BALTIMORE—The Orioles got a well pitched game from Jorge López. The Houston Astros got one that was even better from Zack Greinke.
The future Hall of Famer, who hadn’t pitched against the Orioles since July 31, 2010, was outstanding, allowing just a run on five hits in 7 1/3 innings in Houston’s 3-1 win over the Orioles before an announced crowd of 8,510 at Camden Yards on Tuesday night.
It was the 12th loss in 13 games for the Orioles (23-50). Houston (45-28) won its ninth straight.
Greinke (8-2) gave up his run in the third. Pedro Severino walked with one out, moved to third on Pat Valaika’s single and scored on Cedric Mullins’ sinking liner to center ielder Myles Straw.
Manager Brandon Hyde has an appreciation for Greinke, who won his 216th game.
“He’s done this for a long time,” Hyde said. “He knows how to pitch. He understands how to get a ground ball in a double play spot, understands where to attack and when, mixing his pitches well.
“I thought we battled, I thought we competed … Faced a really good starter today.”
López (2-9) pitched into the seventh and left after Chas McCormick’s infield single. Hunter Harvey relieved him and, with McCormick running on the pitch, Straw hit a sinking liner to right field that DJ Stewart nearly caught but the ball skipped past him. By the time he recovered it, McCormick raced home with the go-ahead run.
“He was stealing on the play, anyway,” Stewart said. “If he stops it’s going to be hard for him to get back if I catch it. He made a good play, a good read.”
In a season-high 6 1/3 innings, López gave up two runs on five hits, walking two and striking out six going against Greinke.
“He’s a master. He’s a legend,” López said. “I’ve been following his career. It’s been awesome to watch him pitch, how he commands, his mound presence. He’s like a robot, man. He’s a huge, huge example to every starting pitcher.”
Hyde was impressed by López and gave him a smile when he took him out.
“Going into the seventh inning against a good lineup, a playoff-type lineup,” Hyde said. “We’re happy with how he threw. I know he had a rough outing last time, but I think he’s making big strides. He continues to impress.”
Straw’s second home run of the season accounted for Houston’s first run in the second. Straw’s ball was originally ruled a double but was changed after a crew chief review.
Houston got a tack-on run in the eighth.
Michael Brantley and Yuli Gurriel began the inning with singles against Tanner Scott, who walked Yordan Alvarez to load the bases. Brantley was forced at home on Abraham Toro’s grounder to short. McCormick’s sacrifice fly to left scored Gurriel.
The Orioles, who were hitless for 7 1/3 innings on Monday night, had three hits in the first six innings. Trey Mancini led off the seventh with a double to center but didn’t score. Stewart led off the eighth with a single and, after Severino flew out to left, Brooks Raley replaced Greinke.
Raley struck out Anthony Santander, who was pinch-hitting for Valaika, and Mullins, who’s hitless in his last 12 at-bats to end the eighth.
Ryan Pressley pitched the ninth for his 11th save.
Notes: López was the first Oriole pitcher to throw more than six innings since John Means threw seven on May 24th. … Toronto right-hander Alek Manoah was suspended for five games for throwing at Maikel Franco in Saturday’s game. He’s appealing the ruling. Blue Jays manager Charlie Montoyo was suspended for Tuesday night’s game at Miami. … Thomas Eshelman (0-0, 1.93 ERA) will face José Urquidy (5-3, 3.65) on Wednesday night.
Minor Matters: Ofelky Peralta recorded just two outs and gave up four runs in the first inning as Double-A Bowie lost to New Hampshire, 10-5
Catcher Adley Rutschman hit a two-run home run, his 11th.
Gunnar Henderson was hitless in two at-bats in his first game for High-A Aberdeen in a 14-0 loss to Rome. Henderson, who was promoted from Low-A Delmarva, played third and walked twice. The IronBirds got just three hits.
Jake Prizina allowed six runs on six hits in three innings.
Zach Peek and Houston Roth combined on a one-hitter in Delmarva’s 10-0 win over Fredericksburg. Peek allowed the hit in five innings, striking out eight and walking one. Roth pitched four hitless innings, striking out seven and walking one.
Rightfielder Cristopher Cespedes had five RBIs, including a grand slam.
Triple-A Norfolk’s scheduled game with Gwinnett was rained out. The teams will play a doubleheader on Wednesday.
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The defense continues to cost this team runs. Why the hell did Stewart think it was a good idea to dive for that ball? And instead of getting right up he rolls over. He should’ve let the ball in front of him and try to get the force out at second. His baseball iq is not there. Why throw the ball home and allow the runner to advance to second? Do any of the outfielder know what the cutoff man is? They need to be out there early today working on relays. Call up McKenna back up. He’d be a lot better then Stewart. Stewart has to be the most unathletic player I’ve ever seen. He’s officially a bust of you ask me. Hays and Santander need to sit if they’re not healthy. They’re killing us. Lopez pitched good and soon as he allows a base runner Hyde takes him out. I just don’t get it. Stop with the early hooks.
The runner was going before the batter hit the ball to right field, so there would have been no chance for a force out at 2nd. Stewart possibly was going for the heroic catch and easy double play at 1B. In retrospect, playing the ball safely with result of runners on 1st and 3rd would probably have been the best outcome
I believe critiquing Stewart for the way he got up after diving for the ball is a first here on the BB board! I guess congrats are in order! So congrats!
Either way the runner would’ve had to gone halfway and potentially would’ve tried to gone to third. Stewart has to play smarter. Can’t overthrow cut off men either. That’s twice for him.
O's beaten by the Astros offensive juggernaut of Straw and McCormick. New depths. Wish Lopez could maintain some consistency. When he's on he's excellent. When he's not......well. Greinke first start against O's since 2010? Really? Please put Santander on the IL and call McKenna back up. He's(Santander)struggling and not even competitive. An improvement--8,000 there last night. The clock is ticking. Apathy is rearing it's ugly head. Just a warning. Don't take the citizenry for granted. Patience will run out.
Oh no! Two non-all-stars drove in 3 runs against the Orioles last night! "I'm in the depths of despair!" Assuming you are an Anne of Green Gables fan Orial.
Oh Mercy. Pajama Boy redux.
Actually Mercys my despair/concern lies more with the ladder part of my comment--Apathy. I just worry that "if they build it" will ,"anyone come/care". Not to be taken lightly.
I've been granted a reprieve of sorts ... haven't been able to watch our O's for the past couple of games. My MLB package has me blacked out of all Astro games despite being 6 hours away from Houston and living squarely in the Dallas TV Market. Mr. Manfred, you stink.
No Coke ... Pepsi
That 6 hours from Houston to Dallas must be by Billy goat.
Never said I was in Dallas....I believe Dallas is only 4½ hours to Houston. I'm about 1½ hrs N.E. of Dallas.
BRR said he’s in the Dallas tv market, not in Dallas. I’m guessing one could easily be 6 hours from Houston but still in the Dallas tv market. I’ve only ever been to Texas one time, and it was one too many. I called my wife that night and said if you put on the weather channel right now it shows a map of the entirety of Texas inside an orange ball. Inside that orange ball was a red ball showing where the most extreme heat was. I was staying inside that little red ball in a town called Nacogdoches. Ten days of pure hell. One thing I found out about Texas. An armadillo is nothing more than a Texas groundhog. I saw as many dead armadillo on the sides of the road as I see dead groundhogs here in Pa.
Nacogdoches .... Eastern Texas ...Home of Stephen F Austin University .... logging country. It's has the Humidity of the DC/Baltimore area, but usually5 degrees hotter with fist sized mosqjuitos. I consider it Louisiana West. Central & Norther/Western part of the state much dryer.
Lopez looked pretty good last evening. I still think he potential to be a solid pitcher. If history repeats itself, we will trade him and he will be a great pitcher for someone else. I was pretty upset to see Hyde pull him. Time to give someone else a try in right field. Stewart is not working out!
Agree with you on Lopez. I don't know if he'd be a great pitcher, but certainly a serviceable starter on a good team. Constantly misused here. First, he couldn't get beyond the fourth inning, then he couldn't get beyond the fifth inning, then the sixth, and now the seventh, we're told. Only because those are the innings he gets the quick hook. So, last night he is stuck with the loss because he put the lead run on first base with one out. And his ERA isn't going to drop because he doesn't get enough innings to attenuate some bad innings. Definitely undervalued and undersupported here. He's better than an innings-eater and should be given better chances to succeed.
I agree about Stewart. He’s been given so many chances, but really can’t catch the ball. He’s a real liability in the outfield. His hitting is also really streaky.
He reminds me of Stevie Pearce in a lot of ways. And that's not all bad.
WS MVP...go O’s...
We're thinking a lot about the young talent coming a lot in the next 1-3 years which is great. But now let's project ahead another 10-12 years to where some of these young players (and the team as a unit) develop the kind of mastery that Greinke and the Astros showed last night.
That is a whole nother level of franchise building.
#NewOrioleWay!
You bring up an excellent point BenSch. There’s general agreement the O’s will potentially be very good in a few years. Sustaining that, the way they did for about 20 years from mid ‘60’s thru mid 80’s is the hard part. And it’s just not Baltimore and it’s just not baseball. Sports teams are beloved in their communities and bring a sense of pride when successful. Playing an entire career for one team is almost gone forever and that’s sad. The days of dynasties might be gone forever. Some say that’s a good thing. Teams simply can’t afford to keep too many of the most talented players. I don’t have the answer but I miss the days of almost identical rosters season after season. I think a lot of fans do. What can I say, I’m old and somewhat nostalgic.
Very true DLG .... I felt like crying the day they traded Baylor for Reggie.
I'm also 6 hrs from Houston (in New Orleans) and I can't watch the games! And they're playing in Baltimore for chrissake!
Thank you Ben!! I feel your pain.