BALTIMORE—Early in this 60-game season, the Orioles’ offense showed promise. Within a six-game span, they scored 10 or more runs three times.
In recent weeks, the bats have been quiet, and manager Brandon Hyde bemoaned the tepid offense in last weekend’s series against the Toronto Blue Jays.
Couldn’t the offense make things easier on the Orioles’ pitchers, he wondered. And although that wasn’t exactly the case on Tuesday night, the Orioles’ offense did break out in a 9-5 win over the New York Mets at Camden Yards.
The nine runs were the most since August 13th when they scored 11.
“We haven’t had many games where we had a four-run lead,” Hyde said in his postgame video conference call. “I’m happy with our offense today. We had a bunch of guys swing the bat really, really well, and it’s nice to see guys drive the ball in the gap. We’ve been in a little bit of a rut offensively.”
Renato Núñez had two home runs and drove in four runs. Pat Valaika had his first four-hit game, and the Orioles won their second game in a row after losing 11 of 13. They’re 16-19.
Núñez hit a three-run home run, his eighth off the year, against Ariel Jurado in the first. It scored Cedric Mullins, who led off with his seventh bunt base hit, which leads the major leagues, and José Iglesias, who doubled.
“This is what we do when we play the best,” Núñez said. “We bunt, we move runners, we bring them in. That’s what we do.”
Orioles starter Asher Wojciechowski allowed two runs in the top of the second on a sacrifice fly by Pete Alonso and an RBI-single by Luis Guillorme.
The Orioles padded their lead to 5-2 in the third when Valaika and Andrew Velázquez led off with singles. Mullins bunted them to second and third. Valaika scored on Anthony Santander’s single, and Iglesias’ force play scored Velázquez.
Robinson Canó’s seventh home run in the third trimmed the Orioles’ lead to 5-3.
Andres Giménez hit his first major league homer, a two-run shot against Thomas Eshelman, in the sixth to tie it at 5.
Eshelman (3-0) was awarded the win. He’s the Orioles’ leading winner.
Rio Ruiz walked to lead off the bottom of the sixth against Franklyn Kilome. He moved to second on a wild pitch and scored on Valaika’s double. He singled in the seventh for his fourth hit.
Santander homered to right, his 11th to score Valaika, and the Orioles led 8-5 after six.
Santander has been using Núñez’s bats, and with great success.
“I just have three or four bats left,” Núñez said. “He’s been using all my bats. I was telling him to use them. If they help us win, I don’t mind.”
Paul Fry, Hunter Harvey and Tanner Scott shut out the Mets in the final three innings.
Núñez led off the seventh with his second home run of the night for the Orioles’ ninth and final run.
Wojciechowski’s night: For the fourth time this season, Wojciechowski pitched five innings. He allowed three runs on seven hits.
“I wanted to go deeper,” Wojciechowski said. “I wanted to go out there for the sixth, but given how the second inning went, I really found a good rhythm in the third inning on.”
Wojciechowski threw 32 pitches in the interminable second inning. Hyde had Eshelman warming up in the latter part of the second inning.
“Throwing that many pitches seems to be an issue that I need to correct,” Wojciechowski said. “These last few outings, I’m having one inning where it’s eating up my pitch count. I feel like if I eliminate that, I’ll give us a good chance every time.”
Hyde was getting antsy watching the second.
“I was trying to win the game,” Hyde said. “There were some doubts of how long he could go. Credit to him for battling through and giving us five innings.”
Harvey impressive: In his second outing of the season, Harvey pitched a scoreless eighth, allowing a hit and striking out two.
The Orioles are being careful with Harvey, trying to get him adequate rest between appearances. His first outing was on Sunday.
Hyde is hoping Harvey can turn into a dependable late-inning bullpen piece.
“I want to believe that, but he needs to prove health,” Hyde said. “He’s had some bad luck injuries. He’s a guy that when you watch him pitch, you definitely want him available because his stuff is so good.
“Injuries are part of this game. Some guys have injuries early on in his career and bounce back. I want to believe that he’s going to be able to be a reliable back-end bullpen guy. Still holding out hope for that because the arm is so special.
“I think he’s got a reliever mentality, and I think he’d rather be in the bullpen. I think that’s where he fits best, not only medically, but with his personality.”
Remade bullpen: Miguel Castro, who flew back to Baltimore with his now former teammates after Monday’s game, wasn’t active for the game. He’s expected to be activated by the Mets on Wednesday.
Evan Phillips was sad to see Castro and Mychal Givens dealt at the deadline, but he’s optimistic about what the team has in the bullpen.
“We’re going to see Miguel walking up the ramp going the other way,” Phillips said. “It’s going to be weird for the first few days, but those guys really led us in a great direction as a bullpen. We all felt really close.
“They really left us in good hands. The group that we have down there right now, we’re headed in the right direction.”
Uhlman dies: Longtime Orioles scout Fred Uhlman Sr. died on Sunday at 90. Uhlman, who worked for the Orioles for 30 years, was elected to the team’s Hall of Fame in 2015.
He signed Jeff Ballard, Steve Finley, Gregg Olson, Arthur Rhodes and David Segui, and established baseball academies in the Dominican Republic and Venezuela.
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Imoressive win--finally. Not a nail biter(though Eshelman made it questionable). Though Wojo struggled through 5 with approximately 90 pitches why not "think out of the" Brandon and give him that 6th inning. Not really a fan of Wojo but he is a bulldog. Love Santander but swinging at head level fastballs? He's improving all the time. Poor Mason Williams. Could you imagine being optioned in favor of DJ Stewart? Ouch.
Rich may have shed some light on the reasoning why Williams may have been let go with yesterdays article in the comments section.
MW will likely clear waivers and be back in Bowie. DJ will be given some abs to see if he is capable of tradeable.
Who will he take them from...here it comes...go O’s...
Do you think somebody could weigh and measure Nunez's bats so that Tony could order a few of his own? That may even be documented with Nunez's bat maker already? In any case, please don't run out of this model for crying out loud! Santander is the key to this lineup and one of our future all stars.
Am I getting any fellow Mullins converts/believers yet?
If Harvey can continue to throw like that, I'll live with that god-awful mullet.
Nice game last night, it's fun to win 'eh Mikey?
Depends how you define “believer”; is it “maybe this guy isnt completely lost in a big league batters box and won’t be selling insurance next spring”? Then yes. If it’s “this guy is the Orioles centerfielder for the next 10 years”, jury is still very much out . But I do like the entertainment value of Hays and Mullins duking it out for the big league job over the next few weeks. They are both here on the strength of one magnificent minor league season, and have similar value defensively though Hays has more pop at the dish. So who wants it more?
I realize that its not enough, alone, to earn a starting spot, but I've been very impressed by Mullins ability to lay down a good bunt, which seems to be a lost skill in baseball ... compared to Harvey's mullet, Wojo looks like he has a crew cut.
How can we not like Cedric Mullins? 7 bunt base hits in 27 games? And a perfectly laid sacrifice bunt as well? On a team that includes Santander, Hays, Mountcastle, with Diaz and Mancini next year? He’s my fourth OF and the first guy off the bench when the team needs a spark.
Especially when the defense knows it’s coming, he puts a ton of pressure on the fielders...go O’s...
I've been a Mullins believer since before he moved Adam Jones out of center field!!! He brings a lot to the table!!! Now he even is using his speed more with all the bunt hits. Now if he could just hit the ball on the ground more often he could leg out even more hits! His defense in center is very good. Lacks a big arm for center but I can live with that if he continues to hit and track balls down in the outfield.
ALWAYS fun to win AND continue to win long term and not just a quick fix and then be terrible for another 14 years!!! And from where Dan Duquette left this team in shambles with the fire sale, Mikey didn't have a lot on the roster. Remember, the worste record in "Orioles" history was on Dan Duquette's watch!!! And each of the two years "Mikey's" been here the Orioles have improved and hopefully will this year as well!!!
Cedric Mullins- Duquette Draft Pick
Hunter Harvey- Duquette Draft Pick
Ryan Mountcastle- Duquette Draft Pick
Anthony Santander- Duquette Rule 5 Pick
Chance Sisco- Duquette Draft Pick
Austin Hays- Duquette Draft Pick
Trey Mancini- Duquette Draft Pick
Come on now.
Cedric Mullins- Duquette Draft Pick - called up too early went to hitting school teacher in the off season per Mike Elias request!
Hunter Harvey- Duquette Draft Pick converted to bullpen by Mike Elias!
Ryan Mountcastle- Duquette Draft Pick converted to left field and developed by Mike Elias.
Anthony Santander- Duquette Rule 5 Pick give you that one.
Chance Sisco- Duquette Draft Pick went to hitting guru over the winter per Mike Elias also called up way too soon.
Austin Hays- Duquette Draft Pick called up way too soon but developed by Mike Elias.
Trey Mancini- Duquette Draft Pick give you that one. All these guys were doing nothing on the major league roster except for Mancini until this year all under the Elias watch. Elias had a hand in developing them into more useful players with all the analytics given to them.
We’ll never know how they’d have developed under DD because he was fired. I’m no friend of Dan Duquette, but saying he left the organization bereft of talent is false. He had to blow the team up because the team he assembled, and we all thought was going to make a last bold run at a pennant, QUIT. Yes, the ‘17 and ‘18 Orioles quit. Those teams had plenty of talent, they just wouldn’t do anything with it. You can’t fault the VP of Baseball ops for that.
You sir, (numero Uno) are full of Mike Elias. And other stuff. I'm not trying to offend, but comments like the ones above are silly beyond belief, and It's my turn to question your knowledge of baseball.
Yes, Duquette made some good draft picks and acquisitions, and any GM who had to work under Peter Angelos should be cut some slack.
That said, I can't grade DD any higher than a C-. Although DD was GM during the Orioles competitive run from 2012-2016, that run was, in large part, the result of trades made by DD's predecessor, Andy MacPhail, who acquired Adam Jones, Chris Tillman, JJ Hardy, and Chris Davis.
DD's two big free agent signings, Ubaldo and Cobb, turned out be disasters. And , so far at least, it looks like DD's fire sale trades of Machado, Britton, Schoop, and Gausman, have produced very little in return.
Touché...go O’s...
I know how Sisco developed under two years - ba .181 and .210 and doing better this year currently at .238. Wouldn't call him no all-star left from Duquette. BTW, I still like him and would like to see him out from behind the plate and at 1st base. Mullins demoted twice and now hitting better under Elias request to see a hitting coach. Mountcastle couldn't play SS and 3rd and moved to left field under Elias. And the others I already stated. If Duquette left this team with good players then why all the losses the last 2 years.
And Duquette's teams I wouldn't say quit. They were 1 dimensional players either a home run or strike out. They couldn't steal a base or rally against better teams pitching with that 1 dimensional lineup. And he never went out and got a true number 1 starter. I think his roster topped out at 162 mm plenty of $$$ to spend and no number 1 starter. All number 3 starters at best. Good bullpen and defense all managed by Buck could only take us so far.
I really like the team Elias is starting to put together. Steals, hit and run and timely hitting pitches the other way! Some home runs. Not the 1 dimensional version by Duquette. Their defense needs to be waaaaay better but what do you expect from waiver wire pickups. Pitching needs to improve also. Again mostly waiver wired pick ups. But I see a few of the younger guys on this roster as building blocks for the future and will develop the more they play. And with all the young pitching and middle infielders he's acquired and some that he already had developing in the minor's, I see really good things for this team going forward!
Question all you want. But all my fantasy teams in baseball and football for the last 8 years went to the World Series and Super Bowl. Not playing this year due to season being canceled but earned the 1 nickname from a friend "Scout Master General" for this reason. Some friends also call me Mort and others call me Rosenthal. All because I do my homework on all major and minor league players. Since I can't play anymore due to injury I do the next best thing... Scout!
You ARE good for a laugh Mort.
No laughing matter here BRR. Just you and your Pal's jealous nature showing its ugly head. And Pal, you should know a lot about living on your knees.
No, no it really is a laughing matter. Just like in back in high school when the rest of the kids in the lunch room were laughing at you.
I've tried to be nice, but your braggadocio and silly arguments make it really hard. You obviously live in your own self imagined world.
Time for someone to get up off his knees...go O’s...
He won't get that.
Not sure what you do on your knees, I pray...go O's..
BRR -no question about it, you're plain jealous of me. period! And it's not bragging when you can back it up!
And silly arguments??? Read all the players reactions and stories about what Mike Elias and his staff and analytics has brought to the organization like I do. You need to get out of your own way on your own opinions and read what THE PLAYERS are saying on all of this if you don't want to listen to me.
Hey number one ... nobody listens to you.
I do, I pray for you...go O’s...
I'll pray for you too and your son to PLEASE stay safe and be well. This is legit!
I hope we have more building blocks for this team coming up in the near future. Really starting to show some potential. Offensively, we are a bat or two away. Relief pitching wise, even with all the trades our young arms are filling in the gaps if they can all stay healthy. I hope the young arms down on the farm will be able to give us a good starting rotation in the near future. I like where we are headed. Let’s give a big hand to the boy genius and the plan!
I'm coming around on Mullins, but I still prefer Hays. How about the great Pat Valaika? He's a lot better than anticipated. I hope we can keep Iglesias and pick up his option next year, we need a savvy vet like him in this young club.
A very enjoyable win against an opponent with a similar record. Speaking of the hirsute, I think Valaika got a trim before his four-hit game. Unless he hid it all under his hat. Samson in reverse.
Very happy with the recent developments, trades and roster moves, but still baffled by our inability to develop starting pitchers. Is it possible to infiltrate the Rays scouting and development and learn from them. This is not a knock on current management. its haunted us for years
keep the faith
“It’s haunted us for years”. Truer words have never been spoken. I’ve commented on multiple O’s posts for a few years now that I’m old enough to remember when the O’s were the envy of all MLB for their starting pitching. When you have to go back to a man whose career is over and he’s now a Hall of Famer, Mike Mussina, to find the last truly great pitcher they’ve developed, that is embarrassing to the organization. It’s been so long that you can’t possibly put the blame on any particular thing. Scouting, minor league instruction, coaching at the major league level, all have failed miserably for OVER THIRTY since Mussina was drafted. Let’s hope the guys they have in the minors now can end this horrific run of futility. It seems like just yesterday that Arrieta, Matusz and Britton and Tillman were gonna be the next Palmer, Cuellar, McNally and Dobson.
To be fair, the inability to develop elite pitching isn't just a Baltimore problem. Whose the great homegrown talent to come out of the Bronx since 2000? Boston? Any number of organizations? Premium starting pitching is the holy grail of baseball, it ain't growing on trees. And just as Green Bay has had Hall of Fame QB play for three straight decades but Chicago hasn't had it since the 40's, so too do baseball teams need quite a bit of luck to develop legit aces.
Where have you gone, George Bamberger?
Indians seem to be doing something right with their pitching...go O’s...
Yeah they're not playing in OPACY!
You’re right, but they still must be doing something right, until this crazy year they played the O’s at OPACY & didn’t do badly...Shane Bieber is the latest example...go O’s...
Sulser & Means nightmare seasons continue...ouch...go O’s...