BALTIMORE–What happened? Last week, the Orioles lost three straight games to the Tampa Bay Rays, and fans questioned the team’s viability and loudly proclaimed that the season was over.
A week later, the Orioles are playing their best ball of the season, winning five of six after completing a three-game sweep of the Rays.
Gunnar Henderson hit two home runs and made a terrific play at shortstop, Blaze Alexander drove in six runs, and the Orioles beat Tampa Bay, 11-2. before 16,317 at Camden Yards on Wednesday night.
The Orioles (26-30) are four games under .500 for the first time since May 13th, and they scored their most runs of the season.
“Obviously, it was a tough series when we went there,” Henderson said. “But we know the team that we have and the caliber of players that we have on this team and knew it was only a matter of time to get going a little bit. Hope we can keep it going.”
The team seems different than it did a week ago.
“I feel like we’ve been — like I’ve been saying — putting together good at-bats, and now, it’s just finally showing up,” Henderson said. “We’re staying consistent with that, and I feel like the approaches have been good, top to bottom, and see we can put up a lot of runs in that way.”
Trey Gibson (1-0) allowed one run in 5 2/3 innings in his second start of the season. He was helped in the second when Henderson made an outstanding throw from the outfield grass with the bases loaded to prevent Tampa Bay (34-19) from scoring.
“We’ve been putting in a lot of work and [infield coach Miguel Cairo has] been helping us out a ton,” Henderson said. “I feel like we’re all just getting comfortable at our positions. Just with everything, the different rotations going in, we’re all getting comfortable with each other out there.”
Henderson’s two-run home run, a run-scoring single by Leody Taveras and a two-run double by Alexander gave the Orioles a 5-0 lead in the first against Steven Matz (4-2).
Tyler O’Neill had an RBI single in the third, and Alexander had a two-run double in the fifth.
Henderson hit his 13th home run of the season in the sixth, and Alexander his first with the Orioles in the seventh. The six RBIs were a career high.
Alexander had just eight RBIs before the game. He thinks the team is starting to find its way.
“We’re a pretty, I’d say fairly new locker room,” Alexander said. “A bunch of guys from different teams and stuff, and we’re finally starting to come together. I know fans don’t want to hear that, but patience, man, patience. I think we have a really good ballclub, man, and we know that.”
Gibson pitched five scoreless innings and allowed a run in the sixth. He gave up six hits, walked four and struck out one.
Keegan Akin recorded 1 1/3 scoreless innings, and after Yennier Cano allowed three hits to load the bases — one when he failed to cover first — he left the game with right hamstring discomfort.
“He’s getting checked out right now,” manager Craig Albernaz said. “It tightened up on him on, it was a foul ball by Palacios and he kind of did a quick move to go get it and he said he felt it tighten up on him.”
What was it like to score early? The Orioles scored just 19 first-inning runs in the first 55 games. They scored five against Matz.
“I don’t think there’s one specific thing,” Henderson said. “I felt like all the guys were just — obviously, you want to get ahead early and coming out swinging. Obviously, [Taylor Ward] set the tone, just laser back up the middle, and then, yeah, we’re able to keep it going and just keep the pressure on them the whole game.”
Albernaz has been waiting for the team to score early in games.
“I think Wardy set the tone right away, jumping on the first pitch he saw,” he said. “I think we all know Wardy is extremely patient and for him to jump on the first pitch and smoke it up the middle, it kind of got everyone juiced up in the dugout.
“And then Gunnar putting the ball into the seats really got the boys going, and I wouldn’t say settle everyone down, but something we’ve talked about before where, when the top guys in the lineup have their approach and everyone talks about it and kind of holds each other accountable to what they’re going to do at the plate, to see those guys go up there and execute their plan — results aside, but the results were great — it kind of has that cascading effect of, ‘OK, just stick to my approach and I’ll be all right.’ And that’s what we saw.”
How did Gibson pitch? The Orioles turned three double plays behind Gibson — in the first, fourth and fifth — in addition to Henderson’s outstanding play.
“I’m a ground-ball type of pitcher,” Gibson said. “So that’s huge. I wasn’t really in the zone as much as I’d like, so them being able to turn those double plays with guys on, it’s huge for me.”
The five-run first gave him confidence and breathing room.
“It definitely affects you, how you think,” Gibson said. “For the guys to go off that hot start like that really gave me a cushion to start the game, like, huge, huge.”
Gibson’s first start at Yankee Stadium and his relief outing later that week helped him relax.
“One hundred percent,” he said. “I think having those two outings kind of just really, like, get the feet wet, and I know what to expect now, like what a major league game looks like. And just being self-aware of what I’m doing on the mound, just staying within myself and not trying to do too much.”
What does it mean? If the Orioles continue playing this well against Toronto this weekend, they’ll make up ground in the wild-card race.
What’s the stat of the day? 2. It was the Orioles’ second sweep of the season. They took three from the Chicago White Sox April 6th-8th.
What’s the word? “That play by Gunnar, ranging into the six hole, was pretty ridiculous to make, and to make a throw like that. Our infield defense was awesome tonight.”-Albernaz on Henderson’s play.
What’s going on in the minor leagues? Enrique Bradfield Jr. had an RBI single in his first rehab game for Single-A Delmarva in its 5-2 loss to Fredericksburg.
Triple-A Norfolk’s game with Durham was suspended in the fourth inning with no score. The game will be resumed as part of a doubleheader on Thursday.
Author appearance: Longtime baseball writer Ken Davidoff will be appearing at the Babe Ruth Museum on Saturday June 13th at noon to talk about his career scoring baseball and to discuss his book “101 Lessons From the Dugout.” The museum is located at 215 Emory Street, a short walk from the ballpark.
What’s next? The Orioles will open a four-game series with the Toronto Blue Jays on Thursday night. Chris Bassitt (4-3, 5.51) is scheduled to start against Patrick Corbin (2-1, 3.86.) Game time is 6:35.