BALTIMORE—In the first half of the season, Matt Harvey had baseball’s worst ERA, 7.70, to go along with a 3-10 record. It’s been a far different story in the second half.
Harvey has started twice, pitched 12 shutout innings and allowed just four hits. On Saturday night, he retired 18 of the 19 batters he faced, allowing only Trea Turner’s fourth-inning double as the Orioles defeated the Washington Nationals, 5-3, before an announced crowd of 30,898 at Oriole Park, the largest of the season.
The fans came for Jim Palmer Bobblehead night, and the greatest pitcher in Orioles history obliged the fans by waving from the TV booth after the fourth inning.
Nationals-Orioles games feature fans of both teams, and Washington fans expected Max Scherzer to pitch. About two hours before game time, Nationals manager Dave Martinez said Scherzer, who’s been mentioned in trade talks, was being scratched because of a biceps tendinitis.
Jon Lester (3-5), who was supposed to start on Sunday, was moved up a day. He allowed home runs to Trey Mancini, his 17th and first since the Home Run Derby, in the first ,and Ryan Mountcastle, his 16th, in fourth before tiring in the sixth.
Lester was pulled after Cedric Mullins led off with a double in the sixth. Austin Voth allowed a double by Austin Hays that scored Mullins.
The Orioles (33-64) loaded the bases and scored on a Pedro Severino single and a sacrifice fly by Maikel Franco to right for a 5-0 lead.
Harvey (5-10), who suddenly might be a trade chip in advance of Friday’s trade deadline, struck out four and walked none. It was only his second start without a walk this season.
“Really feeling good with all the pitches,” Harvey said. “Especially the curveball. I haven’t thrown that a whole lot in the past, being able to get that over for a strike and also be able to feel confident with it to both righties and lefties, get ahead in the count. It’s been something we’ve been working on for a while now. Tonight was obviously the first night I felt good with it throughout the outing.”
Harvey wouldn’t speculate on the trade deadline.
“Obviously, everybody knows when it is, and it’s there,” Harvey said. “My job is to go out and prepare for each start and see what happens. I haven’t put up very good numbers other than the previous two [starts]. To really be a target or whatnot.
“But at the end of the day, those decisions aren’t mine, so I can’t really worry about them. My job is to go out and win ballgames for the Orioles and, luckily, I’ve been able to do that the last two, and I’m going to continue to do that from here on out.”
Adam Plutko replaced Harvey for the seventh and gave up Juan Soto’s 17th home run, an opposite-field shot to left.
Harvey threw 83 pitches through six. In his 20 appearances, he’s averaged 80 pitches. Hyde considered sending him out for the seventh.
“I would have liked to,” Hyde said. “I talked to Matt after the sixth, and told him it was time to go with someone else.”
In the eighth, Josh Harrison led off with a double, and Tanner Scott replaced Plutko and hit his first two batters, Carter Kieboom and Tres Barrera, to load the bases.
Scott got Victor Robles on a called third strike and Alcides Escobar was out swinging before Trea Turner dumped a two-run single to short right field. Soto popped out to Severino, and the Orioles led, 5-3.
“He made the pitch of the game there to Soto,” Hyde said. “The hit to Trea was disappointing as well as hitting two guys on the foot … Soto’s a top-five player in this game, and one of the dangerous and hottest and to be able to pop him up there in a big spot shows a lot about Tanner. He’s not going to be perfect. We all know he’s got electric stuff … He got out of the inning with the lead and made some big pitches when he needed to.”
Dillon Tate pitched a scoreless ninth for his second save.
The Orioles have won five of their eight games after the All-Star break. Washington (45-52), might decide to begin playing for 2022 and beyond.
Notes: The Orioles signed three additional draft choices — infielder Collin Burns, their sixth-round pick, catcher Connor Pavolony, chosen in the seventh round, and 20th-round pick outfielder Trendon Craig. They’ve signed 20 of 21 draft picks. The only unsigned draft pick is right-handed pitcher Daniel Lloyd, their 14th -rounder. … John Means (4-3, 2.72 ERA) will face Paolo Espino (2-2, 3.00) on Sunday. … The crowd was the largest since April 7, 2019. “The guys in the dugout were talking about it,” Hyde said. “It’s a noticeable difference. The energy, players were feeding off it. We should have Jim Palmer Bobblehead night more often.”
Minor league update: Dean Kremer (0-4) allowed three runs on seven hits in 4 2/3 innings as Triple-A Norfolk lost to Gwinnett, 5-2. It was the Tides’ fourth straight loss.
Kremer has lost 11 decisions, seven with the Orioles and four with Norfolk, without a win. He struck out three and didn’t walk a batter.
Adley Rutschman hit a game-tying two-run home run in the ninth, his 15th of the season. Centerfielder Zach Watson hit a game-winning single as Double-A Bowie scored three runs in the ninth to beat Hartford, 6-5. Watson also hit his first home run since coming up from Aberdeen.
Grayson Rodriguez allowed four runs on three hits in 1 2/3 innings. He struck out five and walked two.
Catcher Ramon Rodriguez had three hits and drove in four runs as High-A Aberdeen beat Hudson Valley, 8-5.
Drew Rom (8-0) allowed one run on three hits in five innings. Shortstop Gunnar Henderson had two hits and raised his average to .235.
Leftfielder Lamar Sparks had three hits and first baseman TT Bowens drove in two runs as Low-A Delmarva beat Lynchburg, 7-3.
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I have conflicting opinions on Matt Harvey and the trade deadline. Looking back he had decent April followed by atrocious May and June. If the O’s trade him what player steps into the starter role he leaves? And I’m not asking what player can give the team good starting pitching…literally who on the roster or at Norfolk is even capable of filling that spot?
Maybe Harvey is turning himself into a trade chip. I’m sure there’s a contending team out there looking for a back end starter. He’d fit that bill. Anyone else wondering why Stewart was in the original lineup against scherzer? Let’s be honest here he wasn’t going to hit him. Hays needs to play everyday. I’m tired of seeing Hyde platoon them. We see what Hays can do with consistence at bats and we see what Stewart does with consistent at bats. Wouldn’t it make more sense to play the better player which is hays. And if Hyde can’t figure that out then maybe he needs to be fired. And for Grayson Rodriguez maybe he’s getting tired a bit.
I too would love for Hays to play everyday, but right now the O’s have 4 active outfielders on the roster, and no help coming from AAA. With Hays health history and the O’s state of play, it makes sense to platoon Hays this year and plan for next year for him to be everyday ready.
Very impressive what Harvey has done. Is it enough to make him a trade chip? I doubt it. His recent reputation of failure still leans heavily. Agree that his value may be more to the Orioles than anywhere else. At least Hyde let him go 6. 7 innings?--let' s not push it. Hey if we need gimmickry(bobble heads,T-Shirts,etc.) to draw crowds so be it. Where's Bill Veeck when ya need him. All these great offensive numbers and Gunnar's only hitting .235? A little shocked at that. Rich you held a slump of his from us. Thank you Dillon Tate--now THAT'S how you close out a game.
Gunnars average is actually up. He started 0-33. So that’s an improvement.
Al, In all fairness, I believe Rich had previously reported Henderson's hitless streak ... or at least someone on this site had ... mebbe Karpovich?
I stand corrected. Yes I do recall Henderson struggling after that promotion. Rich you may now proceed.
You know, I'm on record in past years as being opposed to trading any of what I'd consider major league quality starters (specifically Cobb , Cashner or Gausman) for prospects, BUT if anybody in baseball is willing to give the O's anything more than a family sized bag of Funyuns for Matt Harvey, I say jump!
Yeah Harvey as been very impressive "in the second half" (really Rich? all of 2 starts?), but I think we've seen enough of this guy to know he won't maintain anywhere near that pace for long.
Funyuns are a trademark of Pepsico's Frito Lays Corp.
Boog ... some might call it "tanking" to get rid of a pitcher who has given up just 4 hits and 1 walk in his last 12 innings.
Like I said, don't believe that he'll keep that up for long. But then again ... I never saw Ramon Urias playing well either.
I believe they'll replace Harvey with no problem.
Kremer is a train wreck, another pitcher who can’t hit the magic 5th inning, Rutschman just keeps on hitting...go O’s...
Hey CP.......I have to ask. Being from the Cleveland area (if my memory serves).
How do you like (or dislike) the new team name "Guardians" for the Cleveland MLB team.
They WILL ALWAYS be the "Indians" to me and I will ALWAYS call them that.
Ditto for the Washington Redskins and any other sports franchise the woke generation thinks they have a right to change.
I'm right with Hallbe on this.
Agree, not a fan of the new name, I’m old, they’ll always be the Indians, I think we’re becoming soft with everyone being offended by EVERYTHING...oh well...go O’s...
If they HAD to change their name, they should’ve absolutely chosen the name Rockers. They blew it big time.
Probable Grods first bad outing but why Rich was he removed after 1 2/3 innings. Also you told me Diaz is injured again. You know it’s not normal to be injured so much. Something is wrong with that kid. Also looks like the pick of HK was a big mistake. We drafted him up to save bucks for the next rounds but in my opinion you go with the best player available. Obviously know one knew the poor kid would get sick
I wish they had gone with the original name- Cleveland Spiders.
I find that preferable to Guardians. But resisting unnecessary change, I shall call them the Indians.
Actually the Indians were never called the spiders, there was a Cleveland team called the spiders, but it was a different team, still I’d take the spiders before the Guardians, it has Cleveland history...go O’s...
All that comes to mind when I think of the name "Guardian" is a talking racoon.
Totally agree, we laughed about that here...go O’s...
Just heard an incredible stat - until today's win, O's were 0-51 this season when trailing after 8 innings ... nice sweep this weekend ... looks like pitching is beginning to stabilize.
I know it’s only one win, but these are the types of wins that happen as you improve. The better they get, the more things like this will happen. Obviously there’s a long way to go to get to being a contender but these are the steps that need to be taken to get there. I’m only sorry I missed it as obligations prevented me from seeing it. As bad as they’ve been, their record is an indication of the talent level, not the heart or effort. Once the talent level reaches the heart and effort level, watch out.