BALTIMORE—What happened? For the first time this season, an Orioles starter threw fewer than five innings. Tyler Wells allowed four runs on six hits in four innings as the Orioles lost to the Milwaukee Brewers, 11-1, on Friday night.
Wells allowed three runs in the second inning on Gary Sánchez’s two-run home run and former Oriole infielder Joey Ortiz’s run-scoring triple. Rhys Hoskins’ RBI single in the third put the Orioles behind, 4-0.
Willy Adames hit a three-run home run against Jonathan Heasley in the fifth inning.
William Contreras hit a two-run home run, and Sal Frelick had an RBI single in the sixth.
Heasley allowed six runs on seven hits in two innings.
Jackson Holliday was hitless for the third straight game, disappointing fans who came not only to see his home debut, but to pick up one of the T-Shirts the Orioles handed out to the first 15,000 fans 15-and-over. Holliday struck out in each of his three at-bats, and he has seven strikeouts in his 11 at-bats.
Austin Hays was 0-for-4, and he’s hitless in his last 25 at-bats.
The Orioles’ only run came on Colton Cowser’s third home run in two games in the fourth.
Freddy Peralta allowed one run on five hits in six innings, striking out 11 without a walk.
“He’s arguably one of the better pitchers in the game,” manager Brandon Hyde said. “He’s got multiple pitches. His fastball’s got unbelievable life to it. He’s got good secondary stuff, too.”
First baseman Ryan Mountcastle and catcher Adley Rutschman didn’t play for the first time this season.
Right-handed pitcher Yohan Ramírez, who was acquired from the New York Mets on Thursday, hasn’t reported. Hyde thinks he’ll arrive in the next day or two.
What was wrong with Wells? Wells allowed four runs on six hits in four innings, walking one and striking out three, throwing 90 pitches. His earned-run average is 5.87.
“It’s the same thing that’s been going on,” Wells said. “It’s a very mediocre start to the season, which was just poor locations. That’s really all I can say about it.
“I’d like to say the Sánchez pitch was a mistake, but we put it right where we wanted to and he just happened to be on it. Other than that, it was just mistake pitches down the middle that can’t happen.”
Wells was excellent during spring training, but he hasn’t pitched well in the season.
“It’s very frustrating,” Wells said. “Everyone knows how I am. I’m going to go out there and, obviously, I’m going to change something up. I’m going to figure it out. I’m going to go out there and continue to do my job and do my job well. That’s always my goal.”
“Not typical Tyler Wells,” catcher James McCann said. “His command was a little off tonight. It was a battle from the second inning on. Threw the ball well in the first inning. We just never got a good rhythm.”
“He was missing location a lot,” Hyde said. “Kind of pulling his slider. It was either in the middle or pulled off the plate. The fastball was elevated. I just didn’t think he had his real good command tonight.”
Wells’ next turn comes up on April 16th against Minnesota.
“I didn’t give the team a chance to win today,” Wells said. “That really pisses me off. I’m going to go out there throughout this next time and through my bullpen and get ready for the next one and take care of business.”
What happened when the benches cleared? In the sixth inning, McCann and Adames got into a heated argument during Adames’ at-bat. The benches and bullpen both emptied and there was lots of arguing, but no punches were thrown. . I’m not going to have much other to say about it tonight,” McCann said. “It wasn’t between me and Adames. Something else was going on.”
Adames resumed his at-bat and singled and scored.
“He was saying some stuff when I got there, and I responded,” Adames said. “”It was something else, but I don’t really want to get into details. It was something stupid, pardon my word, but I guess he was a little frustrated.
“Some stuff happened in the game and some people misunderstand, and that’s what happens I guess.”
Hyde declined to elaborate, saying he wanted to keep the matter in house.
What’s happening with Holliday? Holliday was greeted by standing ovations before each at-bat, despite his obvious struggles.
“Their support is awesome. It always has been through all the affiliates,” Holliday said. “It was really special.”
Holliday struck out swinging against Peralta in the third and fifth and was called out against J.B. Bukauskas in the seventh.
“Pretty good pitches, and I got down quickly in all three at-bats,” Holliday said. “I shouldn’t have chased a few. Overall, it’s good experience to go against guys like them who have dominated in the big leagues. To be able to have experience like that, it’s good.”
What’s the word? “It’s three games. It feels like longer, but it’s just three games. To be able to adjust is the most important part of this game, and I was able to do that in spring training. I’m looking forward to more at-bats and more games to feel more comfortable and make adjustments.”-Holliday on his big league introduction
What does it mean? Wells needs to pitch much better than he’s done in his first three starts to secure his place in the rotation, especially with Kyle Bradish and John Means on rehab assignments.
What’s going on in the minors? Albert Suárez allowed five runs on 10 hits in 4 1/3 innings in Triple-A Norfolk’s 6-4 loss to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Suárez struck out seven and walked one.
Leftfielder Heston Kjerstad hit his seventh home run and third baseman Coby Mayo hit two homers. He has six this season.
Rightfielder TT Bowens drove in four runs, second baseman Billy Cook, first baseman John Rhodes and catcher Connor Pavolony drove in two each as Double-A Bowie beat Hartford, 13-8.
Designated hitter Elio Prado had two hits in High-A Aberdeen’s 9-4 loss to Wilmington.
Shortstop Leandro Arias hit a two-run home run in Single-A Delmarva’s 4-2 loss to Salem. The Shorebirds are 0-7.
What the stat of the day? 5.87. Both Wells, starting for the Orioles, and Suárez, starting for Norfolk, finished the evening with 5.87 ERAs.
What’s next? Dean Kremer (0-0, 2.19) will face former Oriole left-hander DL Hall (0-1, 4.82) on Saturday at 4:05 p.m. when the Orioles play the Milwaukee Brewers in the second of a three-game series.
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