Mountcastle hits 2 home runs, Rutschman his 1st in Orioles’ 7-6 loss in 10 innings; Revisiting Gausman trade

It’s been nearly four years since the Orioles made a series of trades that signaled the start of their rebuild. Perhaps the most interesting was the most surprising at the time.

The Orioles sent Kevin Gausman and Darren O’Day to the Atlanta Braves for Bruce Zimmermann, reliever Evan Phillips, catcher Brett Cumberland, infielder JC Encarnacion and international bonus slot money on July 31^st, 2018.

O’Day was on the injured list at the time, and general manager Dan Duquette wanted to unload his 2019 salary.

Four years later, O’Day is still in the major leagues in his second iteration with the Braves at 39. Gausman, who pitched for Atlanta in 2018 and 2019, moved on to Cincinnati and San Francisco before signing a five-year, $110 million contract with Toronto just before the lockout began on December 1^st, 2021.

The other players traded away in the fire sale — O’Day, Brad Brach, Zack Britton and Jonathan Schoop have played against the Orioles multiple times, but Gausman hasn’t faced them.

That will change on Thursday afternoon when he’ll pitch against an Oriole lineup that will won’t contain a single player who was with the Orioles when he was traded.

Trey Mancini, who was on that 2018 team, likely be on the bench because his right hand was injured by a pitch on Monday night.

At the time of the trade, Zimmermann was considered a fringe prospect and was of interest principally because he was from Ellicott City.

Zimmermann worked his way to the major leagues, and through his first six starts this season, was 2-1 with a 2.67 ERA. He allowed just one home run in those six starts.

On Wednesday night, Zimmermann was on the verge of losing his fifth straight. He allowed six runs and a career-high 11 hits in 4 2/3 innings. Zimmermann left with the Orioles trailing, 6-2.

The Orioles rallied to tie the game in the eighth inning, only to fall, 7-6, in the 10th on a game-winning hit by Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

It was the third straight start Zimmermann allowed 10 or more hits, and he allowed three home runs. In his last seven starts, Zimmermann has given up 17 home runs, and his ERA has risen to 5.94.

It remains to be seen if the Orioles will allow Zimmermann to stay in the rotation or if they demote him. Two options to join the rotation are prospect DL Hall, who is expected to be promoted sometime soon, and Spenser Watkins, who threw three innings in his first start for the Tides since he was put on the 15-day injured list after he was hit by a Ji-Man Choi line drive on May 22^nd.

Toronto prevails: The Orioles fell behind 5-0 and 6-2 but rallied behind two home runs by Ryan Mountcastle and Adley Rutschman’s first as an Oriole before Guerrero’s RBI single in the 10^th against Félix Bautista won it for the Blue Jays.

Mountcastle was practically a one-man force, hitting home runs in the seventh and eighth. His second home run was a two-run shot. It was his 12th against the Blue Jays and his 12 of the season, tops on the Orioles.

Zimmermann allowed two-run home runs to Teoscar Hernández and Matt Chapman, and Guerrero’s 16^th.

Bryan Baker, Dillon Tate and Jorge López allowed just one hit in 4 1/3 innings in relief of Zimmermann.

Kyle Stowers was the automatic runner to begin the 10^th. Jorge Mateo bunted him to third, but Ryan McKenna struck out and Cedric Mullins popped out to third.

Guerrero drove in Bo Bichette, the automatic runner from second, on the second pitch from Bautista (2-2).

Adam Cimber (7-2), who worked the 10^th, was the winner for Toronto (37-25). The Orioles are 27-37.

Rutschman’s home run: In Rutschman’s first 75 major league at-bats, he hadn’t driven in a run. In the 76^th, Rutschman hit a two-run home run. It was the Orioles’ first hit.

Rutschman showed plenty of power in the minor leagues. Last season, he hit 23 in 123 games with Bowie and Norfolk.

Mancini presented Rutschman with the Orioles’ home run chain.

Minor league update: Catcher Cody Roberts and shortstop Gunnar Henderson homered as Triple-A Norfolk lost to Syracuse, 5-4. It was Roberts’ first home run. Henderson hit his second homer in the ninth.

Kevin Smith (0-4) allowed three runs in three innings.

Garrett Stallings allowed eight runs on 11 hits in 3 1/3 innings as Double-A Bowie lost to Binghamton, 13-1, in the first game of a doubleheader. Third baseman Tim Cullen hit his first home run.

The Baysox won the second game, 4-0. Adam Stauffer (1-1), pitched five hitless innings, striking out six and walking one. Jensen Elliott threw two scoreless innings, allowing two hits. Second baseman Joey Ortiz had three hits. Shortstop César Prieto had two hits, and catcher Maverick Handley hit his fourth home run, a two-run shot.

Leftfielder Colton Cowser hit a two-run home run and third baseman Coby Mayo homered as High-A Aberdeen defeated Jersey Shore, 3-2. The win clinches the first half title of the South Atlantic League North Division for the IronBirds (40-19). It was Cowser’s third home run and Mayo’s 11^th. Houston Roth (4-1) threw four scoreless innings, allowing one hit, striking out eight and walking one.

Leftfielder Trendon Craig had three hits and drove in two runs as Single-A Delmarva beat Salem, 7-5. It broke the Shorebirds’ four-game losing streak. Infielder Roberto Martinez and third baseman Noelberth Romero each had two hits. Designated hitter Heston Kjerstad was 1-for-2 with two walks.

Carter Baumler started and allowed three runs, two earned, on three hits in 2 2/3 innings. Ryan Long allowed an unearned run and a hit in four innings to earn his first save.