In many of the Orioles’ 13 straight losses, they’ve been in the game. In six of them, they’ve lost by a run or two. On Sunday, they ended a winless 10-game road trip with a 3-1 loss to the Chicago White Sox at Guaranteed Rate Field.
The 13 consecutive losses tie for the third-longest losing streak in club history. The 12 straight road losses are one short of the team record.
Their pitching wasn’t bad. Starter Keegan Akin allowed a home run to Billy Hamilton in the third inning while pitching 4 2/3 innings. Akin wasn’t economical, throwing 94 pitches, allowing five hits and the run. He walked two and struck out four.
Two runs scored against reliever Dillon Tate (0-3) in the seventh, but it was the Orioles’ offense that again failed to produce.
DJ Stewart homered against Lucas Giolito (5-4) in the top of the third, but they had only two other hits, both by Cedric Mullins — a third-inning triple and sixth-inning bunt single.
In the four-game sweep by the White Sox (32-20), the Orioles couldn’t get a hit when it mattered. They were 0-for-24 with runners in scoring position.
“Another close game, we just don’t score enough runs,” manager Brandon Hyde said. “We held a good club to three runs. That’s a win on most nights. We’re lacking the big hit in the big spot.”
Adam Plutko relieved Akin with two outs and two on in the fifth and walked José Abreu to load the bases. Yermín Mercedes hit a hard grounder to short on which Freddy Galvis made an excellent stop. He threw to second for the forceout, and the Orioles (17-36) were out of a jam.
“I thought Keegan was outstanding,” Hyde said. “I had him scheduled for four innings. For him to go into the fifth inning, that was impressive. He almost got through that fifth inning. He threw the ball well. He had really good life to his fastball.
“That’s a really good lineup. That’s a playoff-type lineup. I thought he did a nice job in his first start.”
Plutko and Sulser combined for a scoreless sixth. Tate’s first batter, Tim Anderson, singled softly to begin the seventh. Anderson stole second, and Tate’s errant pickoff throw sent him to third.
Nick Madrigal tripled to score Anderson, and Yoan Mocada singled, and the Orioles were down, 3-1.
“[Tate] didn’t execute there defensively,” Hyde said. “He didn’t execute the inside move, which he had an easy out there. It ended up being the winning run.”
Giolito allowed a run on three hits in seven innings, striking out 12 and walking one. Garrett Crochet and Liam Hendriks retired the last six Orioles hitters, with Hendriks earning his 13th save.
“We faced some really good pitching in this series,” Hyde said. “That’s a lights-out bullpen, a really good rotation. They played really well.”
Akin showed a lack of control in spring training and didn’t make the team to begin the season. With Dean Kremer at Triple-A Norfolk, Akin got the start.
“I was pretty happy with it, with it being my first time out as a starter this year,” Akin said. “Obviously, some things I need to take away and learn from it, like the two walks there back-to-back, and attacking hitters a little better than I did.
“Try to stay out of the three-ball counts as much as possible. That way, I can start getting deeper in the game, get into that sixth inning. Overall, I was happy with it. I wish I could have gotten through five. I get it. The circumstances, high pitch count, a little bit better matchup with Plutko. I totally understand it. I’m OK with it.”
Akin was asked about the losing streak.
“Some guys are just pressing a little bit,” he said. “I don’t think we’re playing bad baseball … got to get on the right page and go from there.”
On Monday, the Orioles return home to play the Minnesota Twins. They have not only a 13-game losing streak, but a 15-game slide against the Twins. Their last win against Minnesota came on March 31, 2018.
“We’ve got to continue to push. We’re in almost every game,” Hyde said. “The majority of the games are right there for us in the sixth, seventh, eighth inning. We’re hanging around. We’re not quitting. We’re competing, so I’m happy about that. We could use a three-run homer big-time, in a big spot.”
Notes: The Orioles’ last three-run home run came on May 5th in Seattle when Trey Mancini hit one. … Mancini returned after missing three games because of a bruised right elbow. He was hitless in three at-bats. … Anthony Santander’s 11-game hitting streak ended.
Coming up: Jorge López (1-6, 5.80 ERA) will face José Berrios (5-2, 3.67) on Monday. Bruce Zimmermann (2-3, 5.15) will face Michael Piñeda (3-2, 2.62) on Tuesday. … Oriole Park will open to its full capacity on Tuesday night. … The Orioles haven’t named a starter for Wednesday against Randy Dobnak (1-4, 6.49).
Hyde said he would not consider using John Means on three days’ rest on Wednesday. Means and Matt Harvey started Saturday’s doubleheader.
“We have an unusual schedule coming up with three offdays (June 3rd, 7th and 10th). We’re still working through what the rotation is going to look like. That day might be a bullpen day. That day might be an opener, or it might be somebody from Triple-A.
“Rainouts are nice at times, but it really screws your pitching up going forward from how to plan it out. That’s something we’re going to talk about the next few days, that third day against Minnesota.”
Hunter Harvey’s return: Hunter Harvey is eligible to come off the 60-day injured list on Monday, but Hyde isn’t sure that the right-hander reliever, who’s been out because of a sore left oblique ,will be with the team then.
Harvey is 1-1 with a 5.79 ERA in three rehab outings at Triple-A Norfolk.
“We’re still taking a look at some things,” Hyde said. “He might make one more appearance there, we’ll see.”
Minor Matters: The Orioles promoted infielders Jordan Westburg and J.D. Mundy from Low-A Delmarva to High-A Aberdeen. Westburg was the 30th overall pick in last year’s draft. Mundy signed as an undrafted free agent.
Outfielder Johnny Rizer, their seventh-round pick in 2019, and right-handed pitcher Blaine Knight, the Orioles’ third-round selection in 2018, move up from Aberdeen to Double-A Bowie.
The Baysox swept a doubleheader from Harrisburg. Mike Baumann started the first game, a 6-5 Bowie win in eight innings, and allowed one run on two hits in three innings.
DL Hall allowed just one hit in five scoreless innings, striking out eight and walking three in the second game, an 8-2 win.
Adley Rutschman hit a pair of three-run home runs, one in each game, and drove in seven runs in the doubleheader.
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View Comments
Sooo, you’re looking for someone to hit three run homers....go O’s...
Galvis literally just hit 3 home runs in 2 games and you hate him sooooo… go Os
Apples & Oranges, Hyde said they needed 3 run homers, that’s not three homers in two games, Rutschman had two, three run homers, Galvis did not...go O’s...
This three run homer is an apple but this three run homer is an orange...sez the great and all knowing CalsPals
"Akin said he believes the Orioles continue to believe they’ll end the streak."
Wow .... Now THAT'S the attitude we're looking for!!
On a serious note, what else does Rutchsman have to prove? And I don't want to hear any balderdash about "the process". This kid IS and has been ready, pretty much from jump. And the O's and their fans desperately need him. Enough already. Bring him up tomorrow and let him take his lumps now instead of later. Enough of this horsepucky about needing further 'development'. He came already developed.
Agree get Rutchsman up we got nada from our catching this weekend; hey pitching was solid but if you only score one run….
I agree. If I see Severino box one more simple pitch I am gonna destroy my TV. He and his brain farts need to go
Agree, was stunned Akin said that, they sure as hell better believe it, Rutschman, no brainer, it’ll never happen this year, I can almost hear Mikey cursing that he’s doing so well...LMAO...go O’s...
Why would elias curse Adley for doing well? He drafted him.
Tongue in cheek, why do you question everything I say, no issues with the others that said being Adley up...go O’s...
Everyone picks on you bruh obviously
CPs...sometimes you just have to type slower .... :)
Really bad news to burst your passionate insight BRR
1. Wynns is in Baltimore tonight so like Adley Jump Rutschman not getting called up
2. 0.607 OPS in Gulf League and 0.594 OPS at Delmarva in 2019 does not scream qualified for MLB from jump lol...oh yes oh yes he is playing well this month at Bowie so your revisionist history paints him as always playing this well amiright?
Go sip a Pepsi on a United flight and make sure not to buy any F35s from Northrop Grumman, that woke stink will turn you into a Yankees or Red Sox fan
I hope we can string a few wins together soon, lest this place turn into a Facebook drama fest.
Things gettin’ a bit testy around here of late....
Just sayin’....
The testiness seems pretty one sided to me. It has always been there but seems to have gotten worse right about the time Urias was sent down. Of course I could be wrong tho.
Just saw Westburg and Mundy play today at Delmarva . Both are having very good seasons. BTW, Shorebirds turned some very nice double plays making them look easy!! Something the big club can't seem to accomplish .
Cheers to another loss
Cheers
Just a minor correction and some additional info from Bowie today as I made the trip down there to see them play. First off, Baumann pitched game 1 and Hall pitched game 2. Secondly, but certainly worth noting, Cadyn Grenier did the same as AR and homered in each game of the double header. Grenier was 5 for 8, 7 RBIs and 5 runs scored in the twinbill while Rutschman was 5 for 6, 7 RBIs and 2 runs scored. Hall actually had 3 walks but I gotta say I only recall one ball being hit hard against him in his 5 innings.
Awesome, bringem all up, power to the youngens...go O’s...
Thank you, Dave for the correction.
Wynns reported to be in Baltimore per Roch K
If I was a betting man I’d say the Monday and Tuesday pitching matchups don’t look good for us.
Speaking of betting, maybe we should all put $10 on some random cryptocurrency tonight. Way I see it we should all be billionaires by Friday, then we can buy the O’s and put an end to this misery.
I’ve been thinking about something for a while now and am curious as to anyone else’s thoughts. Is it possible the Angelos sons will be much better owners than the father is now? What I mean is, is it possible they’re honoring their fathers requests now as far as spending, or rather, not spending money but once he’s gone they’ll open up the purse strings and make sure the club is competitive by extending their own players and acquiring good FA’s? I say this because their public statements talk about their commitment to Baltimore and they obviously know how much a winning team would mean to the franchise as well as the city.
No reason to think they’ll spend. What this looks like is they’re maybe trying to set up another Tampa/Oakland type team that can overachieve without having to go out of pocket; then maybe the occasional spend if they see an opportunity. So maybe more like Tampa in that way. A’s never seem to spend no matter what, but the Rays will pull off a deal here or there.
Or as I and some others fear, they’re just stripping the long term cost commitments down to nil to sell the club once the Davis deal ends and the lease is up. That mini extension of the OPACY lease was the perfect amount of time to allow all significant cost commitments to expire. It’ll be a cheap young team on the rise (no other direction to go, eh?) - ideal for fanbases from Buffalo to Vancouver, and every Nashville, Charlotte, Columbus and San Jose in between.
Simplest thoughts regarding question is that IF either or both of the sons retained ownership of the club, they would almost by default, HAVE to be better owners than their father was. Peter Angelos ran this team into the ground over the years.
BUT .... I don't think any of us have any idea. It's simply all about which way the Benjamins break when smoke clears. My hunch is that one brother will have to be bought out in order for the other to control the team. If that doesn't happen, I imagine a sale would follow.
As I have noted before, O's are owned by a partnership group, PA only is the majority owner. MASN is also part of the equation, there cannot be a sale, which MLB would have to approve, until dispute is resolved. MASN is co-owned by the Nats and O's, the full rights costs are in escrow ($100M). One brother is currently designated as speaking for and representing the club, the other runs MASN. Agree that PA has not been a good owner, but he is not capable to meddle any longer. I think there is a good chance they will be better owners. Bill Bidwell, former owner of St. Louis/Arizona Cardinals earned a reputation as an owner very similar to PA. His son Michael took over the team and the Cardinals achieved much more success. Whether we like it or not, the decision to invest in the International market is a good sign that PA is not in charge and JA is willing to do what needs to be done. Time will tell.
Not sure the MASN aspect changes much. Any kind of partnership or shareholder agreement has a buy-sell provision. I have to think the Nats have the upper hand financially. If surveys tell them that reverting to a one time market is more lucrative for them over the next 30 40, 50 years, they could trigger the buy sell and make an offer for the other half of MASN that the Os couldn’t match. The question, which only the Nats would really know, is whether MASN, long term, can be just as profitable as Nats-only. Remember, during the 90s, the Orioles were one of the richest and most potent teams in the game. I’m sure the Nats are well aware of this. They don’t seem to be having much trouble selling tickets either.
Within the O’s partnership, Id love to know how big a majority vote would be needed to sell the team. 65%? 75%? More? Less? Bear in mind that a chunk of that voting bloc is the “Nats’ half” of MASN, who might like the Nats to be the only franchise in the BAL/DC market.
MASN is a big deal. It is an open law suit and would have to be resolved before a sale can occur. Also, the max ownership of MASN by the Nats is 33%, as agreed to by all parties to allow the Expos to move into the O's franchise territory. The Angelo's family has controlling interest and for the partners to force a sale would be problematic, at best. For those who want the O's sold to new owners, even a single owner, this dispute needs to be resolved, which it could be with a pending sale, and the passing g of PA.
Didn’t know MASN was split 67/33- thanks for that. Definitely changes how I see a possible deal working. Any idea how many heirs PA is passing on to his kids and how that might water down majority control? Under MLB rules can he just transfer his interest on death to an LLC or trust or does it have to be natural persons?