BALTIMORE—Alexander Wells started against the New York Yankees on August 3rd and allowed six runs on seven hits in 2 1/3 innings. That was the start of the Orioles’ 19-game losing streak and earned Wells a trip back to Norfolk.
On Tuesday night, Wells pitched against the Yankees again, and two batters into the game, Aaron Judge hit a two-run home run, his 34th, and the Orioles trailed, 2-0. Wells gave up two more of New York’s five homers in the Orioles’ 7-2 loss before an announced crowd of 10,735 at Camden Yards.
It was a painful loss for other reasons. Trey Mancini, who is the Orioles’ nominee for the Roberto Clemente Award, left after one at-bat because of right abdominal soreness. Mancini missed three games last week because of a sore oblique.
“We’re hoping it’s not very serious,” manager Brandon Hyde said. “I took him out of there pretty much for precaution purposes. Just felt it a little bit after that first at-bat. We talked after the inning. We didn’t want to make it any worse, and we’re hoping that it feels better tomorrow and really day-to-day at this point.”
Catcher Pedro Severino was removed from the game after he jogged slowly to first base on a double play ball in the sixth.
“Sevy’s been playing with a little bit of upper leg and groin soreness the last week or so,” Hyde said. “Aggravated it early in the game, and that at-bat running down the line out of the box, it grabbed a little bit, and I took him out of the game for that. He’s day-to-day, also.”
Backup Austin Wynns replaced Severino. The Orioles don’t have another catcher on the 40-man roster.
“These things happen,” Hyde said. “For the most part, we’ve been pretty fortunate throughout the year. We have almost three weeks left, and we have a lot of nagging things going on. That just gives other guys opportunities and we hope that some of these guys get on the mend quick and be OK, but you just never know.”
According to Spotrac, the Orioles have had 23 players on the injured list this season and the 928 games missed is the fourth fewest in baseball.
Wells (1-3) allowed back-to-back home runs in the third as Giancarlo Stanton hit his 28th, a two-run shot, and Luke Voit hit his 10th. In four innings, Wells gave up four runs on seven hits.
“One through nine they’re a quality lineup,” Wells said. “You’ve got to be on your game from pitch one and tonight, I made a couple of mistakes over the plate, and they capitalized.”
The Orioles (46-98) loaded the bases in the first on Cedric Mullins’ leadoff double and two-out walks to Mancini and Austin Hays before Ramón Urías struck out.
Ryan Mountcastle’s double, his 80th RBI, scored Pat Valaika in the fifth against Gerrit Cole (15-7), who allowed a run on four hits in five innings.
Michael King pitched three hitless innings for the Yankees (81-64), who are in a tight race with Toronto and Boston for the American League wild-card spots.
Joey Gallo hit his 34th home run against Spenser Watkins to start the eighth. DJ LeMahieu hit one against Watkins to begin the ninth.
Kelvin Gutiérrez’s RBI single scored Wynns in the ninth.
Note: John Means (5-7, 3.42 ERA) will face Nestor Cortes (2-2, 2.70) on Wednesday night.
Minor league update: Adley Rutschman had two hits and two RBIs as Triple-A Norfolk beat the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp, 7-2. Rutschman had an RBI triple and is hitting .330.
Shortstop Mason McCoy had a two-run home run. Kevin Smith started and allowed two runs on four hits in four innings, walking four and striking out six. Manny Barreda (2-2) pitched three shutout innings, allowing two hits.
Third baseman Patrick Dorrian hit a two-run home run to lead Double-A Bowie over Altoona, 3-2, in the first game of a doubleheader. Gray Fenter (6-4) pitched 5 2/3 innings, allowing two runs on three hits, striking out six and walking three.
In his first game at Double-A, Gunnar Henderson was the designated hitter and went 1-for-3.
Dorrian drove in three runs as the Baysox completed the sweep, winning their ninth straight with a 6-4 win over the Curve, helping their bid for a postseason berth. David Lebron (6-0) allowed three runs, two earned, on three hits in five innings, striking out eight and walking two.
Brandon Young pitched five perfect innings, striking out nine, as High-A Aberdeen beat Greenville, 3-1. Young (1-2) was followed by Jake Lyons, who didn’t allow a hit until there was one out in the eighth. Greenville had just two hits.
Rightfielder Lamar Sparks had two hits and two RBIs. Leftfielder Cristopher Cespedes had three hits.
Preston Price gave up five runs in the eighth inning to the Salem Red Sox in Low-A Delmarva’s 8-2 loss. The loss ended the Shorebirds’ playoff hopes. Price recorded just one out. Third baseman Coby Mayo had two hits and is batting .318.
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I think we’re starting to see who’s potentially going to be a future starter for us and who’s not. Wells and Lowther don’t seem to have the stuff to compete up here. Now that’s not to say they can’t get better. Maybe it’s time to shut down Mancini. You don’t want these nagging injuries to turn into something more serious. Lamar Sparks seems to be putting it together. Steve Meleski had a good article about him on MASN. Apparently in 2019 he got hit in the face with a fastball. So no wonder it took a bit for his career to grow off and running. Also Glaser of baseball America said reports out of Aberdeen were Henderson was hitting into some bad luck. I think it’s good that Elias and Matt Blood have been aggressive with some of these guys. They’re looking beyond the box score and seem to be more process based then results based.
Henderson’s on-base percentage at Aberdeen was .343 while his average was .230, so that’s a good sign.
Poor McCoy can’t even get a few days on the big club. We don’t have another catcher on the 40 man roster with Sevy injured but we have the best prospect in baseball who can’t be called up for a couple of weeks just to give the fans some enjoyment and excitement
Bruce, I hope that Mason McCoy appreciates your obsession. He’s batting .215 at Norfolk and I know he’s glad you’ve labeled him as the best prospect in baseball.
I think he was referring to Rutschman...
Irony sometimes fails to translate.
I should've figured that out! But, given that we should really have 2 catchers in the clubhouse, wouldn't it make sense to bring Rutsch up?
Do you think it would be a good move to promote Rutschman for the last 18 games in 2021 and forego an extra year of team control later when the Orioles will hopefully be more competitive?
I'm glad that's been ironed out!
Well at least someone is glad about something here today!
Ben, I’d like to see Rutschman play here as much as the fans, but I think they’d prefer to wait until 2022 with him.
They can save a 40-man roster spot for another prospect, keep him playing next season in the event of a work stoppage and be able to promote him to sell tickets next season.
Bringing him up now wouldn’t likely increase attendance much, most fans have turned off and bringing him in next season creates more optimism.
I’ve labeled him as the best prospect that’s a bad joke. I’ve just said they call up everyone who gave hit as bad or worse then him like Martin , Valaika , and a host of others so give the kid a few games here like this season really matters
As Rich has pointed out above, you don’t promote Rutschman to save the 40 man roster spot. Martin is already on the 40, and Valaika most likely will be removed after the season. If you add Rutschman now, he can’t be removed without passing through waivers. Valaika most likely clears, Rutschman definitely would get claimed. There’s nothing to gain by bringing Rutschman up now as the Orioles are just playing out the string. If Severino can’t go, put him on the 60 day IL and select Ciuffo’s contract. They can always DFA Ciuffo after the season. But they want to keep as many 40 man spots on the roster as possible for waivers, Rule 5 and free agents. No need to add someone who doesn’t need to be added
The O's are crawling on all fours to the finish line. This is a sad time,team looks sad. Even Santander(a man of few emotions) looks defeated. I feel for all of them. This season ending Mateo injury ranks as one of the more disappointing. He looked like "someone to watch". On a lighter note--all these O's pitchers with goggles/glasses on must really love the Baltimore humidity. Believe me I know. Getting to the point where the 40 man roster is spent. Now what? I think that few O's fans who are still following the team at this point must have put out a collective sigh of defeat when Valaika's name was in the starting lineup. Just like July 1st all over again. Let's go for the gusto and get Stevie back up here. Chance tonight with Means going--just gotta put some runs up. Interesting prospect in Patrick Dorrian. Does he have a legit future Rich?
Not a lot of Buzz on Dorrian, Al. He’s made 13 errors in 81 games at third, but has some good power numbers, 20 homers and an .841 OPS. He’s walked 69 times. He should get a shot at Triple-A next year, and that would be a good test.
Dorrian will be eligible for the Rule 5 draft December 2021
Right you are, Joe, and it will be an interesting call to see if he’s protected.
Is Chance Sisco catching Means tonight? Fits your theme.
No chance.
Hate to say it, but Orioles pitching is not competitive at the major league level. O's pitching staff may be on par with the better AAA teams such as the Buffalo Bisons or Durham Bulls. Right now, even the Norfolk Tides pitching is depleted. Orioles are destined to finish LAST in the AL East until we pay reasonable salaries for quality starters. Average starters in MLB are getting close to $5 million. Do our combined starters salaries even total $5 million? A successful rebuild requires an infusion of young talent AND mentoring from seasoned veteran pitchers.
I heard that some scientists are going to try to clone the Woolly Mammoth. Maybe we could clone a Stu Miller or Eddie Watt to help out with the relief pitching.
That would only be acceptable if they would agree to play for their 1960s salaries.
OB - I’d add Moe Drabowsky to your Woolly Mammoth wish list.
Where do they send Woolly Mammoths for seasoning?
Dorrian was acquired for the legendary Yeffry Ramirez, so I would not expect much. Absolutely no reason for Valaika to be back here.How many times will that ship sail?
Debbie Downer couldn't have posted better, congrats Buzz...
Probably just as many as you’ve commented on..:)…lol…go O’s…
They're still playing games?
With everyone on this team down at one time or another due to some sort of injury it just puts Cal’s career performance into greater perspective.