BOSTON–What happened? The Orioles had won seven in a row entering their three-game series against the streaking Boston Red Sox, but the excitement about the series was overtaken by the news that their frontline catchers, Samuel Basallo and Adley Rutschman, were placed on the 10-day injured list.
Even worse, the Orioles dropped the first two games of the series — 6-5 on Monday night, when they committed four errors, and 6-3 on Wednesday afternoon in the first game of a doubleheader.
Rutschman went on the IL with left wrist inflammation. He’s eligible to return on July 29th.
Basallo’s move to the injured list was announced about 20 minutes before Wednesday’s first game. He could return a day after Rutschman.
Basallo, who left Sunday’s game with right shoulder discomfort, is on the injured list with right shoulder inflammation. The move is retroactive to Monday.
About 90 minutes before game time, manager Craig Albernaz was still optimistic about Basallo’s return.
“The [batting] cage session didn’t really go as planned,” Albernaz said. “It wasn’t like he was hurting, hurting. Doing what’s right for him and best for him and trying to prolong this, the next thing you know, it’s going to be a little longer than anticipated.
“With Rutsch and Basallo, pretty confident saying it’s the best catching tandem in the big leagues.”
Their absence couldn’t come at a worse time as the Orioles (49-53) fell four games behind Boston (52-48), which tied the franchise record set in 1946 with their 15th straight win.
Sam Huff caught the first game and after he was pinch-hit for in the sixth, Chadwick Tromp caught the final three innings.
Albernaz tried to put a good spin on the situation.
“It’s tough to replace [Rutschman and Basallo], but with Huffy and Trompy, they do a great job of defense behind the plate, navigating our pitchers, calling a good game,” Albernaz said. “It’s a lot of slack to pick up, but Trompy and Huffy, they have the pedigree to do it.”
What happened in the game? Dean Kremer allowed six runs in six innings as the Orioles lost their second straight after winning seven in a row before 35,039 at Fenway Park.
The last time the Red Sox (52-48) won 15 straight was April 25th-May 10th, 1946. That team featured Ted Williams, who hit .342 that season and was the American League MVP.
The first five Boston batters to bat hit four singles. Caleb Durbin had a two-run single and Jarren Duran a two-run double putting the Orioles (49-53) behind 4-0 after one.
“Pitch execution was actually pretty good minus the one to Duran,” Kremer said. “That was a changeup that was left up. Everything other than that was pretty much executed to my liking and to our liking. It just got grenaded into the outfield.”
Pete Alonso hit a ground-rule double against Boston starter Jake Bennett (6-3) in the third. Alonso scored on Tyler O’Neill’s fly to center that Ceddanne Rafaela lost in the sun for a double.
Duran’s sacrifice fly in the bottom of the third put the Red Sox ahead, 5-1.
Christian Encarnacion-Strand hit his second home run in two games in the fourth, and Rafaela hit his ninth home run in the bottom of the third.
Kremer lasted six innings, allowing six runs on six hits, walking one and striking out five.
Encarnacion-Strand’s RBI single in the sixth cut the lead to 6-3.
When approached for a postgame interview, Encarnacion-Strand declined, saying he needed a nap and would talk after Game 2.
Bennett gave up three runs on nine hits in 5 2/3 innings. Justin Slaten, Garrett Whitlock and Aroldis Chapman combined to pitched 3 1/3 scoreless innings on two hits. Chapman recorded his 23rd save.
How much will the Orioles miss Basallo and Rutschman? Tromp will start the second game of the doubleheader, and the Orioles, who finally appeared to have some momentum, will struggle without Basallo and Rutschman.
“It definitely hurts. It hurts on both sides of the ball,” Kremer said. “Just have to keep chugging along and lean on the guys who come up and fill their spots.”
Kremer worked with Huff and Tromp in the first game of the doubleheader.
“I love them both,” Kremer said. “I have a little bit of experience with Trompy the last couple of years between last year and this year, and Huff this year in spring and in Norfolk has been great. Both of them are very good between the ears and I trust them wholeheartedly, and I know the staff does as well.”
Taylor Ward didn’t minimize the loss of two impact players.
“That hurts a lot,” Ward said. “Obviously, both of those guys are huge anchors in our lineup, and we need them on this team. We need them playing every day. Hopefully, they can get back as soon as possible and get back to help us out.”
Silas Ardoin has been added to the taxi squad in case another catcher is needed.
How did Kremer pitch? The Orioles were fortunate that Kremer was able to pitch six innings. Anthony Nunez pitched two scoreless innings, giving the Orioles seven fresh arms for Game 2 with an offday on Thursday.
“I gave up some runs early, but did a good job minimizing after that and being able to eat six with only one guy down after that, it’s big for the second game,” Kremer said.
Albernaz wanted to keep the bullpen fresh for the second game.
“They did a great job of having some really tough at-bats against him,” he said. “Dean grinded through and gave us six.”
“What does it mean? Losing Basallo and Rutschman for 10 days or longer when the Orioles have so much ground to make up is most unfortunate, especially with the trade deadline coming up on August 3rd.
What’s the stat of the day? 23. Basallo is the 23rd different Oriole to land on the injured list.
What’s the word? “It gets him to reset and just focus on getting his shoulder healthy as opposed to getting healthy and also try to every day get ready to play.”-Albernaz on the Orioles putting Basallo on the injured list.
What’s next? Kyle Bradish (6-9, 3.61) will start against Eduardo Rivera (0-0, 2.89) at 7:10 p.m. in the second game of the doubleheader. The Orioles will use left-hander Josh Walker as the 27th man. Left-hander Alec Gamboa is the Boston’s 27th man.
2nd game lineups for Orioles-Red Sox
Orioles
Taylor Ward-LF
Pete Alonso-1B
Gunnar Henderson-SS
Tyler O’Neill-RF
Christian Encarnacion-Strand-3B
Dylan Beavers-CF
Johnathan Rodriguez-DH
Jackson Holliday-2B
Chadwick Tromp-C
Kyle Bradish-RHP
Red Sox
Anthony Seigler-2B
Ceddanne Rafaela-CF
Wilyer Abreu-RF
Willson Contreras-1B
Masataka Yoshida-DH
Caleb Durbin-3B
Jarren Duran-LF
Andruw Monasterio-SS
Carlos Narváez-C
Eduardo Rivera-LHP
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