggling and a lot of transactions and a lot of movement in our clubhouse. I think just learning on the job. I’ve really learned a lot from that. Just like a player, I’m just trying to get better every day.”
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Is anyone else, like me, wishing that some team takes Givens. Every time Hyde puts him in I’m tempted to turn the TV off because I know what’s coming... and it isn’t good. His last 3 outings read 3.1 innings, 2 home runs and three runs scored. That works out to an ERA of just under 9. Enough is enough is enough! Just saying...
No I dont want him to just go. I wish he would’ve not pitched at all this week And came into the deadline riding a hot streak though. I don’t want to give him away. Who the hell is going to replace him from AAA? Branden Kline? Evan Phillips? Tayler/Tanner Scott? He’s better than that even when he’s off.
What you’re saying is you want to continue to watch Givens give up runs every time he comes into a critical situation. OK... I’ll give you the fact that the O’s don’t have a lot to choose from, BUT, when you pretty much know that he can’t be counted on why does Hyde put him in those situations. After his last three outings what are the O’s going to get for him? Look back on some of my previous comments on Givens and you’ll see basically the same thoughts. Just saying...
Throw in Castro also
Givens hurt his trade value, Vilar helped his. Just hope we get some decent prospects for them not 17 year olds in Dominican Republic. Uncrush sitting against a RH pitcher this is what I want to see. Eventually I hope he will say he’s had enough I hope. My boy Sisco slumping. I thought he would break out this summer.
Players like Givens and Villar have track records so their trade value doesn’t fluctuate based on a good or bad game or one weeks performance. Their trade value is based on how other teams see them fitting in with them. On a good team, Givens won’t see the 8th or 9th inning. Villar would be more of a utility man, not a regular. In reference to the players the Orioles got for Cashner-they were from Venezuela not the Dominican, Elias is familiar with them from scouting them with the Astros, and nobody seem to have a problem with the Orioles giving Gunnar Henderson, a 17 year old a 2 million dollar bonus. Or Manny Machado a 6 million dollar bonus in 2010.
Understand what you’re saying, BUT, they are not Machado or Henderson for that matter, if they were the Sox wouldn’t have traded them for a rental pitcher...go O’s...
I suspect that there is an unconscious bias against amateur players from Latin America. We know the players from this country so it’s easier to form an opinion on them. Amateur baseball in Latin America is very competitive and the scouts that follow the players evaluate them just as they would US high school players. You and I have no idea about Prado or Romero but Mike Elias certainly does. Whether they ever make the majors or not might take years to find out, but I find this trade more intriguing than if they had just played it safe and gotten another Evan Phillips or Luis Ortiz
Claydal you made my morning comparing a number two draft pick sure thing Machado to two unproven kids from Dominion republic sorry Venezuela like that matters. Plus Givens track record this year is terrible so yesterday’s performance just enhanced it and Vilar was slumping terribly until arriving in Anaheim so sorry again I don’t agree with your analysis.
Villar went 0-15 against Arizona, then 10-18 against the Angels ( I refuse to call them Los Angeles) His value didn’t go down against Arizona or conversely go up against the Angels. Givens is Givens. Other teams scout his velocity , K’s per 9 innings and how he fits in on their team. One bad week doesn’t help or hurt him. As far as the 17 year olds, neither you nor I know anything about them. Mike Elias knows them having scouted them when he was with the Astros. Elias had been trying to give away Cashner since February. As the year progressed Cashner started pitching better and Elias was able to get 2 potential prospects for someone who was going to be gone in 2 months anyway. Whether they pan out or not, it’s a lot more interesting to get these type of players than a 24 yr old in AA who has a limited ceiling. Orioles can and have found those guys often.
Clay I have to disagree on Givens. He was doing a good job not giving up Hrs recently. He doesn’t have a problem giving up shots over his career but he does this year. This week those problems have again plagued him. Have to disagree that it didn’t hurt him.
To judge Givens is to look at how other teams view him. On the Orioles he has been miscast, out of necessity, as a closer on a team that rarely has a lead. Back when the Orioles had Zach, O’Day, and Brach ahead of him he was very effective. On a good team he will be coming into games in the 6th and 7th inning. Too often this year, when the Orioles go into one of their spells where they are losing games 11-2, 12-4, etc he has been relegated to a spectator. I think a more definitive role, and a pennant race will rejuvenate him. Now if other teams are willing to offer what the Orioles feel is a fair price, we will find out in less than 2 days
I understand no one is looking at him as a closer but whether you’re closing or not giving up the HRS is the problem. He had been doing a good job recently and then this week happened. Not a good time to go on a HR binge.
Givens even with today’s loss has been on a good streak; granted I wouldn’t have used him today but what were the options?
This loss is on Hyde. Running Givens out there again after throwing 30 pitches the night before is unacceptable.
Givens is a one inning pitcher. Hyde needs to learn that.
He still hasn’t figured out when to put or pull a pitcher...maybe it’ll come...go O’s...
Mike Yastrzemski has four hits last night and has nine homers for the Giants. Another one we let go without really giving him a shot. Isn’t he a upgrade over Smith Jr
Bruce, if you look at Yastrzemski’s minor league stats with the Orioles, they weren’t impressive. He spent parts of five seasons with Bowie and hit .202 and had a .603 OPS in 27 games there last year.
The Orioles rated Smith, DJ Stewart and Ryan McKenna ahead of him.
With Austin Hays and Yusniel Diaz in the mix, too there wasn’t going to be much playing time.
Good for Mike that he’s making the most of his chance, but I think everyone in baseball is surprised by his success.
I have the feeling that trying to get a sixth inning out of Bundy and inserting Givens in the ninth had more to do with showcasing for trades than about smart game management. Evidently, it didn't work on either level. As for the Cashner deal, it was a pre-emptive salary dump. As a healthy, somewhat effective starter, Cashner would have been expected to pitch enough innings to qualify for a high-paying option year. Taking two South Americans instead of the proverbial bag of used balls was an opportunity to amplify the Latino recruiting theme. No problem there if you buy into the new management.