The Orioles hit six home runs, had two strikes and two outs in the ninth inning, and managed to lose by three runs.
In a complete meltdown, relievers Paul Fry and Tyler Wells allowed six runs in the ninth inning in a stunning 10-7 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays before 10,721 at Oriole Park on Saturday.
The Orioles took a 7-4 lead to the ninth. Fry walked Cavan Biggio on four pitches and got Joe Panik to fly out for the first out. Santiago Espinal and Lourdes Gurriel singled, and Fry (0-2) struck out Riley Adams. Marcus Semien walked to force home Biggio to reduce the lead to 7-5.
Orioles manager Brandon Hyde elected to relieve Fry with Wells, who pitched the night before. The first batter he faced was Bo Bichette, who kept fouling off pitches in a nine-pitch at-bat. Finally, Bichette hit a fly ball to shallow right that hit off Anthony Santander’s glove after a long run. Espinal and Gurriel scored and the game was tied, 7-7.
“Give Bichette credit for an amazing at-bat,” Hyde said. “He put the ball in play on a tough slider down and away after a bunch of foul balls, just a little bit out of our reach there to tie the game.”
Wells didn’t make quality pitches to Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who doubled to score Semien and Bichette, and Randal Grichuk, who doubled to score Guerrero. The comeback for Toronto (34-35) was complete.
“It seemed it took a little bit of air out of the balloon for Wellsy,” Hyde said of Bichette’s at-bat. “He hung a couple pitchers right after that. It was a tough inning.”
Jordan Romano (4-1) pitched two innings for the win.
It was the first time the Orioles (23-47) hit six home runs in a game since August 18, 2016.
Ryan Mountcastle hit three home runs, and Cedric Mullins had his second straight two-home run game. DJ Stewart hit the other homer. The home runs by Mountcastle and Stewart in the fourth almost led to an altercation between the teams.
With one out and one on in the fourth, Mountcastle hit his second home run of the game, a two-run line-drive shot for a 3-2 lead. Stewart followed with his seventh home run, a 437-foot blast, and Toronto starter Alek Manoah hit Maikel Franco on the left shoulder with his next pitch. Franco glared at Manoah and said something but remained at home plate. Both benches and bullpens came onto the field.
Hyde tried to keep his players from charging the field, and there were no punches. But as Hyde began to turn back toward the dugout, Blue Jays manager Charlie Montoyo appeared to say something that set him off.
“We were getting our team back, and there was something that I didn’t appreciate, so that’s what happened,” Hyde said. “We calmed down and went back to the dugout.” Hyde said that he did think Manoah threw at Franco.
The umpires ejected Manoah, who gave up four home runs.
The day didn’t start out well for Orioles starter Dean Kremer. He allowed a leadoff home run to Semien, his 17th of the season, and two batters later, Guerrero powered his 23rd.
Mountcastle hit a one-out home run against Manoah in the second, and Mullins a two-out homer in the third for a 2-2 tie.
Kremer didn’t allow a hit after the first inning and gave up two runs on three hits in six innings, walking three and striking out six.
Mountcastle hit his third home run with one out in the sixth against Anthony Kay, and the Orioles had a 6-2 lead.
“Today, I was seeing the ball well,” Mountcastle said. “I felt like I was on everything. It didn’t end the way we wanted it to, but we’ve got to keep moving forward and playing hard.”
It was the first three home run game by an Oriole since Pedro Severino’s on June 4, 2019.
Tanner Scott came in and walked Panik to start the seventh. Santiago Espina singled, and Gurriel hit a shot to second baseman Stevie Wilkerson that he flipped to Galvis for a double play as Panik scored.
Mullins hit his 13th home run with two outs in the seventh, and the Orioles led, 7-3. It was the first time the Orioles hit six home runs in a game since August 16, 2016.
Semien hit his second home run of the game on Hunter Harvey’s first pitch in the eighth to reduce the Orioles’ lead to 7-4.
Mountcastle had a single in the eighth for his fourth hit of the game.
Notes: Hyde said that John Means, who has been on the 10-day injured list since June5 because of a strained left shoulder, is likely to return around the All-Star break. … Matt Harvey (3-8, 7.76 ERA) will face Hyun Jin Ryu (5-4, 3.43) on Sunday. … Mountcastle is the second Oriole rookie with a two-homer game. Nick Markakis was the last on August 22, 2006. … The Orioles’ first six hits were home runs. That’s the first time a team had done that since Cleveland on June 24, 1989 at Texas.
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Need to shake up the Bull Pen and fire Mike Elias. the guy treats the O's like they're a video game. zero instincts for the players themselves.
Seriously, if the only strategy here is to lose tons of games for five years and rebuild off high draft picks, why do we even need a general manager at all?
I suppose that we should be happy that they are moving higher in the draft pick order, but I just can't watch this.
Yeah we get a higher draft pick so Elias can under slot it again. I'm looking forward to
our 5th pick this year, where we select the 14th best player.
Well Kremer accounted for himself very well for a 2nd straight game. Good to see him bucking up. Seriously, that's a very good sign.
And why were we all so worried about Mountcastle 3 weeks ago? I smell a ROY forthcoming. Superstar in the making.
And Mullins ... what can you say about Mullins that hasn't already been said?
Hey they lost to a superior team today, stuff happen's 'eh Mikey? It's all part of the process. No worries.
Can you believe there a no tall bridges located in NE Texas?
I never really doubted Mountcastle was the real deal but the slow start has definitely dragged on. Fun to see him mashing and yeah Mullins is really putting on a great show. It’s not at all a pipe dream to think we could add a couple guys and have a plus- offense. If... we wanted that of course.
Yes part of the process that only happens in Baltimore. Atleast our Mexican league fireballer didn’t blow it. Oops lm not allowed to use that slogan. I actually like Valdez it could of made a Hollywood movie if it lasted
When will Means be back, anybody?
Rich you better be ready for the comment "floodgates" to open after this one. Where to begin. Why oh why did Wynns,Holt or whoever not have Wells busting Bichette inside to get him off the plate. What kind of coaching/pitch selection was that? Holt is my Goat(and I don't mean greatest....)for this game. Is Stewart really that bad in LF(yes) where you have to take him out and leave a one-legged Santander in RF? Hays would've had Bichette's bloop. Come on Fry--really?! Still need that strikeout stud in the bullpen. BUT Mountcastle/Mullins what a show. Maybe they can just build that offensive juggernaut and hope the pitching follows. Sad thing is Hyde had it all laid out for him--inspiring offensive show,2 best relievers(Fry /Wells) ready to go. He may not be the perfect manager but these players have sure let him down. Amazing how the season's most impressive win became the season's most devastating loss. But to wrap it up on a positive note--there was a lot to be positive about.
Devastating loss? First off, it’s mid June. I don’t think there are devastating losses in June. Second, we’re 19.5 games back in the division. If the O’s were in a pennant race and this was mid September then maybe you could throw out the term devastating. For now, it’s yet another tick mark in the L column.
Glad that you are so "ho-hum" about losses. I have that "old time" emotion not the "new time" apathy. This "ho-hum" might just be why they have only 10,000 on a Sat afternoon.
Did you go to the game? If not, which I assume you didn’t,
stop complaining.
I’m with you Orial, that’s part of the problem today, losing really means nothing, I hate losing, back in the day MOST competitors hated to lose, today they lose, laugh about it, hug the guys from the other team...grrrrr....go O’s...
It's fascinating that the Floodgates did NOT open. The comments above and below do feature the usual number of criticisms and frustrations by the usual naysayers. As usual we express hostility about the embarrassingly poor quality of the product that management/ownership has put on the field for far too long and is likely to linger at least two more seasons. However, no matter how many losses pile up, there is still a group of unshakable commenters preaching patience, pushing positivism, offering excuses, finding tidbits of progress, criticizing critics of the team, or extolling the beauty of the Baby Birds at Bowie. Bless them all. One can only guess at how many more games the O's would have to lose before the optimists stopped drinking the kool-aid. Furthermore, thousands of people will continue to attend games for the sheer pleasure that comes with watching the ballet of baseball in person in a lovely setting. It would be interesting to know how many ticket buyers do not know the Orioles are in last place or don't care. More interesting is when or if ownership becomes obsessed with the costs of 15,000-plus fans who DON'T show up for home games. I'm sure that I will continue to rant as a kind of outlet. I won't expect to change any minds. I'll have to be content preaching to the anti-choir.
Pitching coach (in name only) Holt needs to listen to Jim Palmers’ comments during this game.
You know what? Brooks made errors, DiMaggio and Williams struck out, Gibson, Koufax and Palmer gave up HRs (tho Palmer NEVER gave up a grand slam in the majors). I’m not even remotely comparing any of the O’s to them, I’m just saying no one is going to be great every time out. Fry has been pretty darn good all season as well as last year. Things like this are gonna happen on occasion. Also, ripping our players diminishes what the Jays did. They are a very tough team that does not quit. I don’t like them but I do respect them. My guess is they’ll win about 85-90 game and watch the playoffs from home this year. One more thing, I’d still rather watch EVERY one of our current relievers over “Fullpack” Stanhouse. He used to drive me NUTS!
All true. Can’t blame Hyde - he picked the right relievers (of what’s available to him) to close it out, they just didn’t get it done on the night.
Any talk of tanking had better include Arizona. They’re trying their best to create some space between them and the O’s. 15 straight losses and counting.
We don't even tank good enough.
“Tank you very much”-Latka Gravas
Just keep the faith. We are going to have a good squad soon, ahhhh soon. Drink coke, Pepsi for sissys
Woulda coulda shoulda.
Bichette simply hits a perfectly placed bloop and Santander can’t make the play. (On air announcers all but blamed it on the sun)
It’s a game of inches.
He catches that ball and we all go home fat dumb and happy.
But no, now the
blame the management card gets played. There’s another game today. Enjoy it if you can.
Yes, looked liked Santander briefly lost the ball in in the sun, which delayed his start coming in for the catch - noticed that he was not using his sunglasses, which were perched on top of the brim of his hat - they don't do much good there.
I agree that the sunglasses on the brim of the hat is a low IQ baseball move ESPECIALLY if you know your going to be fielding your position while looking directly into the setting sun.
But hey, they look so stylish perched on your hat…..
Icty, agree, that drives me nuts, I’d say 75% of players wear their sunglasses on their hats, WTH, makes no sense to me, at least have the old school flip down ones, but they’re not as cool looking...I’m sure they’re getting some kind of money for “Wearing” those glasses...go O’s...
Maybe they thought it was an 8 inning game, that’s why they play the game, 6-8 innings Jays nibbled away at the lead, Harvey gave up a long one, things just seemed to snowball from there...oh well...go O’s...
6 Hrs and 7 runs scored… maybe guys need to put the ball in play and get on base. Another game with 12Ks and your 7-8-9 guys go 0 for at the plate. Great to see Mullins and Mountcastle mashing but solo shots often don’t win games. Blown saves happen, unfortunate that it was a 6 run swing.
7 runs scored is good no matter how they were produced. Please stop complaining about hone runs being hit. What? We’re all the other good complaints already used up here?
Don’t disagree that 7 runs is good. That’s enough to win on most nights. My point was 5/6 were solo home runs
Agree BS, need to have guys on base when we go yard...go O’s...
Simple no excuse for this loss.
#&!? happens, get over it
It was good game until the ninth, even them it was exciting. Am I the only one who just knew Bichette would succeed. Not really sure but beginning to doubt Santander, just appears to be in a fog. Looking forward to todays game
Keep the faith
HoHum another loss, is this the new Oriole Way?
Guys you can blame Elias all you want and I’m certainly not going to defend his hiring of Hyde or Gonzalez . The facts are what the facts are the three headed monster of Dan Duquette, Brady Anderson and Peter Angelos left the talent cupboard pretty damn bare with only Mancini a major league caliber player on the roster . You can’t rebuild or restock a system overnight particularly when the owner tied your hands in regards to the international market where at least a third of the top talent resides .
This is a minimum 5 yr rebuild if your lucky .
This loss sits squarely on Brandon Hyde’s shoulders. If you going to pull Kramer then Valdez should have started the seventh if you can’t trust him with a 5 run lead then time for him to go . Then Sulser or Tate for the eight and Hunter Harvey to close . Harvey is the closer for three reasons first he has done it in the majors and minors, second stuff , third I’m sure his father has told him to attack with your best stuff ,
For Hyde to sit on his hands after the second walk is ridiculous and to allow him to walk in the run suggests no back up plan . Then you bring in a completely inexperienced kid to a bases loaded situation and then neither Hyde or Holt or even Wynns worked one pitch inside everything was middle out frankly Biggio was leaning over the plate after about pitch 7 . Where was Dillion Tate . What a waste .
Yeah.
Biggio was standing practically on top of the plate, and I’m thinking “bust him inside” to back him off. But if he hits him in the left elbow, then that’s another obvious issue.
It was a classic duel and Biggio was fouling off those outside balls.
Finally a bloop drops in, and it’s curtains.