DETROIT—The Orioles thought they had Saturday’s game against the Detroit Tigers won twice. Instead, they found a way to lose their 100th game of the season.
Orioles reliever Mychal Givens had two outs in the ninth with a one-run lead. But he fell behind in the count and threw a 3-1 fastball down and in, and switch-hitter Victor Reyes hit his second home run of the season to tie the game, 3-3.
With another one-run lead in the 12th, Paul Fry loaded the bases with one out. Ryan Eades came in for Fry and walked Brandon Dixon to force home the tying run. Eades then hung a breaking ball to John Hicks, who hit a grand slam to beat the Orioles, 8-4.
The teams with the two worst record in baseball showed why they have those records. They combined to use 18 pitchers, 10 by the Orioles.
“We obviously have a big number [of pitchers] here and going with guys trying to win the game,” Hyde said. “A lot of these guys are going to get some opportunities here these next couple of weeks, so hoping they can come in and contribute.”
After Trey Mancini’s two-out, three-run homer in the eighth nearly won it for the Orioles, they took the lead again in the 12th on a clutch single by Rio Ruiz that scored Mason Williams for a 4-3 lead.
Fry walked Harold Castro to begin the bottom of the 12th. With one out, Travis Demeritte doubled to right, and Dawel Lugo was walked intentionally by Fry to set up a force at any base. But Eades walked Dixon, and Hicks blasted a 2-2 pitch.
“It’s tough because we’re all battling all game long, and come back,” Fry said. “We take the lead in the last inning there. It’s tough to lose that way, for sure.”
Hyde had already used Tanner Scott, Dillon Tate, Richard Bleier, Miguel Castro, Givens, Shawn Armstrong and Branden Kline before Fry and Eades.
“Tough spot to put him in,” Hyde said about Eades. “I feel bad for it. That’s just a tough spot. All right-handers coming up, I needed a right-hander there and just wasn’t his night.”
With so many pitchers in the bullpen because of the expanded roster, Eades’ opportunities to pitch have been few and far between. This was just his second outing since August 30.
“That’s a difficult spot for anybody,” Eades said. “I just didn’t do my job tonight. Timing was a little off and threw some balls, got behind in counts, put myself in a tough spot. Big league hitters take advantage of those mistakes, and that’s exactly what he did.”
The defeat marked the first time in franchise history that the Orioles have lost 100 games in consecutive seasons.
Until the seventh, the Orioles had just four singles against Daniel Norris and Drew VerHagen.
Bryan Garcia struck out pinch-hitters DJ Stewart and Rio Ruiz to begin the eighth. Hanser Alberto and Jonathan Villar singled and both moved up a base on a throwing error by leftfielder Christin Stewart.
Mancini then hit his 32nd home run, and the Orioles had a 3-2 lead.
Givens was an out away from his 12th save, but he grooved his 3-1 pitch to Reyes.
That was the first lead blown. The second one in the 12th was also difficult.
“Just being in the dugout when we scored that run and seeing how excited we are, it just hurts to go out there and have it end the way it did,” Fry said.
Gabriel Ynoa allowed two runs in four-plus innings. Harold Castro homered with one out in the third, and Reyes’ single in the fifth scored Willi Castro.
Before the eighth, the Orioles best chance to score came in the sixth. Richie Martin was hit by a pitch and stole second.. With one out, Villar walked, but Anthony Santander was called out on strikes. Santander ended the day 0-for-5, extending his hitless streak to 24.
In the seventh, Renato Nunez led off with a single to left-center, but he unwisely tried to get to second and was thrown out. Austin Hays appeared to have a triple with one out in the ninth, but he overslid the bag and was thrown out.
Tayler Scott returns: After helping Double-A Bowie in the Eastern League Championship Series, Tayler Scott was recalled by the Orioles on Saturday.
Scott, who has a 15.07 ERA in 11 games with Seattle and the Orioles this season, had an 0.56 ERA in 13 games for Triple-A Norfolk.
He has a goal for the final 15 games.
“Get back to who I was when I was down at Norfolk,” Scott said. “Bring that up to this level. Finish the season strong and make up for what I’ve done here.”
After he was sent down by the Orioles on August 29, Scott went back to the Tides and was with them until their season ended on September 2. He worked out with Bowie, staying sharp until their best-of-five series against Trenton, which they lost, 3-1.
‘It was a lot of fun,” Scott said about being with the Baysox. “… To go back and see where you were a year or two ago and see those guys working hard to get to where you are now.
“They have some serious arms down there.”
Scott’s addition gives the Orioles 37 players and 20 pitchers.
“I’m not complaining about the depth of our … pitchers,” Hyde said. “I’d rather have too many than too little. Try to get these guys in as much as I can, but trying to win games also. I feel that for 90-plus percent of the games we’ve been a little bit short in the bullpen this year. It’s kind of a luxury to have maybe too many at this point.”
Only three players on the 40-man roster — pitchers Cody Carroll and Luis Ortiz and outfielder Cedric Mullins — have not been added to the Orioles’ active roster. Mullins finished his season strong at Bowie.
Will Villar play 162? Villar has played in each of the Orioles’ 147 games. He’d like to play all 162, but Hyde is being noncommittal.
“If he needs a day, I’m going to give it to him,” Hyde said. “But he’s playing with great energy, and he’s playing hard. He doesn’t want to come out and he’s playing really well.
“It’s going to be day-to-day. I’m not predicting anything. I’m going to go with the flow.”
Oldest living Oriole dies: Wally Westlake, who played eight games for the 1955 Orioles, died on September 6 at 98. Westlake’s death leaves Eddie Robinson, who played four games for the 1957 Orioles, as their oldest living player. Robinson, who was born a month after Westlake, is also 98. He’s the second oldest living major league player.
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Contrary to what the numbers say about the bullpen, reality showed last night, Hyde doesn’t seem to get it, Givens 7th blown save, again, poor base running, Frank Robinson would have a ton of baseball IQ-less cases to preside over & my biggest pet peeve, Santander watching the third strike, to me it was tougher losing the lead on Givens than Fry, my guess poor Wally Westlake was watching the O’s & couldn’t take it...whew...sorry for the rant...beyond disappointed...my cry now is for Buck to replace Hyde, Britton...go O’s...
What does Hyde have to do with anything you said? Excluding Hyde I totally agree with your rant.
Apparently you guys can’t read, BUCK BRITTON...lmao...go O’s...
Buck Britton needs to stay at Bowie. The next 2-3 years the emphasis has to be on player development in the minors. This explains the overhaul in the minor league coaching staff. Let Britton continue to develop the players at Bowie
Wow, have to disagree with CalPals on a couple things.Westlake shouldn't have been in that conversation like that,sorry.Santander will be a good ballplayer in time.Bringing back Buck not good because he quite possibly would not use his number one reliever in extra innings.Givens is hot and cold and one reason is he is the only go to guy.He probably would perform more consistently in a different environment.Rest of the relief corp has a long way to go and hopefully there are better arms available downstairs (minors) for next year.Hyde does a great job with the media and really protects his players to a certain point but don't believe his enthusiasm for a lot of the guys.He knows many are not that good (at least right now)but has to use the resources he has and give them confidence for their well being and future.I understand the rant because any devoted Oriole fan has to have been pissed off more than once this year as it does get aggravating but we can only hope the future will get better.
Uhhh who is Wally Westlake?
Tony P. I agree with most of everything you said in disagreeing with CalsPals. The Buck era is gone and won't come back. Brandon did use a lot of relievers last night and not even Tommy Lasorda pushed the right buttons each and every time with his bullpens. I really don't know how Brandon maintains his composure in the face of such basic baseball blunders ours guys commit.
The one thing I totally agree with CalsPals is "taking a third strike with a runner in scoring position". I've said it here before and will say it again, that is a "kangaroo court" violation and would become a teachable moment that would cost the violator a few bucks.
Again, you guys apparently can’t read, BUCK BRITTON...lmao...go O’s...
Givens is going to be Givens... it’s a crap shoot any time he’s in there but it is what it is. However, for Fry, there’s no excuse to put him in there for anything other than to not have to put a position player in to finish out another blowout loss. I mean, seriously. A relief pitcher with eight losses (prior to last night) is ludicrous in itself and to put him in a game where there’s a chance of winning puts Hyde’s credibility as a manager at the lowest point of the season. As I’ve written a number of times here before, I have a standing bet with a friend about Fry’s performance each time he’s in the game and he’s made me a lot of money with his ineptness. That fact aside, I’d father we win the game than win the bet. I can’t imagine what some of the players are thinking when they see him get up in the bullpen. (I can’t put my thoughts here) In interviews he appears to be a nice guy but that’s not what he’s being paid for. Hyde, get real! He’s not a ML pitcher! Just saying...
When you use 10 pitchers your options tend to run,out.
Oriel... He has 20 pitchers on the bench! Why Fry who’s been a total disaster? If analytics are really in play and driving all decisions then why do we need a manager"? Some common sense needs to be applied! Just saying...
He didn’t have 20 pitchers available. Blach, Brooks, Bundy, Means and Wojo are starters. Shepherd is going to start a game next week. Other than Fry and Eades his choices were Hess, Phillips and Taylor Scott. Harvey won’t pitch back to back days. So yes, Hyde’s options were limited
Last night showed a few things. Mancini is the only legitimate major League hitter on the team(sorry Villar),Hays definitely solidifies the OF,there are no closers on this staff,Harvey is fragile,Fry should be with Norfolk next season,Hyde's demeanor hides a lot of frustatiom,Santander overswings(for the fences).Nunez swings too much,8 pitchers in one game will never win it for you. There's my rant.
So Alberto is 4th in batting average in the AL, but he doesn’t make your list?
Good point. He has his flaws though.
I do not think Cals is calling for the return of Buck Showalter, but is suggesting that Buck Britton might be a better choice over Hyde...
Based on what?
Both of their seasons, analytics...go O’s...
The “BUCK” Era is not gone. He will come back, hopefully, with the Orioles. As far as what Hyde has to do with it, are you really serious! He has a lot to do with it. Besides,sugar coating some at Bats, pitches or base stealing, that he makes for his players, how about his decision making, in every game. Watch today’s game, have a few beers, some wings and then tell me, how many times, you agree with him.
I think it is way too early to judge Hyde. As noted here by others, the cupboard isn’t stocked very well, so it is pretty tough to reach in there and come out with a decent meal. The fact that we are going to win more games than last year is more noteworthy to me than any decisions he’s made that haven’t planned out.