BALTIMORE—On August 22, 2007, the Orioles lost to the Texas Rangers, 30-3. Since then, the Orioles have had some excellent seasons and some that were downright awful. However, until Saturday night, the Orioles hadn’t given up 20 runs since that forgettable night.
In their most embarrassing defeat in a season that has been extraordinarily challenging, the Orioles lost, 23-2, to the Houston Astros.
Aaron Brooks allowed nine runs in three innings, Branden Kline gave up five, and Tayler Scott surrendered six.
Manager Brandon Hyde put Stevie Wilkerson in to record the final four outs in order to save the bullpen, a much different circumstance than when he last pitched on July 25 and became the first position player to save a game.
Wilkerson allowed three runs in the ninth, including Yordan Alvarez’s third home run of the game.
Early in the game, Hyde had to adopt a survival mindset, knowing that after Sunday’s game with Houston, the Orioles have to travel to New York for a doubleheader with the Yankees, who this week hit 16 home runs against them in three games.
“We have to face these guys again [Sunday], doubleheader on Monday,” Hyde said. “Third inning, probably I was planning how was I going to finish this game, and somehow we finished it.”
When the Orioles acquired Brooks on waivers just before the All-Star break, they hoped he would eat some innings and help stabilize the rotation.
That’s not how it’s turned out. Brooks did acceptably in two short starts at first when he was pitching in short stints. The Oakland Athletics had most recently used Brooks as a reliever, and the Orioles needed him to start.
In his most recent four starts, Brooks has a horrifying 11.88 ERA. He allowed a career-high four home runs.
“Just ran into a good offense, didn’t execute pitches and had a few things not go my way,” Brooks said. “That’s sometimes how it happens. I’ve got to try to shake it off, move on from it and learn and keep going.”
One of them, Carlos Correa’s 474-foot home run, was the longest home run since Statcast began tracking homers in 2015. Another, Alvarez’s first-inning home run, was hit 442 feet.
Brooks gave up a two-run home run to Alex Bregman, his 28th, just before Alvarez’s, and allowed five more runs in the second. Jose Altuve hit a two-run home run. Bregman drove in a run with a double, moved to second on Brooks’ wild pitch and scored on his balk.
Trailing 8-1, Brooks was allowed to pitch the third and gave up Correa’s majestic home run.
Kline gave up five runs in two innings, and Scott allowed six in two innings. Alvarez hit a grand-slam home run as part of the six-run seventh.
Orioles rightfielder Trey Mancini, who’s always cooperative, even in the most unpleasant of circumstances, tries not to think that nights like Saturday can happen in a rebuild.
“That really can’t be a mindset,” Mancini said. “We’ve lost a lot more than we’ve won the last couple of years. We’ve had flashes of some good times this year, such as July, it looked like things were trending up.
“August has obviously gotten off to a tough start. This is big boy league. We’ve played some really good teams so far. This hasn’t been a good homestand for us, but that’s a losers’ mentality right there to think you’re going to take a beating, so you can’t come to the park expecting that.”
Aaron Sanchez, who pitched six innings of a combined four-pitcher no-hitter on August 3 in his last start, stuck around for five innings, giving up a run on three hits.
Rio Ruiz, who was recalled from Triple-A Norfolk on Friday, hit a pinch-hit home run in the eighth inning.
In the final game of the series, Asher Wojciechowski faces Justin Verlander.
“We’re in a really tough stretch, facing these guys [Sunday],” Hyde said. ‘We need a really nice start out of Wojo. We need Wojo to step up and give us a really good start and then a doubleheader on Monday, so not the easiest few days.”
Pitching in New York: On Monday, the Orioles have a day/night doubleheader at Yankee Stadium. Gabriel Ynoa will pitch one of those games, Hyde said.
The other game will be pitched by either someone already on staff or a 26th man called up for Monday.
Tom Eshelman is a possibility as the other starter, but Hyde likes him in the long relief role. He pitched to two batters in the eighth before Wilkerson came in.
James Paxton will pitch one of the games for New York. John Means and Dylan Bundy pitch Tuesday and Wednesday against Domingo German and J.A. Happ.
Injury updates: DJ Stewart, who suffered a concussion in Tuesday night’s game, is now “symptom-free,” Hyde said. He ran before Saturday’s game and has been cleared for baseball activities on Sunday.
Stewart is eligible to come off the seven-day concussion injury list on Wednesday, and Hyde thinks he’ll be ready to play then.
“We don’t see him missing any time when the seven days is up,” Hyde said.
Dwight Smith Jr. will travel to New York with the team and is progressing well from his left calf injury. It’s possible Smith goes on a rehab assignment after the Orioles return from their road trip on August 19.
Renato Nunez fouled a ball off his left ankle in the fifth and suffered a bruise. X-rays were negative, and he’s day-to-day.
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Ya know ... a little support from the offense wouldn't hurt.
Boog--that is fantastic
I’m here all week.
Obviously our pitching is far worse then our hitting. Why we don’t call up some starters from Bowie is beyond me. Sure they might not be quite ready but they have better stuff then the cast offs we have now on the mound. Who would you rather see Kremer or Brooks pitching. Mason Williams a true outfielder hitting 316 at Norfolk doesn’t get a call yet Stevie a utility player hitting 220 starts in center. Smith jr is weak defensively and not a future guy for us yet he gets the call when he is healthy. I’m tired of fill ins I rather give the kids a chance like Mountcastle. Elias only cares about his vision down the road which I understand but most fans are here now and this he doesn’t get it.
Kremer and Akin have to be added to the 40 man roster this winter so I suspect they will be up in September when the rosters expand. Hunter Harvey will get a look see also. Wells, Lowther, Zimmerman, and Bauman don’t need to be put on the 40 man roster, so they probably won’t be brought up. Diaz and Hays will likely be called up in September, if not sooner. Little baffled about Williams. It’s not like Elias inherited him, he signed him himself. Only thing I can think of is the 40 man roster, but that hasn’t stopped them before.
My question is why Elias won't promote the Bowie starters to Norfolk. I guess this way he can say they can't compete for a spot in the Bigs next year even if they pitch great in spring training because they don't have AAA experience.
Victor, for years, teams promoted players from level-to-level, one year at a time. It's only been recently that prospects have been rushed to the majors. The Orioles feel they have a better chance of long-term success if they let players, especially pitchers, pitch at one level for a year.
Zac Lowther is 23, and Alex Wells is 22, so I have no problem with that rationale.
Bhoff: I share your frustration with our situation and am tired of all the non-outfielders playing one of those positions. If we all could remember the '89 O's, they played stellar defense and made good pitchers look like great pitchers. If Elias would loosen up a bit and bring up a few of our minor leaguers who have proven their worth in AAA, we might all feel better.
There aren’t a ton of guys who have proven their worth in AAA.
Why start the clock on these young guys?? We’re not winning anything this year. Let Elias work his magic
No such thing as magic, smoke & mirrors...lol...go O’s...
Agree with Shamus...we should not yet start the clock on these guys yet. Patience.
Why do I have this eery feeling that even those highly touted arms at Delmarva/Bowie will be getting blasted when they arive in 2-3 years? There's something "in the water" in Baltimore.
It’s more like the dimensions of the park. Just saying...
We saw this coming at the begining of the year, now we just have to take the bad and hope for the good. We may see the kids in september.
If the present so-called pitching isn't corrected this will not be the last 20+ run game that the O's will be on the short side of. I know to Elias this is a business but to the few fans that attend these,for want of a better word, games, this is supposed to be entertaining. There is no entertainment here. Baseball, from what I have been told, is made up of pitching, offence, and defense. This team has NO pitching, very few offensive players, and a poor defense. WHEN DOES THE SO-CALLED REBUILD START? Where is it written that a rebuild means years of 100+ losses and the hell with the paying customers? Personally, I think it stinks!
Unless you want your rebuild to consist of buying several quality free agents, then yes, you can expect an organization that had an atrocious minor league system to take 3-4 years to be a possible playoff contender. What other route would you suggest?
Norm, the rebuild is underway. You start by tearing down the old house. Then you fix the structural problems with the foundation. That’s where we are right now. Only then do you start building the new house.
In the meantime you live in the garage, cook with a microwave, and use a dorm size fridge. You endure the inconvenience, hoping that the end product will be worth it.
Go O’s!!
How bad was it last night in Camden?
Baltimore Orioles major league pitching last night: 23 runs allowed in 9 innings.
Baltimore Orioles minor league pitching last night: 21 runs allowed in 9 games.
As awful as it was last night, the situation really hasn't changed much. With the possible exception of Kremer who pitched well last night, there's no reason to rush any of the AA pitchers to the bigs. Let the minor league seasons play out and then we'll see.
In the long term, if they're going to continue to play with juiced up baseballs then something has to be done with the ballpark. Life isn't going to be much better in Camden Yards when the Grayson Rodriguezes get to the bigs if every ball hit in the air ends up in earth orbit. If not move the fences, maybe increase the height of the fences? Don't know.
In his defense, Wilkerson is not a major league pitcher...go O’s...
Wilkerson‘s ERA last night was 20.3. The combined ERA of the other 4 so-called pitchers was 23.5. I guess none of them are major league pitchers.
Mike Elias pitcher signings, trades and waiver pick ups have been atrocious. All belong in the dumpster. We have the worst staff in MLB. Where is the genius? He signs pitchers like Straily, Brooks, Scott ..total disasters. Breaking all kinds of pitching records in futility! Former Orioles come back and destroy us Valera, Yaztrzemski etc...When a non pitcher Stevie Wilkerson is making regular appearances at positions he doesn't play you know the circus is in town. Starting Chrissy Davis in a two year slump? "We all have a breaking point Davis" I am embarrassed for our team and for the league. Our free agent pick ups are waiver wire, rule 5 or players most have given up on for a reason. We could easily lose to the Yankees JV squad. If this is the plan for the Orioles distant future dad and the Angelos boys should sell the team and bring an owner who will spend money, restore Orioles baseball tradition of Robinson, Palmer, Murray, and Ripken and for the so many who have worn the uniform!
After last night I’m wondering if the guys who showed up for the “Why Not” reunion wouldn’t have put on a better show. It’s beyond absurd! Just saying...
In defense of Elias, he didn’t get hired until mid-November and spent much of the off-season assembling a staff. Coming off a 47-115 season, free agents weren’t exactly flocking to Baltimore. They weren’t going to trade prospects for veterans who may have helped in the short term but not the long term. The Orioles did try to trade some of their veterans at the deadline but couldn’t get a fair return. The Orioles plan for the future is to build through the draft and international signings. Plus what they have in the minors. The long term goal is to have sustainable success. Short term is going to be placeholders and waiver wire pickups. Looks ugly now, but in the long term is the best way for the franchise to move forward
Is our record still better then this time last year???? Just saying
Shamus, Orioles are 39-78. Last year at this time, they were 35-82.
Second inning, Sunday... here we go again. The question is “How many homers today?” Just saying...
I feel sorry for all the position players who know they have to get 6+ runs very night just to be in the game. How demoralizing. At least they made Cashner happy.
It’s like rec league softball...go O’s...
Nobody said this would be easy.. I'm enjoying this season a whole lot more than last year because
I trust the process.. read Astroball and look forward to Ravens season!!
We've come to the point that the O's should have open tryouts. Immediate contracts available. Amateur pitchers especially welcome. Might find a couple of gems better than our waiver wire wonders. Next, somebody please explain why CDavis is still NOT batting ninth? According to Gameday, he has struck out three times today in three at bats; I would like to see Eddie Murray brought back to see if he could do better.
Eddie Murphy could do better...set up a pitching (radar) game like the A’s did, maybe we could dumb luck into a young guy who throws 96...again, just saying go Givens...yikes, can’t even lose well...go O’s...
I’ll eat crow, can’t win right, definitely entertaining...go O’s...