The Orioles stumbled through a bizarre first inning in Cleveland on Monday night and never really recovered. A three-run first by the Indians set the Orioles on their way to a fifth straight defeat and their 16th consecutive road loss, extending a club record.
Manager Brandon Hyde got to witness very little of the Orioles’ 4-3 loss to Cleveland.
In the bottom of the first, Indians second baseman César Hernandez led off with a single off Dean Kremer. Amed Rosario was hit by a pitch, a call that Hyde objected to so vigorously that first base umpire Nestor Ceja ejected him.
“I was arguing a checked swing,” Hyde said. “Understand that the ball hit him in the finger, but I wanted to see if [home plate umpire Jim Wolf] would ask for help. The first base umpire said that he didn’t go on the swing and threw me out for telling him he missed it.”
Kremer threw a wild pitch and, with runners on second and third, leftfielder DJ Stewart slipped and couldn’t catch José Ramirez’s single that scored Hernandez. Ramirez reached second when Stewart compounded the misplay by overthrowing the cutoff men. Eddie Rosario’s sacrifice fly scored Amed Rosario and Bobby Bradley’s single to left scored Ramirez, putting the Orioles behind, 3-0.
“I settled in nicely after the [first],” Kremer said. “You can only control what you can control. It’s a part of the game. It happens.”
Kremer (0-6), who was called up before the game to start, pitched well. He allowed four runs, three earned, on four hits, striking out two and didn’t walk a batter.
“I thought Dean threw the ball great,” Hyde said. “I was encouraged by his start, no walks. We misplay a ball in the first and then don’t help him out there in that first inning. He settled down after all that stuff happened to him in the first inning and goes four scoreless into the sixth inning, throwing strikes.
“He had a good curveball tonight. I liked the changeup. I like the way he threw strikes. He gave us an opportunity to win … the bottom-line is, we just didn’t play defense tonight. The bottom line is, you have to play defense in the big leagues to win, and we [didn’t make] numerous plays, and that hurt us.”
The Orioles (22-43) scored two runs in the fourth. Trey Mancini walked and Anthony Santander doubled. With runners on second and third, DJ Stewart’s grounder to first scored Mancini. Freddy Galvis grounded out to starter J.C. Mejia and scored Santander. Ryan Mountcastle struck out to end the inning.
In the sixth, Hérnandez led off with a grounder to first that Mountcastle booted. Hérnandez moved to second on a passed ball by catcher Pedro Severino.
Amed Rosario grounded out to short and, against Tyler Wells, Ramirez hit a pop foul to right field. Santander called off second baseman Stevie Wilkerson, who had been playing in short right field, but Wilkerson went after it and dropped it for an error.
Ramirez then doubled to right, and Hernández scored, and Cleveland (35-28) led, 4-2.
“You give Ramirez second chances, and it’s going to end up hurting you,” Hyde said. “Our pitching was fantastic tonight. We definitely pitched well enough to win … The defense let us down today.”
In the seventh, Stewart walked against Bryan Shaw and, with two outs, Severino walked. Maikel Franco, who was hitless in his last 10 at-bats, pinch-hit for Wilkerson and singled to right to score Stewart.
James Karinchak replaced Shaw and struck out Mountcastle to end the seventh.
Cedric Mullins led off the eighth with a walk and stole second and third. Mancini, Santander and Stewart struck out.
Nick Sandlin (1-0) relieved Mejia and retired all five Orioles batters he faced for the win. Emmanuel Clase pitched the ninth for his 10th save. The Orioles struck out 11 times and had just five hits.
Kremer, who rejoined the team on Monday, said the clubhouse didn’t reflect the losses and appreciated Hyde’s passion.
“Morale is pretty good in the clubhouse,” Kremer said. “At least it was before the game. Losing sucks, but we’ll get out of it … [Hyde] shows that he cares a lot. He wants us to get out of this stretch as much as we do. He’s behind our team.”
Notes: Hyde’s ejection was his second of the season, and sixth as Orioles manager. … The start of the game was delayed by 56 minutes because of rain. … Matt Harvey (3-7, 7.41ERA ) will face Cal Quantrill (0-2, 3.21) on Tuesday night. … The Orioles are 4-11 in one-run games.
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That defense last night was abysmal. Stewart needs to go. He’s had his opportunity. He the most unathletic outfielder I’ve ever seen. How do you trip over your own self? At least it didn’t hit him in the head this time. Wilkerson is terrible. He either should’ve caught the ball or gave way to Santander. Kremer was good if you take away the terrible defense in both the first and the sixth. Our pitchers could be even better if they had any type of defense at catcher and second.
Well I guess when you put Severino,Stevie,Stewart Mountcastle all on your defense at the same time you get games like you had last night. No wonder Hyde got thrown out-he realized the mistake he'd made. Even Palmer moaning out loud when O's runners don't advance on a wild pitch. That "softball" mentality/approach still exists I guess. Did Hays really need a breather? Come on Hyde,Kremer deserved better than what you gave him last night. Btw why the trigger so soon on Kremer? Palmer/Brown thrilled how economical(66 pitches) Kremer was in the 6th then bang--they yank him. I don't get it. Boy Mancini's faded a bit. Saw that Diaz is rehabbing in Bowie,Jones is back in Norfolk,Kevin Smith(hidden gem?)promoted to Norfolk. Possible help. Matt Harvey tonight? We'll leave that one alone.
Kremer showed a little moxie last night 'eh boys? And Hyde ... I really kind of liked this guy for a couple of years, but I'm with Orial on this game. "Resting' Hays was ridiculous. The guy just started playing ball after the injury a little over a week ago. Oh for 10 and he's sat down?
And yeah Orial ... why the heck do you pull Kremer after only 66 pitches, especially after he had just hung tough while the subs in the field let him down?
Hyde looks like he's unfolding.
Bring on Buck, Britton!!!...go O’s...
Ken, there are many players who are rested after playing three games on the turf at Tropicana Field. Adam Jones, who was really tough, hated it. I think with Hays’ injury history, Hyde is trying to get him through a season without breaking down again.
That's a reasonable enough explanation Rich, but I still wonder of the Oh-fer didn't have something to do with the substitution.
Rays play on that same turf 81 games a year. Doesn't seem to affect their play. Maybe for defense sake this team should flip flop McKenna and Stewart between Norfolk/Balt. BA won't matter much--they'll both hit .200-.220 anyway--go with the D.
Please Rich, stop making excuses for this bunch of low minor leaguers. It shouldn't be this hard to release guys that can't play defense and on top of that, can't HIT. What we saw last night was shameful. Elias has got to bring in different "placeholders" cause this bunch ain't workin'. Severino, Wilkinson,and Stewart, are,at best, bench players (preferably some other teams bench) Plenty more fodder for Meoli to do another hatchet job on the fans when nobody shows up to see this continuing debacle.
Norm, where was I making excuses for them? I'm at Bowie tonight watching Grayson Rodriguez.
Agree Orial.... go O’s...
Defense looked like the bad news bears yesterday. Mayos hurt too? Let’s get some of these minor leaguers back in the field. Can’t move up if they’re not okaying. Bannon, Diaz, Kjerstad, Mayo. Would like to see how they do this summer. Real question is #5 pick. Looks like Sux may get Leiter. Os go for Davis? House? Rocker? Or under slot for Frelick or someone else?
If no Leiter, then Rocker if he's there. That "P" word everyone's probably tired of hearing from me.
But the last couple of drafts the O's have picked position players (bats / defense) the first 8-9 picks, and then focused on pitching in the middle rounds. They also under slotted last year to save pool money.
All of that doesn't bode well for us nabbing Rocker or Leiter, even if they're there at #5.
The O's brain trust seem to think they'll have more success developing middle round drafted pitchers then going after the blue chippers early and having to spend more pool money.
I'll be disappointed, but look for the O's to grab 1 of those SS's or (heaven forbid) another catcher in Davis.
Whatever happened to the "Grow the arms, Buy the bats" philosophy ?
Well the Orioles track record of drafting and developing pitchers is pretty terrible. I agree though, I'd like to see them go with Lieter Rocker or Jobe at 5. Davis would be a good pick as well
They drafted infielders because they needed them
Another Harvey that winds up taxing the bullpen as much if not more than using a youngster would. He needs to be released and give Wells or someone at Norfolk a chance.
Agree:)....go O’s...
Matt Harvey - in his last 8 starts, he has lasted just 27 innings, and allowed 50 hits ... time to end this painful experiment.