HOUSTON—The Orioles’ bullpen was stout. Shawn Armstrong, Richard Bleier and Mychal Givens combined for four scoreless innings. In the 11th inning, Branden Kline allowed a one-out single to Yuli Gurriel, and with two outs, Robinson Chirinos doubled to left.
Stevie Wilkerson threw to cutoff man Jonathan Villar, and his relay throw home was in time to get Chirinos, but Chance Sisco couldn’t hold onto the ball on a short hop, and the Orioles fell to the Houston Astros, 4-3.
Manager Brandon Hyde contended that Chirinos never touched home.
“We’re still waiting to see him touch the plate,” Hyde said. “I’m waiting for us to tag him, and I’m waiting for him to touch the plate. I don’t think that’s happened yet. Maybe it is right now.”
Sisco knew the throw was good, but said Chirinos didn’t touch the plate. It also didn’t appear as if Sisco tagged him after picking up the ball.
“Just a do-or-die play right there really,” Sisco said. “One of those you have throughout the season that is either you pick it and get that out or you miss it. Unfortunately tonight, I didn’t make that pick. I wish I could take that back and pick that ball.”
“The throw was on time for sure. … I didn’t come up clean with it.”
The Orioles are 6-24 since May 6 when they last won consecutive games and fall to 19-44.
Ynoa’s night: Orioles starter Gabriel Ynoa allowed three runs on three hits in six innings. It was the second quality start of his career.
Ynoa allowed a home run to Josh Reddick, leading off the sixth. Later in the inning, he gave up a two-run home run to Tony Kemp.
“Obviously, we’re trying to win,” Ynoa said through a translator. “Unfortunately, we have come up short in the past few games, but hopefully we can change that.”
Better bullpen: After Ynoa left, Shawn Armstrong threw a scoreless inning, Richard Bleier allowed a hit in 1 1/3 scoreless innings. Mychal Givens recorded five outs.
Kline, who was sent to Triple-A Norfolk after the game, got the loss.
“Our bullpen is throwing the ball better,” Hyde said. “Rich was fantastic. Army, Rich and Givens threw the ball great and Kline had two outs there and got beat, but I like the way we’re throwing the ball. I love the way we compete against good clubs.”
Orioles overmatched by Cole: Houston starter Gerrit Cole struck out 14 Orioles in seven innings. He had 29 swings-and-misses, most in the major leagues this season, and most by an Astros pitcher since pitch tracking began in 2008.
“Gerrit Cole’s a top-five pitcher in the game, so there’s a reason why he’s pitching in All-Star Games every year and pitching in postseason,” Hyde said. “He throws 95-100 and he’s got secondary stuff that he can throw at any time, and he elevates his fastball so well, and it’s just tough to get on top of it at 96 … He’s a real competitive dude. He’s just good, and I’m proud of our guys for scoring three runs off him.”
Due to an error by third baseman Yuli Gurriel, two unearned runs were charged to Cole in the first. He allowed Chance Sisco’s first home run in the third to give the Orioles a 3-0 lead.
Overall, the Orioles struck out 17 times.
Santander gets the call: Anthony Santander was recalled from Triple-A Norfolk to replace Dwight Smith Jr., who was placed on the seven-day concussion injured list.
Santander had a double and a single.
“Unfortunately, things happen in this game,” Santander said through a translator. “Players get hurt and it opens up opportunities for others. So, I’m just trying to be here and help my team.”
In 47 games at Norfolk, Santander hit .263 with five home runs and 28 RBIs. He was called up on May 1 to serve as the 26th man in the second game of the Orioles’ doubleheader at Chicago.
“I think I was doing well, playing strong every single day, which is the most important thing,” Santander said.
“The opportunity is here. What I want to do is play hard, which is my part. Whatever decision they’re going to make after that is really up to the team.”
Santander is one of a number of intriguing outfielders in the Orioles’ organization, some with major league experience and some without.
“There are plenty of outfielders in the minors. We realize it’s a competition, and whoever does better will receive the call,” Santander said.
Smith was in the Orioles ‘clubhouse before the game.
“Feeling better … it’s going to be a little while,” Hyde said. “Everything’s checked out well, shoulder. That was a pretty bad crash. These things take time.”
Minor matters: Bowie right-hander Hunter Harvey allowed eight runs on nine hits in four-plus innings at Portland. … Mark Trumbo went 1-for-3 for Norfolk at Columbus. He walked and struck out.
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Elias again is reminding O’s fans to be patient and trust in the process, and I guess that’s the watchword with Harvey as well. Others have said the key for Harvey is to just get through the season healthy, but he’s got to be sliding down the organization’s depth charts. Rich — any official explanations (beyond rust) on why Harvey’s been struggling so much this year?
No.
It’s probably about time we give Harvey the Dillon Tate treatment and try him in the bullpen. We certainly need starters but he looks incapable of being able to do that and I believe he’ll be out of options next year. I’d imagine we don’t want to just give him away. Try the pen, maybe the fastball will tick up and he’ll be better off. I’m not sure a guy with his slight build would make it through years as a big league starter anyway
Hunter Harvey will still have an option remaining next year.
Well that’s a relief.
Other than that 12-11 win(which felt like a loss) the O's have been solid,competitive,and well pitched(all losses). The AAA lineup is simply overmatched. Sad about Kline who looked like "THE" Man a week or so ago. Time for him to regroup. And VERY sad about Harvey--"oh what could've mbeen".
I like what Jim Palmer said about Kline on the broadcast last night, "He loves his slider, I love his fastball." The game-winning smash was on a 3-2 slider.
I take back everything I said about Bleier. He looks great in his last two outings. I wish he'd teach the rest of the pitchers how to get opponents to hit ground balls. Not that it would do a lot of good as time and time again I watch opponents hit routine ground balls to the shortstop except there's no shortstop where the shortstop should be. Yes, I know, I'm old.
Not much from Luis Ortiz last night. Good news: 7 hits in 7 full innings , 2 BB, 8 SO
Bad news: 3 of those hits are now in geosynchronous orbit over Columbus, Ohio.
A Pollyanna prediction for the week: At least a split on the weekend versus Houston, sweep Toronto at home and believe it or not, the Birds can be out of last place by the end of the week!
The 3 home runs are a gigantic problem but I wouldn’t have any problem rolling with him over Dan Straily or David Hess at this point. He’s at least shown the ability to strike people out over these last 3 starts and has tightened up his control. I’m guessing if he turns in a couple more solid starts and those 2 stay the course it could happen. It’s pretty sad when a guy in AAA with a 7 ERA might be a better solution than your guy in the majors with the same ERA.
Let’s hope Kline was sent down with instructions on what he needs to improve on. It’s better that he finish his development at AAA than take a pounding here. As for Santander and Stewart My hope is that they both get an extended look here - they have enough AAA experience and its time to find out if they have the chops to make it in the show. They can’t do it riding the AAA shuttle, the only way to really find out is to give them extended playing time. Isn’t that what this season is supposed to be about?
Kline was sent down not because of his peformance, but because they needed a fresh arm.
Those are the words that were used, but he allowed runs in I think his last 5 appearances. If he had been more effective he would not have gone down.
I don't think Ortiz or Tate deserve a call up. They have stunk all year. Bowie is probably where they should go.
Tate hasn’t even made it to AAA yet. He might find himself off the 40 man next year if he fails to make any improvements.