Aug 18, 2021; St. Petersburg, Florida, USA; Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher Spenser Watkins (80) throws against the Tampa Bay Rays in the second inning at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports
The Orioles got off to a good start against the Tampa Bay Rays on Wednesday night. Centerfielder Cedric Mullins led off with his 21st home run. With two outs, rightfielder Austin Hays singled, stole second and scored on a single by designated hitter Pedro Severino.
The Orioles wouldn’t score again until the seventh and by then the Rays had scored seven times on the way to an 8-4 victory at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida. The loss was the Orioles’ 14th in a row.
It’s the second time this year the Orioles (38-81) have lost 14 straight, which equals the second-longest streak in team history. Only in the 1988 season, when the Orioles started 0-21, was there a longer losing streak.
“It’s hard. It’s not easy, no doubt about it,” manager Brandon Hyde said. “What’s disappointing is we’re having a tough time getting people out. We’re not scoring a ton of runs. Tonight’s game was fairly close, and it got away from us in the sixth [when the Rays scored three times to take a 7-2 lead].”
Of the 14 losses, three have been by 10 runs or more, and only one has been by two runs. The Orioles have been outscored, 131-40.
“We’re not in many games right now. That’s very, very hard,” Hyde said.
Mullins’ home run was his sixth to lead off a game.
“There’s a lot of stuff not going our way,” Mullins said. “We’re not helping by creating our own problems out there.”
Ji-Man Choi’s two-run single against Oriole starter Spenser Watkins tied the score at 2 in the first.
Brandon Lowe’s RBI single and Wander Franco’s double that scored Lowe gave Tampa Bay a 4-2 lead in the fourth.
Watkins (2-5) allowed four runs on eight hits in four innings. After two wins in his first three starts and a 1.65 ERA, Watkins has lost five straight and his ERA is 5.63.
“Guys make adjustments. This is the big leagues,” Watkins said. “They make adjustments. They make them fast.”
Ryan Yarbrough (7-4) replaced Tampa Bay opener Louis Head in the second inning, and he pitched five scoreless innings, allowing one hit.
Oriole reliever Paul Fry entered the game in the sixth and, after an error by Ramon Urias at second base allowed Francisco Mejia to reach, Fry walked Kevin Kiermaier and Lowe.
Dillon Tate replaced Fry and, with the bases loaded, Franco drove in Mejia with an infield single. Sacrifice flies by Nelson Cruz and Austin Meadows gave Tampa Bay (74-47) a 7-2 lead.
“We’re having a really tough time out of the ‘pen against the lineups we’re facing,” Hyde said. “We have guys that I’ve been using for the majority of the year in high-leverage spots that I’m trying to get going in low-leverage spots, trying to get some confidence, trying to get them to feel good.”
One-out singles by Mateo, Maikel Franco and Austin Wynns led to an Oriole run in the seventh. Anthony Santander, who wasn’t in the starting lineup because of a sore ankle, pinch-hit for shortstop Richie Martin and popped out.
Ryan Mountcastle’s 20th home run against former Oriole Shawn Armstrong cut the lead to 7-4 in the eighth. It extended Mountcastle’s hitting streak to 10 games.
Meadows’ RBI double against Cesar Valdez scored Keirmaier in the bottom of the inning to close out the scoring.
“Every guy that takes the ball each day or steps in the box each day wants to be a part of the solution,” Watkins said. “I don’t think anybody is stressing more than others, either … Each day is the same. You have a new chance to win. I don’t think I’m putting more pressure on myself. I’ve got to be better to give our team a better chance.”
Notes: Trey Mancini (sore calf) and DJ Stewart (sore knee) also weren’t in the Orioles’ starting lineup, with Jorge Mateo getting a start in left field. … The Orioles are 1-14 against the Rays. Watkins was the winning pitcher in the only Orioles win. They’ve lost 20 of their last 22 to Tampa Bay. … Jorge Lopez (3-13, 6.14 ERA) will face Shane McClanahan (7-4, 3.83) on Thursday afternoon at 1:10 p.m.
Minor league update: Adley Rutschman hit his first home run for Triple-A Norfolk in the Tides’ 9-5 loss to Charlotte in the first game of a doubleheader. Rutschman went 3-for-4.
Second baseman Jahmai Jones hit a three-run home run, his ninth.
Mikie Mahtook hit a grand slam in the bottom of the seventh to break the 5-5 tie and win it against Manny Barreda (1-1).
Reliever Hunter Harvey allowed a run on three hits in a rehab appearance.
Dean Kremer pitched three scoreless innings in relief, allowing two hits, striking out two and walking one as Charlotte won the second game of the doubleheader, 6-5, in eight innings.
Mike Baumann started and pitched only one inning. Baumann threw 39 pitches, giving up two runs on three hits, walking two.
Third baseman Rylan Bannon continued his hot hitting with his 10th home run. Centerfielder Ryan McKenna hit his seventh.
Wilmington scored four runs in the top of the 10th inning to beat High-A Aberdeen, 10-6.
Second baseman Terrin Vavra went 1-for-4 on a rehab assignment. He’s been out because of a back injury. Shortstop Gunnar Henderson had an RBI double.
Shortstop Darrel Hernaiz drove in two runs as Low-A Delmarva beat Fredericksburg, 3-1.
Left-hander Ty Blach threw two scoreless innings, allowing just one hit in a rehab start. Jensen Elliott (3-1) pitched four scoreless innings, allowing three hits.
Double-A Bowie was rained out at Reading. They’ll play a doubleheader on Saturday.
Norfolk announced its 2022 schedule. The Tides again will play six-game series with Mondays off, except for July 4th and September 19th.
The Tides will begin the season at home against Charlotte on April 5th and concludes on September 21st at Durham.
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Rutschman kid is hitting.440, defense looked stellar, Franco kid for Rays is killing us, like everyone & only 20, Burdi has to be excited going from a first place organization to the O’s...peace out & go O’s...
Yup Franco was 4 for 24 (0.167 batting average) against the O's before going 3-4 last night. Just killing the O's day in and day out...
.250, the new .300, death & taxes & OhMy! commenting on something I said, shocker...go O’s...
A little Burdi told me he's not excited....
Is it true that DraftKings has more LLWS bets on Harrison, Ohio team vs O’s?...Asking for a friend...;)...go O’s...
OhMyTurn:
The owners frankly just don't care about winning ever, Duquette's trades were horrible, Elias is a horrible GM, O's player development outside of GRod and Rutschman is horrible, Hyde is a horrible manager (Mr. 4 and 2/3, amiright?), Urias' success was a mirage, Severino can't frame or block a pitch ever, and don't even get me started about DJ Stewart or Franco, even the Bird is letting me down...
Did I get that right? Miss anything or anyone? Strangely I don't feel better but thought I'd give it a try..
Drink something & stay hydrated!
Though this and most of your other posts are loaded with condescension,mockery and sarcasm I find myself agreeing about 99% of what you just said.
I demur over crediting the O's for development of GRod and Rutschman. They have not been developed. They were ready-made off the shelf. Putting them through the ritual advancement of the minor leagues is gilding the lily.
This is the second losing streak of fourteen games. Time to start holding someone accountable. Whether it’s Hyde or Gonzalez or the players. And why is Watkins only throwing seventy eight pitches in four innings? To combat a worn down bullpen maybe leave the starters out there regardless of there results. And can we give Fry a break? Give him a couple days off to regroup. Poor Tate is always the clean up guy for Fry and Scott messes.
O's have gotta lead the league with non IL consisting injuries. Urias-join the endless list of players blowing a golden opportunity. Fry should be in Norfolk sitting in a room with Kremer trying to figure out where it's going wrong. Just curious--has anybody heard from John Angelos? I realize he's been "hands off",a gentleman, and not a meddler BUT isn't it time he throws a chair,meddles,and be hands "ON" just a little bit? Does anybody care?
I don't think throwing chairs is going to help, but maybe John and Lou Angelos should "meddle" by opening the checkbook a little.
Major trainwreck of a team. Ouch.
Light at the end of the tunnel?...yep, it’s an oncoming train...go O’s...
Anybody know what Angelos' win-loss percentage is?
Watkins' "guys make adjustments" comments strikes me as coming from someone who starting to realize he doesn't possess the necessary Major League-quality tools to circumvent a good batter's adjustments. Still, he'll probably get an invite to spring training next year - and eventually sign another one year deal while we continue to rebuild.
And God bless Brandon Hyde - a manager who's faced with bringing in relievers night after night in "low-leverage" situations to "build their confidence". How's that working, Brandon?
Hyde looks rough lately. Look at him in the dugout. It’s sad.
They don’t look very professional, gruffy kind of beard, coaches more than not do not wear uniforms, players have unbuttoned jerseys, more than the top button, attitude reflects leadership, they look like a Rec-league softball staff, trickle down effect...go O’s...
It's not surprising that Watkins does not have the right stuff: O's signed him after he was released from a MINOR league team. The new "Oriole Way"?
I find comfort in going directly to Mountcastle's stat line in the box score.
Orioles Chatter
Normally I don't correct my fellow commenters, but .. this is not a trainwreck of a team it is a trainwreck of a FRANCHISE!!!
:(....can’t argue....go O’s...
As long as we’re setting new records, why not shoot for 3 14-game losing streaks in one season! That’s a record nobody would ever break! Of course, that requires us to win a game first which has proven to be a difficult task.
“Sigh” Young staff starting off awesome this afternoon, only thing I didn’t have a problem with was Franco getting plunked, after watching the whole inning quite sure it was accidental...go O’s...
CP...very, very proud of you!!! Was in the car today going to see a few accounts. I must admit, I
forgot the O's were on. I was listening to some Led Zeppelin, Rolling Stones, and CCR. I figured if there was stuff I already knew was going to happen, I may as well enjoy it!!!
Quite possibly the worst MLB team EVER! Fernando is Abad pitcher. "Simply awful!"
15 in row after today. Just terrible. Looking at batting averages just 1 player hitting. Will be at Tides games all next week and hope to see the future there. Maybe in a couple of years the O’s will get it together, but right now a big time disappointment.
It's a pleasure to provide some rare, genuinely good news. MILB.com reports that "Led by top overall prospect Adley Rutschman and No. 8 Grayson Rodriguez, the Orioles can claim ownership of the top position and top pitching prospects in the sport. It's only the second time since MLB.com began ranking prospects in 2004 that an organization has been bestowed with such an honor." We just might have a competitive team in 2024. Less promising is the latest cast-off pitcher to wash up on our shores. Zach Burdi has never won a major league game, and his minor league record is 2-11 with an ERA just under 5.00. Elias's kind of player! I would not bet against his continuing the tradition of being prematurely promoted to the O's, being shellacked, and put on a bus back to the minors.