BALTIMORE-What happened? On a beautiful Sunday, the Orioles and Athletics played ugly, and the Orioles blew a ninth-inning lead and lost for the second straight time this weekend.
Entering the ninth, the Orioles held a 2-1 lead with left-hander Keegan Akin trying for a save.
Akin (3-2) walked leadoff hitter Darrel Hernaiz. With one out Gio Urshela singled to put runners on first and second. Lawrence Butler pinch-ran for Urshela.
Willie MacIver doubled to left, scoring Hernaiz. Butler ran through third base coach Eric Martins’ stop sign, but a poor relay throw by shortstop Gunnar Henderson allowed him to score and the Athletics (53-67) held on for 3-2 win before 23,183 at Oriole Park.
Elvis Alvarado (1-0) pitched the final 1 2/3 innings, striking out Jordan Westburg for the final out.
The Orioles (53-65) were 51-0 this season leading after the eighth inning. They had won 123 straight games when they were ahead after eight.
“Any time you walk the leadoff guy who isn’t necessarily a huge power threat, it’s not really what you want, so I think he’d love to have that one back right there,” interim manager Tony Mansolino said. “Urshela hits the ball past Westy. It’s a scenario if Westy is standing two steps over towards the hole, maybe he’s in front of the ball. The backup catcher gets us again-type scenario. Just unfortunately how it played out.”
Henderson, who hasn’t made an error since June 8th, wasn’t charged with one on the throw.
“He didn’t mean to throw it there,” Mansolino said about Henderson’s throw that was wide and bounced in front of catcher Alex Jackson. “Things are speeding up right there. He’s got his back to the play. He’s catching the ball, and he just kind of threw a sinker to the plate, just kind of getting on top of it. Straighten it out. Make a better throw.”
Coby Mayo’s pinch-hit double in the seventh inning scored Alex Jackson to put the Orioles ahead, 2-1. Jackson’s popup bounced off first baseman’s Nick Kurtz’s glove and was scored a double, and Mayo doubled off Justin Sterner.
Yennier Cano threw a scoreless 1 1/3 innings. Dietrich Enns struck out two batters in the eighth.
The Athletics used bullpen arms to get through the game. In his second major league game, Luis Morales allowed five walks in 2 2/3 innings, including three in the first inning, and the Orioles still didn’t score.
With Ryan Mountcastle at bat, Henderson and Adley Rutschman tried for a double steal, but Morales’ pickup play was botched, and the runners returned to their bases, but Jeremiah Jackson struck out with he bases loaded.
In the fourth, Jackson led off with a triple, and after Alex Jackson struck out, Jackson tried to score on a squeeze play. Greg Allen’s bunt dribbled just in front of the plate and MacIver was able to easily tag Jackson out. Allen was thrown out stealing, and the result was an unsightly inning.
Westburg’s home run against the Athletics’ third pitcher, Ben Bowden, gave the Orioles (53-65) a 1-0 lead after five.
Brent Rooker doubled to begin the sixth against Oriole starter Cade Povich, who was outstanding. After Rooker moved to third on an infield out by Nick Kurtz, Colby Thomas’ single scored him for a 1-1 tie.
Povich gave up a run on four hits in six innings in his second start since coming off the injured list on August 4th after missing six weeks because of an inflamed left hip.
How well did Povich pitch? Povich pitched perhaps his best game since allowing one run on four hits in 6 2/3 innings against Washington on April 24th.
He walked three and struck out five.
“I think my better outings are when I’ve been able to command the fastball really well,” Povich said. “That was kind of a priority during rehab, before I started throwing games just in bullpens it was kind of a priority to command certain parts of the zone with the fastball that maybe I don’t do as well.
“I think these last two games, the command and being able to locate it to different parts has been a lot better and has led to a lot better results.”
Povich could have seven starts remaining this season, and the time here is important.
“They’re in a way, just as important as all the other ones,” he said. “Plenty of chances to be able to continue to grow, try maybe some different things, learn some different things about myself — about pitching, about pitching in the big leagues. Trying to figure out what works and kind of help me get to that next level.”
What does it mean? The Orioles will continue to struggle offensively until they get Colton Cowser and Tyler O’Neill back in the lineup. Cowser is on the concussion injured list, and O’Neill is on the IL because of a sore wrist. An outfield of Jordyn Adams, Greg Allen and Jeremiah Jackson doesn’t provide much offense.
What’s the stat of the day? The Orioles had just 12 hits in the three games this weekend with a weakened lineup
“I think that’s part of the story,” Mansolino said. “That’s the bigger part of the story. I think the smaller part is, the A’s have good stuff. It’s not the A’s from a couple years ago. There’s some good stuff … But certainly in order to stay competitive, we’re going to have to create some more traffic on the bases.”.
What’s the word? “I think it’s just a little mentality, maybe putting a little more emphasis on it in bullpens, whether that be middle of the week or pregame.”-Povich on why his fastball was better.
What’s going on in the minor leagues? In his second rehab start, Tyler Wells allowed one hit in four scoreless innings as Triple-A Norfolk beat Rochester, 6-1. Wells struck out five and walked one. He threw 52 pitches, 41 strikes.
Samuel Basallo drove in four runs.
Trace Bright allowed a run on two hits in four innings in Double-A Chesapeake’s 7-3 win over Akron. Juaron Watts-Brown gave up two runs on one hit in 4 2/3 innings. Brandon Butterworth, Aron Estrada and Douglas Hodo homered.
Michael Forret threw five scoreless innings, allowing two hits, in High-A Aberdeen’s 6-3 loss to Wilmington. Ethan Anderson hit a three-run home run.
What’s next? The Orioles open a three-game series against the Seattle Mariners on Tuesday night. Dean Kremer (8-8, 4.35) will face George Kirby (7-5, 4.04) at 6:35 p.m.
Call for questions: Most weekdays, I’ll be answering at least one Orioles question. Please send yours to: [email protected]
