PITTSBURGH—What happened? The Orioles got just four hits in 11 innings, were 0-for-14 with runners in scoring position and lost to the Pittsburgh Pirates, 5-4, on Saturday.
The Orioles had just one hit — a pop fly that should have been caught — in six innings against left-hander Bailey Falter and trailed, 3-0. They scored two runs in the seventh, tied it in the ninth, went ahead in the 10th, but eventually lost in the 11th.
“It’s always tough on the road in extra innings,” manager Brandon Hyde said. “Especially when we don’t score there, that’s a tough situation to get more than one. If you don’t score any, you’re putting yourself into a really tough spot.”
Jonathan Heasley, the Orioles’ eighth pitcher of the game, gave up a one-out single to Oneil Cruz, which scored the automatic runner, Henry Davis. The hit came one batter after centerfielder Cedric Mullins made a sensational diving catch on a liner by Ke’Bryan Hayes to left-center. Earlier, leftfielder Austin Hays and rightfielder Anthony Santander made diving catches.
Where was the offense? Falter threw five hitless innings against the Orioles until Jorge Mateo’s pop fly dropped in front of centerfielder Jack Suwinski for a double.
“We didn’t make it easy on ourselves,” Hyde said. “We didn’t get enough runs late in the game. [Falter] was jamming our right-handed hitters … A credit to him. He located the ball in on us. We just didn’t hit any balls hard against him.”
Hyde was being literal. The Orioles did not hit a ball hard against Falter.
What about Wells? For the second straight start, Wells had trouble early, allowing three runs in the second inning.
“I think he’s just had a couple of bad innings,” Hyde said. “I thought he settled in. He only gave up three runs, getting into the sixth inning. That should be enough for our offense … We’re going to be a good offensive club. We just haven’t been the last two times he pitched.”
Wells allowed three runs on seven hits in 5 1/3 innings. In his first start, he gave up four runs, three earned, in six innings. The Orioles have just seven hits in his two starts.
“I’m going to look at the positives,” Wells said. “I kept my team in it. It was really one bad pitch that hurt me today ultimately. It was definitely a grind. I’m pleased with the way I was able to work out of a lot of those jams. I’m not very happy I was in those jams.”
Hyde used 21 players — each of his 13 position players and eight pitchers. The only reliever he didn’t use was Yennier Cano.
What about the great escape? Danny Coulombe kept the game alive in the bottom of the 10th after Mike Baumann’s bases-loaded walk to Edward Olivares tied the score at 4.
“A bases-loaded, no-out situation like that and to be able to put a zero up, he’s got so much grit,” Hyde said. “He’s competitive. He’s good against lefties and righties. I was trying not to pitch him today, obviously, and he gets in that situation.”
Coulombe retired Rowdy Tellez on a popup to first. Third baseman Ramón Urías threw home on a grounder by Jared Triolo to force out Connor Joe. And Bart, who hit a double and two-run home run against Wells, struck out.
“It’s one pitch at a time,” Coulombe said. “If you’re thinking about the big picture, it’s really hard. Execute one pitch at a time, and that’s how you get out of something like that.”
Coulombe jumped in the air after striking out Bart. He was confident the Orioles would win.
“You think the momentum would be on our side,” Coulombe said. “It’s a really good team over there, and it just didn’t go our way.”
What about John Means? In his second rehab start, Oriole starter John Means allowed a run on a hit in three innings, striking out four and walking one for Norfolk. He threw 50 pitches in the Tides’ 13-1 win over Charlotte.
In his first rehab start, Means allowed seven runs on six hits in one-plus inning.
Second baseman Connor Norby had four RBIs and hit his fourth home run. Third baseman Nick Maton had three RBIs. Leftfielder Peyton Burdick hit his fourth home run, and centerfielder Ryan McKenna hit his first home run.
It marked the third time this week that Norfolk scored more than 10 runs.
“They’re all off to pretty good starts,” Hyde said about the Tides’ hitters. “I haven’t seen the opponent they’re facing, but to see that many guys get hot that early, especially those kinds of numbers, I’ve never seen it like that.”
Leftfielder Matthew Etzel had two RBIs in High-A Aberdeen’s 7-6 loss to Jersey Shore.
What’s the word? “It’s the cruel world of baseball. It builds you up, tears you down.” –Wells on a tough loss
What does it mean? Coulombe and Craig Kimbrel, who worked in consecutive games are not likely to pitch on Sunday. Fortunately for the Orioles, they’re off on Monday, so the bullpen will have time to recover.
What about the stats? Hays was hitless in three at-bats. He did get credit for an RBI when Santander scored on a weak grounder to third in the seventh inning. Hays is hitless in his last 16 at-bats and hitting .087.
What’s next? The Orioles and Pirates will play the final game of their three-game series on Sunday at 1:35 p.m. Dean Kremer (0-0, 5.06) will face Marco Gonzales (0-0, 1.80).
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