Sep 3, 2021; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees right fielder Giancarlo Stanton (27) celebrates with teammates after hitting the game winning single against the Baltimore Orioles during the eleventh inning at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Andy Marlin-USA TODAY Sports
NEW YORK—The Orioles didn’t give themselves a chance to win in the top of the 11th inning Friday night and watched the Yankees take advantage of it in the bottom of the inning for a 4-3 victory before an announced crowd of 34,085 at Yankee Stadium
Trey Mancini, the automatic runner, was on third when Jorge Mateo flied to right for the second out, but Mancini didn’t try to score on Giancarlo Stanton in right. Earlier in the inning, he didn’t try to score on Ramon Urias’ single that dropped in front of Stanton.
“It’s a short porch here. I didn’t want to take any chances,” Mancini said. “I thought if he came in really aggressively there was a shot he could catch it,” Mancini said about the single by Urias. “I didn’t want to take any chances. Having first and third with no outs is much better than getting thrown out with no outs at home.”
However, after Anthony Santander popped out for the first out, Mancini didn’t try to score on Mateo’s fly ball to right. Stanton’s throw home bounced in front of catcher Gary Sanchez, who didn’t catch it cleanly.
Manager Brandon Hyde defended the call by third base coach Tony Mansolino not to send Mancini on the fly to right.
“It’s a tough call with a really shallow fly ball,” Hyde said. “We just didn’t hit the ball deep enough.”
Kelvin Gutiérrez struck out looking to end the threat. It was a tough way to lose for a team that entered the game with 24 losses in 27 games. It didn’t appear to be a time to play it safe.
In the bottom of the 11th, Judge was the automatic runner at second. Stanton hit a ground ball single to center against Dillon Tate (0-6) for the game-winner.
Clay Holmes (6-2) benefited from the Orioles’ inability to score in the 11th against the Yankees (78-56).
The Orioles, whose 19-game losing streak started in the Bronx, are 41-92 and 2-15 in their last 17 games at Yankee Stadium.
“I just thought it was a really good baseball game,” Hyde said. “A loss on the road in extra innings on a ground-ball single. It’s tough to win on the road in extra innings. We didn’t score in the top of the 11th, which opened the door for them.”
Oriole starter John Means didn’t allow a hit for the first 3 2/3 innings until Stanton his 26th home run of the season.
In the fifth, Rougned Odor walked with one out. Sanchez singled Odor to third, and he scored on DJ LeMahieu’s sacrifice fly to right.
Nestor Cortes, who began the 2018 season with the Orioles as an overmatched Rule 5 pitcher, has found success with the Yankees (77-57). Cortes pitched 5 2/3 innings, allowing Mancini’s 21st home run, his first since August 14th, with two outs in the sixth.
Means left the game after throwing 93 pitches in five innings, allowing two runs on three hits, walking two and striking out five.
“I thought I grinded it out. I was behind in the count a little too much,” Means said. “Other than that I thought my stuff was decent.”
In his 14 starts since throwing his no-hitter of May 5th, Means has won just once.
“I didn’t think he had his best fastball tonight,” Hyde said. “This team has a lineup full of guys who do not chase out of the strike zone, They got his pitch count up fairly early. He gave up two runs in five innings to an All-Star-type lineup.”
Mateo’s third home run of the season, his second with the Orioles, came off Jonathan Loasiga in the seventh with one out to tie the score, 2-2.
In the top of the ninth, Mateo walked with one out, and Aroldis Chapman tried to pick him off repeatedly. Mateo didn’t try to steal second while Kelvin Gutierrez and Austin Wynns struck out.
Ryan Mountcastle’s one-out single scored pinch-runner Ryan McKenna from second with the go-ahead run in the top of the 10th. Mountcastle made a base-running mistake to end the top of the 10th when he was doubled off second on a line drive out to short by Mancini.
Cole Sulser, the fourth Orioles reliever, struck out Sanchez for the first out in the bottom of the 10th. LeMahieu’s RBI single to right scored pinch-runner Tyler Wade with the tying run, and LeMahieu took second on the throw home. He advanced to third on a wild pitch.
After Joey Gallo’s foul pop to third, Dillon Tate retired Aaron Judge on a grounder to first to end the 10th in a 3-3 tie.
Before the 10th Conner Greene, Jorge López, Tyler Wells and Sulser combined for four innings of one-hit ball.
Notes: Chris Ellis (1-0, 3.09 ERA) will face Jordan Montgomery (5-5, 3.52) on Saturday at 1:05 p.m. … Urias committed two errors. As the third baseman, he dropped a foul pop in the sixth when Anthony Rizzo was up. After moving to short, he booted Judge’s grounder in the eighth. Neither error resulted in a run.
Minor league update: Dean Kremer pitched five shutout innings, allowing just two hits, striking out five without walking a batter in Triple-A Norfolk’s 4-0 win over Charlotte. It was the first win for Kremer (1-5) after 12 straight losses for the Orioles and Tides. Second baseman Pat Valaika hit a two-run homer, his first. Konner Wade, César Valdez and Felix Bautista combined for four scoreless, one-hit innings.
Grayson Rodriguez allowed one hit in five scoreless innings as Double-A Bowie beat Somerset, 6-3 Rodriguez (6-1) struck out seven and walked three.
Designated hitter Kyle Stowers drove in four runs. Stowers hit his 15th homer and shortstop Jordan Westburg hit his second. Both were two-run home runs in the four-run first.
Third baseman Jean Carmona and shortstop AJ Graffanino each drove in two runs to lead High-A Aberdeen over Jersey Shore, 6-4 in the second game of a doubleheader. Jersey Shore beat Aberdeen, 4-0, in the first game. The IronBirds were held to five hits.
Third baseman Coby Mayo drove in five runs with to lead Low-A Delmarva over Carolina, 10-5. Mayo hit a three-run homer in the first, his third.
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We only have one guy in the minors with the last name Westburg? Am I correct? His name is Jordan Westburg, right? The last couple of minor league updates on here have had a hit from Jacob Westburg. I'm assuming you mean Jordan. Or is there a Jacob Westburg too. I am confused. Thanks Rich.
Thanks for the correction, Johnny. It is Jordan.
BTW I totally disagree with the third base coach and Hyde tonight about Trey on third in the 11th. I think on Matteo's ball to Stanton you have to send him and press the issue there. You know Gutierrez is up next who just can't hit at the major league level. And he quickly struck out. If Trey is thrown out we are still where we were anyway in the bottom of the 11th. We still probably lose anyway on down the line so whatever, right?
Mancini: “I didn’t want to take any chances. Having first and third with no outs is much better than getting thrown out with no outs at home.”
So who's decision was it? Mancini or Mansolino's? Trey seems to be taking it on himself. Maybe that's simply a testtement to the man's character. But regardless ... when the game is on the line, great players want the ball in their hands. When you're one of baseball's historically bad teams and you're playing the New York Yankees with nothing left to lose on a Friday night in August, you bust your butt going home.
Just my opinion.
Totally agree with your comment "...nothing left to lose". The O's are 30 games behind 4th place Toronto. BTW, I think that this blunder falls on 3rd base coach Mansolino.
It on the 3rd base coach period,
I rarely see Rich put his own opinion in the game re-cap, but I do believe he snuck one in with his "nothing left to lose" comment. I think we all agree, Rich. It's been a long, frustrating season...
Actually, my editor, Jack Gibbons put that in.
Losing teams are usually dangerous since, well, they’ve nothing to lose, both are to blame, more so the coach, that was fundamental baseball, kind of explains why they f-d it up, you could make a training film for lil league players on what NOT to do from this season, ultimately inherited runners kill our bullpen again…disappointing, no moral victories here, way past that, can’t wait until Rutschman (will be 24) & company get up here next yr…go O’s…
Love Trey and all but that "piano on his back" attitude should be the beginning of the end of the Mancini era in Baltimore.
Mancini didn't stand a chance ... what the hell do you know BRR? Always with the negative vibes. Go root for the Sox or some other loser.
Orioles #1
Wieters, jr?
Pathetic! And really stupid. How do you not send a guy on that fly ball when the right fielder is notoriously poor and lacking in games played at that position?? No guts, no glory. A nice win lost for lack of good coaching.
Pathetic? And really stupid? And then the same right fielder is simultaneously notoriously poor while lacking games at the position (BTW Stanton has played 993 games in RF over his MLB career and is rated by FanGraphs as having an above average arm, while rating Mancini as very poor base runner)... Your Oh My! award is in the mail Jeff!
Agree. Stanton does have an above average arm. It's his running ability that keeps him as a DH.
Oh my! Stanton has played about a half dozen times in right this year. I don’t care what he did 10 years ago. The man is rusty as an outfielder. And Mancini was halfway home when he turned around and went back to third. You saw where that above average arm throw ended up — didn’t you? Or had you gone to the fridge for another Miller Lite?
Good game last night. Played them tough. Junk baller Means did a good job. He might be the only guy on the O’s that would have chance of making the yankee roster.
Yankees are looking forward to batting practice this afternoon against the O’s double A staff.
Good ole junk baller Means, good one!
Another winnable game that slipped away due to the mismanagement of the bullpen. Why did Lopez only go one inning? You can’t let sulser face the middle of the Yankees order there. And for the love of god can we get rid of Guettriz? He took three fastballs right down the middle of the plate. Why does Hyde take out Jones for him? Jones has played adequate defense since being called up. Guetteriz can’t hit a lick.
Oh My! Sulser pitched 1 inning and let up 1 single while striking out two!!! Egads Hyde should be run out of town immediately. Sulser faced batting order positions 8, 9, 1, 2 which isn't the middle of the order. Hyde used Stewart as a PH for Jones in the 7th. Lastly on Gutierrez's K in the 11th, he fouled off the 2nd pitch and the fourth pitch, called a strike, was not down the middle...You went 0 for 2 on that post...
But then Genius2 put in Tate, game over!
Norm ... wasn't it you that recently state that when Tate enters the game you go to bed ...or something to that effect? :)
Yankees announcers said that was the right call not sending Mancini. Stanton good arm,short RF. I tend to agree. BUT that's on Mancini in other ways--first he stopped at 3rd on Urias' hit then this debacle. A player with a little quickness could have pulled something off on either one of those 2 plays. Love Trey and all but does he really fit into our future plans? Yankees had the 3 players on the right side of the IF shift on Mullins. Is this what Mullins has come to? Thought he was a slap/hit the ball to all fields type hitter. Guess not. OPACY RF wall must be too enticing for him. That's a Red Flag. Come on Coach Long take care of that before Cedric settles in as a .260 hitter. 4-3 in 11 innings win or lose was no d of impressive(I know,I know we hate moral victories) considering the outcomes we were observing 2 weeks ago. They're competitive.
What would you expect the Yankees announcers to say…lol…blew a scoring opportunity(s)…go O’s…
He should have been bunting. Of course, everybody around here goes apespit whenever he does.
It’s a great skill that he needs to use, keeps defenses honest…go O’s…
I don't think Mountcastle made a baserunning blunder. It seemed to me that he just got trapped off the base and didn't get back fast enough, more physical than mental. You can't stay glued to the base, and infield liners are double play balls often enough. Unlucky, I'd say. On the other hand, he would have been lucky to score himself, so maybe he didn't think it was his night. But I find it hard to take not taking a chance, given the O's situation. The better team goes long and with the odds; the inferior one shortens the game and hopes for a break.
Yeah ...trying to get your logic here ... but aren't the Orioles an inferior team?
Thanks for the reply, Boog. Yes, the Orioles here are the inferior team. If I may use Saturday's game to illustrate. Mancini's and Mullens's dashes home were taking chances, aggressive and opportunistic. Neither was certain to succeed, and playing it safe in both cases was defensible. If they had failed, the game would have been shortened by using up outs. On the other hand, by building up a lead, the Orioles forced the Yankees to use up their bench and bullpen by the ninth inning, making that inning the last. I would also add that the winning run got on base by stealing first after a wild pitch strikeout. I'm not recommending striking out, but being an aggressive enough hitter to get a pitcher to resort to a pitch that was not only unhittable but also uncatchable is all right in my opinion. Of course, jumping at the opportunity rather than cursing and banging a bat is more important. The stronger team played it by the book, but when their pinch hitters came up short and their closer faltered. they lost.
Seeing it stated by a few here that being where the O's are(what have you got to lose?)that the third base coach should have sent Mancini has me thinking it's more of a statement on Trey's abilities/inabilities than it does on any "gutsy' decision making. In other words-Trey ,inadvertently,made their decision for them.
Here we go again… the starter (Ellis) gives us an unbelievable start (5 innings, ZERO hits) and then … we get to see the “Demolition squad” come in and blow it again. It is just so hard to follow (I refuse to watch the games) what the O’s try to pass off as Major League baseball. If I were a free agent this Winter they’d have to throw a ton of $$$ at my agent to get me to even consider an offer. BAD, BAD, BAD… just saying…
Karma, couldn't happen to a better guy than wife beater Chapman!
She probably had it coming. OMG, I’m just kidding, I’m just kidding. I just wanted to break the tension in this conversation. Wow! I won’t do that again.
His wife’s name is Karma?…yikes…go O’s…