BALTIMORE—Manager Brandon Hyde got a solid start from Jorge López, and then the third horrible eighth inning of the weekend sent the Orioles to another exasperating defeat.
In three eighth innings, the Orioles allowed 16 runs. On Sunday, they entered the inning with a 5-3 lead, and six runs later, they were on their way to their fifth straight loss, 9-6, to the Tampa Bay Rays before an announced crowd of 10,576 at Oriole Park.
Paul Fry (4-5), who didn’t retire any of his three batters on Friday, began the eighth by loading the bases on a single to Brandon Lowe and walks to Jordan Luplow and Nelson Cruz.
After Austin Meadows popped to short, Fry walked Wander Franco on a 3-2 pitch, forcing home Lowe.
Dillon Tate replaced Fry and retired Yandy Diaz on a sacrifice fly to center, scoring Luplow with the tying run.
Tate walked Manuel Margot and then Brett Phillips hit a grand slam to left-center, his second homer of the game, and Tampa Bay (68-44) led, 9-5.
“The whole room in there is disappointed, discouraged because we are so inconsistent in our bullpen,” Hyde said. “Sometimes, our guys are pretty good out there. Sometimes, not.
“You can’t be afraid of the strike zone. You’ve got to be able to attack hitters. Like I’ve been saying for three years now … Sometimes, our guys do it; sometimes, they don’t. That’s why we have a ton of losses like that.”
Ten days ago, it appeared as though Paul Fry and Tanner Scott, the team’s two left-handed relievers, might be traded at the July 30th deadline. Now Fry is having an awful time, and Scott is on the 10-day injured list because of a sprained left knee.
“I have a ton of guys up right now in the ‘pen that are struggling,” Hyde said.
“Games that we won for the most part, Paul Fry has been involved, [Cole] Sulser has been involved. We’re missing veterans, and we’re missing a couple of guys on the [injured list] that might shorten the game, but this is the big leagues. You’ve got to perform. “
JT Chargois (2-0), who relieved DJ Johnson in the sixth when he left because of shoulder discomfort, pitched 1 1/3 innings.
Cedric Mullins hit his 20th home run of the season on Michael Wacha’s first pitch. He became the seventh Oriole player to hit 20 home runs and steal 20 bases in a season.
“It means everything to join a prestigious group like the 20-20,” Mullins said.
The Orioles have 52 games remaining to see if Mullins can become the first 30-30 player in team history.
“There’s still some time left,” Mullins said.
The Orioles (38-72) missed a chance to add on in the bottom of the first. Trey Mancini reached on an error by third baseman Joey Wendle but was thrown out at third on Anthony Santander’s single to left. Maikel Franco singled, but two runners were left on when DJ Stewart flied out to left.
Jorge Mateo was hit by a Wacha pitch to start the second. He stole second and scored on Richie Martin’s single to right. Austin Wynns singled, but Mullins lined out to second, and Wynns was doubled up. Martin scored on Austin Hays’ single, and the Orioles had a 3-0 lead.
Francisco Mejia tripled with one out against López in the third and scored on Brandon Lowe’s single.
Anthony Santander’s seventh home run, his first since July 6, put the Orioles up, 4-1, after three.
Austin Meadows hit his 21st home run to lead off the fourth.
Wynns doubled with one out in the fourth and scored on a wo-out single by Hays.
López allowed two runs on four hits in six innings.
“He looked like an AL East legitimate guy that can go through the lineup three times with a normal bullpen that gives you a chance to win the game,” Hyde said.
Cole Sulser gave up Phillips’ two-out home run in the seventh to cut the Orioles’ lead to 5-3.
Santander’s run-scoring double scored Mullins with the final Orioles’ run in the ninth.
Notes: The other members of the 20-20 club are Brady Anderson (1992, 1996, 1999), Paul Blair (1969), Don Baylor (1969), Reggie Jackson (1976), Manny Machado (2015) and Jonathan Villar (2019). … Keegan Akin (0-5, 7.66 ERA) will face Casey Mize (6-6, 3.57) on Tuesday when the Orioles open a three-game series against the Detroit Tigers. John Means (5-3, 2.79) will face Tarik Skubal (7-10, 4.32) on Wednesday. On Thursday afternoon at 4:05 p.m., Matt Harvey (6-10, 6.13) will face Matt Manning (2-5, 6.33). …Infielder Pat Valaika cleared outright waivers and accepted an assignment to Triple-A Norfolk.
Brooks Robinson breaks arm: The family of Brooks Robinson, 84, and the Orioles provided the following statements on the Hall of Fame third baseman’s health:
“Just over a week ago, Brooks Robinson fell at his home and broke his left arm. After a successful surgery at Sinai Hospital in Baltimore, he is on his way to a full recovery. His spirits are high as he continues his rehabilitation. He thanks everyone for their well wishes,” the statement from his family read.
“Brooks is doing well after a fall at home and a successful surgery. We request privacy for him and his family and wish him the best as he recuperates,” the Orioles’ statement read.
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Our bullpen should all get shirts that say, "No Lead is Safe" on them. They are a complete dumpster fire right now. They have no confidence and are pitching like trash. I mean I guess we should be happy they broke their streak of 4 consecutive games giving up 10 runs or more but c'mon back to back games giving up a grand slam? What?!?! So abysmal! Anyway Get well soon Brooksie! You are the best.
...with a normal bullpen that gives you a chance to win the game,” Hyde said, pretty much sums it up skipper, prayers to Brooks...go O’s...
Agree on both points there. Love Brooks!
Was encouraged to see Hyde was (finally) annoyed and sending a clear message of disappointment in the bullpen. I know this is just van assumption, but from outward appearance, his style seems appeasing and affirming. Hopefully he’s blasting those guys, frankly.
Hey Mikey, time to go diving in the bargain bin! I hear they’ll soon be having a BOGO sale this month. We could’ve used Wilkerson today outta the pen. Anyways get well Mr Brooksie….
Anyone else see Holt pitching for the Rangers, when he finished the inning he walked to the umps to be checked & they laughed... hysterical...go O’s...
Yeah. Hilarious. What’s the spin rate on the eephus? Helluva arc on those pitches.
I liked the way he snuck the 77 mph heater in there...go O’s...
I wrote a post earlier telling all the O’s fans under 40 how much I respect them. I gotta say tho, nine of you will EVER see the likes of a Brooks Robinson. All I can say is Google 1970 World Series. Godspeed on your recovery Brooks, the original GOAT.
--- YouTube
Brooks Robinson 1970 World Series MVP Highlights
https://youtu.be/JFpqG61FdQI
It’s a real shame. We are finally getting some quality innings from our starters and the pen goes in the tank. Had we won today we would be pumped up about the exciting play and additional speed that Mateo and Martin have brought to the lineup.
Love you #5.
Mateo and Martin bring excitement. They seem like playmakers with some intensity and passion.
There’s 3 or 4 players on this team that have some similar “fire”. The rest really seem blah and vanilla; going through the motions.
I know, I know - I can’t know their intents and their hearts, but I’m commenting on what I see on the bench and the field.
Be sure to tune in on Tuesday for the next installment of the O’s docu-series, “The Unwatchables.” Check local listings for times and channel.
Brooksie is the reason I’m an Orioles fan, and why I played 3rd base in high school. Get well soon Brooks, the world needs ambassadors like you.
Agree, my first game with my grandmother was in Cleveland, seats by 3B, him just waving back hooked me, didn’t hurt they went on to win their 1st WS...go O’s...
This one is on Hyde . Why would possibly repeat the disaster of two nights ago with the same predictable results. Fry over and over has proven he cannot do the heavy lifting . Tate gets somewhat of a pass yeah he gave up the big hit but he is consistently being put in bad positions .
Hyde just can not see the weakness in his players game . He is blind to these short comings and it’s costing us games.
I love these intelligent comments. NOT.
Don’t see what’s unintelligent about the comment I think he’s spot on!
Plus it say “comments”, which is even less specific
Well said Balt...go O’s...
Balt MP....EXACTLY. Not necessarily Fry or Tate or Smith or Jones. They're all culprits. My question is, when Sulser is throwing strikes and he's only thrown THIRTEEN pitches, why take him out in the first place? The team has an off day on Monday. I'm an old school baseball guy and the analytics have become an overwhelming part of the game. I know my son hates it when I refer to " I remember when", but Goose Gossage, Rollie Fingers, Dick Hall, Bruce Sutter, etc. used to actually pitch two and sometimes three innings out of the bullpen. Some of you folks probably have more stats than I but it seems to me,that these pitchers had very successful careers. Maybe I'm the dumb one here, but, what happened? Why are these managers removing pitchers after 10-15 pitches? I realize there's lots of money involved but Cole Sulser, Paul Fry, and Dillon Tate? Really? Nothing personal, Sonny, just business, but that's not Lee Smith, Randy Myers, and Mike Marshall.
God bless you Mr. Robinson.
First and foremost--a get well to Brooks Robinson. Summers with Brooks and falls with Johnny. Baltimore was blessed. Hyde was my hero for letting Lopez go six. THEN he coughed it up by letting Fry start the 8th. It's not even second guessing in condemning that decision-- we all knew Fry was in one of those Twilight Zone grooves before he even stepped on the mound. Sure enough 2 walks a hit and we were off to the races again. Then he brings poor Dillon Tate in when AGAIN Fry's horses are out of the barn. Tate does what the recent Tate does--gets taken deep. Fry's shot,now Hyde has demoralized Tate. Yes Tate sucked it up but how many times does he have to come in with 2 or 3 on and no outs and not feel it after a while. Other than Hunter Harvey and Tyler Wells Tate looked to be the next "comer". Well now he's ruined. Just would have liked to see him start an inning instead of constantly cleaning up Fry's mess. That's all ,good night.
And, just one more thing to add to my rant. Let me preface this by saying that I love Ben MacDonald as an analyst. He's to the point and doesn't mince words. However, he did annoy me today after the game when talking about the Oriole bullpen or lack thereof. He claimed that since "Tanner Scott went down things really started to unravel." Ben, excuses are for losers. May I remind you that Tampa has a number of their bullpen people AND starters on the IL. Not only are they not unraveling, they're one of the hottest teams in baseball!!! Ben, you do excellent work, but please, one man does not, or should not make a bullpen. I bring up Tampa because I do not want include some of the franchises that can buy their way out of injuries so let's just say that the O's bullpen is not quite what it should be because the pitchers can't or WON'T throw a damn strike!!!
Agree foodman. I too heard that comment from Ben. Isn't Tanner Scott the one that started the bullpen spiraling downward in the first place?
As this year is a wash its time demote and promote from within the system or designate for assignment. I know this sounds harsh but the paying fan base deserves better
Brooks was easily the best there ever was and this bullpen is easily the worst there ever was and it time to get rid of these guys and get some new "Waiver Wire" (in other words=Untradeable) relievers cause the analytics tells me this bunch don't have it.
Sad to hear the news about Brooks, one of the greatest third basemen ever. Here's hoping for a speedy recovery.
Get well soon, Brooks! I just re-watched the 1970 World Series highlights. Brooks is the greatest third baseball and Oriole of all time!