Orioles lose to Yankees, 6-5, in 10 innings; Frazier’s value; City Connect uniforms coming

For the first time since June 23^rd-25^th 1991, the Orioles played their third consecutive extra-inning game, and the New York Yankees’ 6-5 win over the Orioles in 10 innings broke their three-game winning streak.

Thanks to two scoreless innings from Yennier Cano, the Orioles led, 5-4, after eight, and with a 27-1 record when leading after eight innings, Félix Bautista allowed a game-tying home run to Aaron Judge in the ninth.

Bryan Baker allowed the winning run in the 10^th, and the Orioles missed an opportunity to cut into the Tampa Bay Rays’ lead in the American League East.

The Orioles (31-17) swept three games from the Toronto Blue Jays over the weekend, and the Blue Jays beat the Rays, 20-1. Tampa Bay remains three games ahead of the Orioles.

Cedric Mullins hit his eighth home run, Gunnar Henderson hit his fifth, and Adam Frazier had a two-run double as the Orioles took a 4-0 lead in the fourth.

Oriole starter Kyle Bradish allowed a run in the fourth and three in the fifth as New York tied it, 4-4.

Henderson had two hits, and he’s hitting .201, the first time since April 25^th that his average has been above .200.

Frazier had two hits, his third consecutive multi-hit game, and he’s batting .255, his highest since April 15^th.

Mychal Givens threw a perfect sixth inning in his second appearance of the season.

Tyler Wells (3-1, 2.94) will face Nestor Cortes (4-2, 5.21) on Wednesday night.

Frazier’s value: When the Orioles signed to Frazier to a one-year, $8 million contract on December 15^th, he was regarded as a placeholder at second base.

Frazier’s recent play may have changed some minds. Entering Tuesday night’s game, he had a 1.0 WAR (Wins Above Replacement), and he’s been a plus-defender. Frazier has a 16-game on-base streak, the second longest of his career.

Many fans are eager to see Jordan Westburg, but unless he supplants Frazier at second, there may not be a logical place to play him. One scout from another organization likes Westburg but views him as a super utility player. Westburg, who was hitless in six at-bats for the Tides on Tuesday night, has started games at five positions—second, third, shortstop, left and right field—this season for Norfolk.

Manager Brandon Hyde told reporters in New York that infielder Ramón Urías will be the designated hitter for High-A Aberdeen on Wednesday. Urías is on the 10-day injured list with a strained left hamstring. When he returns, either Joey Ortiz or Terrin Vavra will likely be cut.

For the moment, it seems that Westburg will remain at Norfolk with regular playing time.

Frazier has already hit five home runs, two more than he hit last season for Seattle, and he has stolen six bases in nine attempts. Last season, Frazier stole a career-high 11 bases for the Mariners, who qualified for the postseason for the first time since 2001.

Four of the five veterans the Orioles acquired over the offseason — Frazier, Givens, Kyle Gibson and catcher James McCann — played in the postseason last season, and that’s helped the Orioles.

Frazier has a .337 on-base percentage, has walked 17 times and struck out only 16 times.

City Connect uniforms: I know I’m supposed to have a strong opinion about all things Orioles, but I don’t really have much of a feeling about the Orioles’ City Connect uniforms, which they’ll wear for the first time on Friday night when they play Texas.

The Orioles unveiled the uniforms on Monday morning, and the all-black with Baltimore on its chest will certainly appeal to lots of fans, and that’s the idea behind it.

If fans like it and buy the jerseys, that’s great. It may strike some of my Twitter followers as strange that I don’t have an opinion about Oriole jerseys. For those who aren’t on Twitter, I post a picture of a former Oriole’s jersey during each home games, and I take a pregame walk to try to come up with what I think are rare and popular ones.

I don’t know if they’ll have City Connect jerseys with former Orioles’ names on the back, but I’ll be looking for them.

Minor league update: DL Hall allowed six runs on five hits in 1 2/3 innings in Norfolk’s 13-12 win over Memphis in 11 innings.

Dillon Tate relieved Hall and allowed one run on two hits, walking one and striking out one while recording two outs. The Orioles must either reinstate Tate from the 15-day injured list by Wednesday or option him.

Third baseman Josh Lester had three hits and hit his 13^th home run. Centerfielder Daz Cameron hit his seventh.

The Orioles signed outfielder Ben DeLuzio for Norfolk.

Leftfielder John Rhodes and rightfielder Dontá Williams each hit two-run home runs, and designated hitter Heston Kjerstad hit his 10^th as Double-A Bowie beat Akron, 7-2.

Third baseman Max Wagner hit his sixth home run in High-A Aberdeen’s 9-3 loss to Jersey Shore.

Third baseman Angel Tejada had three hits and three RBIs and hit his second home run as Single-A Delmarva beat Lynchburg, 11-3.