BALTIMORE—Bruce Zimmermann finally got to pitch in front of his family and friends at the ballpark where he watched games growing up. He pitched well enough to record a quality start but didn’t stay in the game long enough to win.
Dillon Tate’s 10th-inning wild pitch, which tipped off the top of catcher Pedtro Severino’s glove, allowed the winning run to score as the Boston Red Sox beat the Orioles, 6-4, before 9,307 at Oriole Park on Saturday night. The Orioles are 4-4.
Michael Chavis, who was the automatic runner at second to start the 10th, advanced to third on Kiké Hernández’s deep fly to center and scored when Severino couldn’t pull down Tate’s high pitch. Christian Vazquez’s RBI single gave Boston a two-run lead.
For the second straight start against Boston, Zimmermann allowed three runs in six innings. In his first start on Easter, the Orioles scored 10 runs while he was on the mound on the way to an 11-3 win.
When Zimmermann made his major league debut last September, the Woodstock, Maryland resident pitched in an empty stadium because of Covid-19. He was looking forward to having family and friends watch him pitch at Oriole Park.
“It was pretty much everything I could have imagined,” said Zimmermann, who pitched for Loyola Blakefield. “It was extremely special. I had all my siblings here and their spouses behind home plate. Probably three or four pockets of friends, guys I played baseball with growing up, went to high school with, pretty much you name it, they were out there supporting me.
“I definitely heard it throughout the night.”
Zimmermann had a rough first inning, giving up two runs. Rafael Devers’ RBI single scored Adam Verdugo and sent Xander Bogaerts, who had walked, to second.
With Marwin Gonzalez at the plate, catcher Chance Sisco picked off Devers, but the Orioles didn’t execute the rundown well and Bogaerts was able to score before Devers was tagged out.
In the bottom of the first, first baseman Trey Mancini, who could have thrown home in an attempt to prevent Bogaerts from scoring, hit his first home run since September 28, 2019 at Fenway Park. Mancini missed the 2020 season because of colon cancer surgery.
“It gave everybody chills,” centerfielder Cedric Mullins said. “It was an amazing moment. To watch him in front of the home crowd jog the bases and get a solid swing off, it was awesome.”
Rightfielder Anthony Santander followed with his first home run of the year to tie the score, 2-2.
In the bottom of the second, Devers gave the Orioles a chance to score when he didn’t tag Rio Ruiz on a stolen-base attempt after Sisco struck out for the second out.
The top of the fourth ended when Gonzalez, who singled with two outs, attempted to score on Christian Arroyo’s double. Leftfielder DJ Stewart, who was playing his first game since missing the season’s first week because of a strained left hamstring, made a strong throw to Ruiz, who snapped a throw home to Sisco for the third out.
Mullins, whose single in the bottom of the fifth gave him a hit in each of the Orioles’ eight games, made a fine catch on Hernández’s drive at the center field wall for the second out of the top of the fifth.
Devers homered in the top of the sixth to give Boston a 3-2 lead.
Zimmermann allowed three runs on seven hits, walked one and struck out four. He couldn’t count the number of friends and relatives who came out.
“It was an outpouring of support that a hometown kid can only dream of having at the ballpark behind him,” Zimmermann said.
The Orioles took a 4-3 lead in the eighth, scoring two. Ryan Mountcastle began the inning with a single against Adam Ottavino. Stewart doubled to center, moving Mountcastle took third. Ryan McKenna pinch-ran for Stewart.
Maikel Franco bounced to Boston first baseman Bobby Dalbec, who threw home but his throw was toward the first base side and Mountcastle scored for a 3-3 tie. After Ruiz popped out to left, shortstop Freddy Galvis lined a single to left to score McKenna and give the Orioles a 4-3 lead.
In the ninth, César Valdez, who saved the first two games of the season in Boston last weekend, allowed the tying run when Dalbec beat out a potential game-ending double play ball at first, enabling Gonzalez to score for a 4-4 tie.
“César Valdez has been so good for us,” manager Brandon Hyde said. “He did what he usually does, got ground balls, and they found the holes on a couple of them, and that’s going to happen.”
Notes: Ruiz’s stolen base was just the fourth in 260 major league games. … Bogaerts was not credited with a steal of home but scored on a fielder’s choice. … Mullins is batting .455 with a 1.167 OPS. … The Orioles struck out 10 times, breaking a major league record streak of striking out at least 13 times in five consecutive games.
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Liked the effort coming back after the lackluster defensive play in the 1st inning, Valdez is not a closer, maybe Tanner, we won’t have many opportunities like this during the season, need to take advantage of them...go O’s...
Another ball off Severino, should’ve left Sisco in, oh well, again....go O’s...
Yup that’s why it was judged a wild pitch instead of a passed ball. Pedro Catcher Bad! Sisco would have caught it with his bare hand. Adley would have caught with his teeth and spit it down to 3B to pick off the runner. But Pedro Catcher Bad!
Wild pitches and passed balls are subjective based on the scorers opinion. I thought that was catchable.
Agree
:)...go O’s...
When will Hyde learn to use a real closer? Valdez and Sulser are not closers. You look at closers in the league and there all guys that have stuff. Valdez doesn’t he has one pitch. Hyde needs to make Scott the closer till Harvey gets back. Hyde has already cost us three games with his in game management and bullpen management. This demoralizing for a young team.
Who is a real closer on the Orioles? Does he have his AKC pedigree? Do you find hindsight 20/20? Was it Valdez’s previous two saves or his current 1.69 ERA that caused you to determine Valdez’s unsuitability for the closer role?
Maybe it was that he blew a game almost blew on last weekend in Boston. And the fact that he is a one pitch pitcher. The hitters can just wait him out for the change up. He didn’t throw one fastball last night. Scott can blow it past the hitters or make them look silly with the slider.
Yup 5 saves in 6 opportunities over the last two seasons is a indication he’s no good, he’s no good, he’s no good, baaaabeee, he’s no good!
Watching him pitch...there is a reason it took until age 36 to really stick with an MLB team, I like his effort & story, he’s not a closer...go O’s...
He may have thrown a fastball, hard to tell..LOL...go O’s...
What the hell, I’ll add my two cents on this subject. I love Valdez. I’ve even said on this site that if he’s not used in at least 70 games then I believe Hyde is underutilizing him. Until the league figures him out I’ll continue to feel that way. He’s not exactly getting lit up. Having said that, I’d still rather see him in any situation, not necessarily closing games. I’d love to see Scott given the opportunity to be that guy. However, like others have said, getting to the 9th with the lead is just as important. Even if Harvey comes back, I’d like to see Scott closing and Harvey as the 8th inning guy. In my wishful thinking looking to the future and the “next great Orioles team” I envision Harvey and Scott being that teams Brach/O’Day and Britton. Hey, I can dream can’t I?
Agree DL, Valdez is their most consistent guy out of the bullpen, just don’t think he’s a closer...go O’s...
This bullpen issue is very tricky. People crying for Scott to close is fine BUT then who shuts down the 7th/8th inning? Valdez,Fry,Tate? Thinking these rule 5's,who have impressed,could maybe make the cut. Notice that as soon as Severino replaced Sisco the bullpen crashed? Pedro plays intense,hustles but something ain't right. The strikeouts and Mancini,Mountcastle off to tepid starts are at the forefront of the offensive woes. Do like the gutsy starters. 6 innings for a starter is adequate in today's baseball.
Watch saying anything about Severino, PJ’s, his agent, will cry bloody foul...go O’s...
I am not a soccer player CP, low blow
Soccer players would think that was flattering, not a low blow...go O’s...
I am recommending constructive criticism and alternative solutions be provided vis a vis pure negative comments. Such as “I suggest Tanner Scott and Valdez switch roles, as Scott’s stuff seems better suited for shut down and closing roles, whereas Valdez may continue to pitch well in set up opportunities”. Also recommending ad hoc observations be backed with actual data supporting characterizations implied by ad hoc observations or admitting that data and statistics may not support your ad hoc based characterizations.
All my friends and family agree this is not too much to ask, though my cat is on the fence...
Your recommendations are noted.
I think that's an excellent suggestion for people who like to read term papers for recreation. What you call "ad hoc" is just as true for your "data" and "statistics" as it is for other people's observations. BTW, when you write of "all" your "friends and family," is that statistically valid and accurate or just an ad hoc characterization?
Entering stats for the record to defend my client Pedro
Wins above average WAA by position for our beloved Orioles;
Pitchers +1.0
Position players/DH -1.1
Catcher +0.2
CF +0.6
RF +0.1
All other positions/DH have negative WAA. Lay off Pedro please
Your stats definitely are WAH, sounds like malarkey to me...go O’s...
Watch the “wild pitch”. That ball was absolutely catchable and not to mention Pedro dropped another pitch that got away 2 or 3 pitches later.
Absolutely catchable
Sometimes I think you are joking with your ridiculous crazy stats. The sad part you are serious. This is baseball not some analytical mathematic program. Yes analytics has worked its way into the game but either you have talent or not and all the analytics won’t change that.
Absolutely Bhoff...go O’s...
11 LOB..... ouch
So far, Zimmerman looking like the best pickup from the 2018 fire sale.
Any other batter in the Red Sox lineup besides Dalbec would have been out at first on the double play attempt in the 9th and we all would be talking about what a great closer Valdez is. Go O’s!
On the bright side they ONLY struck out 10 times!
A major league infield and Dalbec is out
Precursor to a LONG season. Just saying...
Galvis, seriously?! Those types of plays are what losing teams do. You just CANNOT make that mistake.
Have no idea what in the hell he was thinking down 4 at the time (I think), of course Mountcastle hits a double to lead off the next inning...Bad News Birds...go O’s...
Someone remind me why they got rid of their pitching coach?...this is fugly...go O’s...
I guess the Galvis boneheaded baserunning is a moot point now.
More data in defense of my main man Pedro:
Orioles ERA in 2020: 4.51
With Pedro catching: 3.89
2019: team 5.67/Pedro 5.53
Even if he does not get a hit, you must acquit!
Pedro with Washington in 2018:
Team ERA 4.04/Pedro catching 3.74
Wonder what it’s like with 13 runs today, calling a great game...go O’s...
I smell a comeback of epic proportions!
Change your pj’s, think that’s what you’re smelling...go O’s...
Was kind of with you until I saw Armstrong come in...go O’s...
Armstrong had breakfast burrito, my bad! But man Mullins batting all lefty, just wow, wowzer, woof, wow-wee!!!
Mullins has made a great transition to strictly lefty, I can’t believe he had no consideration for gold glove last year, he’s pretty damn tough out there...go O’s...