BALTIMORE—Earlier on Friday night, the Orioles had completed their suspended game from five days before with a victory over the Washington Nationals and had their longest winning streak in nearly three years — six in a row.
They’d also swept consecutive road series for the first time in 15 years and were four games over .500. The losing pitcher in the suspended game, Stephen Strasburg, was set to the start the regularly scheduled game for the Nationals.
Shortly after the completion of the suspended game, which was the result of the inability of the Nationals’ grounds crew to cover the field with a tarp after a pop-up shower last Sunday, another rain event arrived, delaying Friday’s nightcap.
It wasn’t until just before 9, nearly two hours after the expected 6:59 p.m. start, that the Orioles and Nationals began their regularly scheduled game. It started well for the Orioles, with a first-inning home run by Anthony Santander. It did not go well after that as they played sloppily and were hit hard in a 15-3 loss to the Nationals.
Orioles starter Tommy Milone, who went six innings in an 11-0 win over Washington on August 7th, breezed through a 1-2-3 inning, striking out two. Strasburg, who had never pitched in Baltimore during the regular season, allowed the one-out home run to Santander, who produced his 20th RBI.
With two outs, Strasburg threw two balls to Rio Ruiz and was forced to leave the game after 16 pitches. He had missed the beginning of the season because of a nerve injury in his wrist, and last Sunday’s start was his first start of 2020.
Erick Fedde rescued the Nationals with 5 1/3 scoreless innings. His sinker kept getting hit to the Nationals’ Carter Kieboom, who had 11 assists, a team record for a third baseman.
The Nationals pecked away at Milone, who allowed nine hits in four innings and didn’t get strong support from his defense. The Nationals’ 19 hits and 15 runs were the most allowed by the Orioles (11-8) this season.
In the suspended game, Nationals second baseman Starlin Castro broke his wrist and was placed on the 10-day injured list. Castro was replaced on the active roster by 20-year-old prospect Luis Garcia, who reached on a fielder’s choice in the second. Kieboom singled, and Yan Gomes lined to right.
Santander made a miscalculation and tried to make a diving catch on a ball that landed in front of him and skipped by him for a two-run triple.
The Nationals scored three unearned runs off Milone in the third after a Hanser Alberto error on Asdrubal Cabrera’s grounder. Milone allowed two-out singles to Howie Kendrick, Garcia and Kieboom.
“I thought Tommy Milone threw the ball well,” manager Brandon Hyde said. “I just didn’t think we played very well defensively behind him. Some soft singles, a double play ball that wasn’t turned. I thought he threw the ball excellent. He just didn’t get good results tonight, a lot of bad luck on his part.”
Cabrera’s sacrifice fly in the fourth scored Victor Robles and put the Nationals ahead, 6-1.
Milone allowed six runs, three unearned, on nine hits in four innings.
“The kind of pitcher I am, I want to induce. contact,” Milone said. “For the most part, I felt like I was making good pitches. They put the ball in play, on the ground, it found the holes.”
Fedde allowed just two hits and three walks in 5 1/3 innings. He didn’t record a strikeout.
Keegan Akin, who had been recalled by the Orioles six days before but hadn’t pitched, finally made his major league debut in the fifth, retiring Washington in order. After a scoreless sixth, Cabrera homered to start the seventh.
Akin was removed two batters into a six-run eighth after he hit Kieboom and Gomes doubled.
“I think I got one relief appearance in the past eight years,” Akin said. “Actually, I think that helped. I was kind of clueless going in. I just took a deep breath and said, ‘you got this,’ and that was it.”
Akin said he had been nervous last weekend in Washington when he waited and didn’t get in a game. He also didn’t pitch in the Orioles’ three wins in Philadelphia.
“After that, the nerves wore off, and the anxiety kicked in, the anticipation. It’s always fun to get the first one out of the way,” Akin said. “It was fun.”
After the game, Akin was optioned to the Bowie alternate site.
Cody Carroll, who was added as the 29th man for the game, gave up four runs on five hits in the eighth.
Carroll allowed two runs in the ninth and, after he had thrown 42 pitches, Hyde brought in third-string catcher Bryan Holaday, who had also pitched for Boston, Texas and Miami. Holaday allowed two singles but finally got out of the inning.
Notes: The Orioles’ six-game winning streak had been their longest since August 22-28, 2017 … The five rain delays this season total eight hours, 21 minutes … Carroll was returned to Bowie after the game.
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Bullpen could use another quality arm. Sadly it’s looking like Caroll isn’t gonna work out. What’s Harvey’s time frame to be activated? Also who is our next most likely decent RP to bring up? Kremer? Somebody else? How soon might we see the next man up?
As far as who to bring up... put all the names in a bowl and pull a few out. Why not? Just saying...
BTW: Carroll’s ERA is 54.00... this year... and 13.74 in the majors. Why is he even around? Why not try Holaday next time? Just saying...
Definitely didn’t have gold glove caliber nominated defense last night, ouch, start a new streak...go O’s...
Well that was sobering. Can't wait for their next road trip(O's play MUCH better away). Why was Akin optioned instead of Carrol?
Carrol was optioned too. The guy throws 97 yet his balls are batting practice. Be brave Elias the WS champs have two 20 year olds starting. Bring up Mountcastle and Kremer
I"m thinking we may not see Mountcastle.
Agree, now we saw them, didn’t look ready, bring up the next crew, the last two teams we played both had multiple guys make their MLB debut...go O’s...
Yeah Orial, I don't understand either why Akin was brought up only to be immediately sent down?
Sorry yes the last paragraph did mention Carroll's demotion. Damn my inferior speed-reading qualities. Yes Boog Iglesias' defensive reputation does precede him but he has been fair at best. Alberto seems to be sharper at 2nd(other than that costly error last night). Thinking not having him constantly flip-flop with Richie Martin and Villar has helped his play. Now Hays in CF,along with his offense, seems to also have taken a step back defensively. Hays is still young though.
Can someone tell me how Akin looked.is his stuff just average, is there potential to be a 4th or 5th starter
Let's see if they can bounce back tonight.
Yeah pretty shoddy defense last night, which brings me to this ...
So is it me, or does anybody else fail to see the gold glove caliber defense that Iglesias is known for? And I'm not talking about the couple of fumbles he made last night, that happens to everyone, but what I'm failing to see is very good range in his fielding? Maybe it's his injury, but this guy hasn't seemed to cover much ground fielding-wise. Never saw him play before, so I have no clue .... is he that hurt that it's affecting his play?
Go get 'em tonite bOys!
Careful criticizing his gold glove nominated defense, agree with you, I’m thinking it probably is a combination of his injury & being a yr older...go O’s...
Probably also why the O’s could sign him, lost a step, if anyone contending needed a SS you’d think he would’ve signed elsewhere...go O’s...
Just saw the lineup tonight against a LH pitcher. Power hitting infielder Velazquez starting in CF. Valaika starting in LF , Holiday DH. Is this a lineup for a team that wants to get a playoff spot. If they win I will be happy to eat my words
Hays on the IL. Mullins doesn’t hit well against LH’s. Smith Jr. and Sisco don’t hit that well against LH’s either. Davis can’t hit against anybody. Mountcastle can’t play CF. Nunez plays 1B while Davis sits. Getting closer to Mountcastle time. Probably in another week
I didn’t know Hays was on the DL. Sisco planted a bomb against a LH pitcher a few day’s ago. Give him a chance to face more lefties. Diaz unproven is a better hitter then Velazquez or Vailska. Who’s gonna be our CF against RH pitchers
Probably Mullins. If Hays is out for a long period of time, could open up a spot on the 40 man roster for Mason Williams. Guess they will go day to day on Hays rib
No need for pessimism, gentlemen. Jorge López, along with his 27.00 ERA with K.C. this year, has been activated. When he pitches, we won't need good hitters or real outfielders in lineup.
I see they added hot hitting Mullins and Javier Lopez . I’m impressed
Another catcher, I thought he retired...lol...go O’s...
Boy Elias is really down on Willams to
bring up Mullins again. Why don’t they just release the guy already
Williams isn’t on the 40 man roster, Mullins is. If Hays injury is more serious, they can put him on the 45 day IL, opening up a spot for Williams. The hope is that Hays recovers quickly
Just saw where Mullins is back. OH JOY! I guess Mountcastle is doomed to purgatory in Bowie for the season... just saying...
I saw the call ups why not Diaz for CF?
Diaz is considered more of a corner OF. Need to have at least 2 CF’s. So for the time being it’s Mullins and Velázquez. Not exactly Mays and Mantle
If you call Velazquez a CF then I’m Willie Mays. If they can add Lopez to the 40 man roster they could have added Willams. Javier Lopez would look better in CF then Velazquez lol
The roster was at 39 when they claimed Lopez off waivers. The 40 man roster is currently full. The Orioles tend to be cautious when adding non roster players to the 40. That way they can keep as many people in the organization as possible. And as far as Mason Williams, last winter he was a free agent. After exploring the market, of all 30 teams, he signed a minor league contract with the Orioles. So it’s not as if the rest of the league is trying to pry him away from the Orioles
Yes I’ve heard that excuse over and over again. He said he signed because he thought they would give him a chance to play. He performed well this spring and watch Mullins and Smith jr get playing time. Neither one is lighting up the league with offense or in Smiths case defense. I say release the guy and give him a chance to hook up with another team or go play in Japan or anywhere he’s to old at 29 to sit on his butt
As for Diaz I rather see him in CF anyday over Velazquez. Winning teams make that move losing teams start Velazquez or Wilkerson. Winning teams on a roll call up their best prospect to start in LF tonight Mountcastle. I’m sorry for being negative but it makes me angry this lack of taking a chance with real outfield prospects instead playing infielders in the outfield and DHing a third string catcher over a guy who plummeted a ball against a LH pitcher a few days ago
Hoff, agree w/you 100%, I can’t see how putting an infielder in CF could be worse than a real outfielder from their other camp, especially w/his total lack of offense, mind boggling...go O’s...
Just asking is this the gm asking the manager who he wants or the the gm asking the owners who to bring up. I’m confused. Let’s go for it Go orioles
Here’s my sign that things are changing for the better in Birdland. I don’t know about anyone else but in about the 6th inning when they were down 7-2 I absolutely did not feel like the game was over. Even tho they ended up getting blown out I still liked their chances of coming back at that point. It’s been years since I’ve felt that way. This team plays all 27 outs.