SEATTLE-After nine frustrating innings against Seattle Mariners starter George Kirby, the Orioles finally broke through in the 10th inning and came away with a hard-fought 1-0 victory in 10 innings over Seattle before an announced crowd of 45,823 at T-Mobile Park on Saturday night.
Cedric Mullins, who was the automatic runner in the 10th, stole third, and with one out, Ryan Mountcastle, who had one of just three hits against Kirby in the first nine innings, singled to center against Andrés Muñoz (2-5) for the only run.
“It was insane,” Mountcastle said. “It just seemed like whoever scored first was going to win.”
Félix Bautista (7-2), who pitched a scoreless ninth, went back out for the 10th and struck out Seattle in order for the win.
CONTINUE READING BELOW
“What he’s done this entire season is unbelievable,” manager Brandon Hyde said. “There’s no other closers that are doing that … We are just so fortunate to have him. He is just incredible.”
It was the fourth time this season Bautista pitched two innings and earned a win.
The victory allowed the Orioles (72-45) to maintain a two-game lead over Tampa Bay in the American League East and end the Mariners’ eight-game winning streak. It also ensured the Orioles wouldn’t be swept for the 77th straight series.
“It is crazy. We’re a good team, and that’s just what happens with being good,” Mountcastle said.
Oriole starter Cole Irvin entered the game with an 0-6 record and 8.42 earned-run average in six starts against Seattle (63-53). Irvin gave the Orioles five fabulous innings, allowing just two hits and walking a batter while striking out six.
“Amazing, five great innings, made pitches when he needed to,” Hyde said. “That’s best-case scenario right there.”
Mike Baumann got the first two outs of the sixth, walked Ty France and Cal Raleigh doubled France to third. Teoscar Hernández lined out to left to end the sixth.
Jacob Webb walked leadoff batter Tom Murphy on 11 pitches, got the next two outs, and Cionel Pérez ended the inning on Mike Ford’s grounder to first.
Yennier Cano wriggled out of trouble in the eighth. With one out, he walked Eugenio Suárez and hit Ty France before Raleigh filed to left and Hernández grounded to Cano.
Kirby was outstanding, allowing only Mountcastle’s second-inning single in the first seven innings. Austin Hays hit into a double play, ending the second. Kirby faced the minimum 21 batters through seven, and after he got the first two outs of the eighth, Hays singled, but Adam Frazier grounded out to first.
Jordan Westburg singled to start the ninth, and stole second as Gunnar Henderson, who was batting for Jorge Mateo, struck out. Adley Rutschman grounded out to short with Westburg taking third and Cedric Mullins popped out to Kirby, who allowed three hits in nine scoreless innings.
“That was the best pitched game against us all season,” Hyde said. “They’ve got a really good rotation, and we didn’t do much against him.”
Cade Marlowe singled against Bautista with two outs in the ninth, and after a replay review on what was initially called a stolen base, Marlowe was out and it was scoreless after nine.
“It’s a big win. We had no scoring opportunities almost the entire game,” Hyde said. “To be able to pull out a win when you’re not swinging the bat, that’s massive.”
The Orioles’ win came on the night the Mariners enshrined their great pitcher, Félix Hernández, in their Hall of Fame.
“It was such a fun evening. I grew up watching Félix pitch,” Irvin said. “It was pretty cool night …I was so adamant about throwing a good changeup because of how well he threw his. What an awesome night for Mariners fans.”
Notes: Mountcastle has reached base in a career-high 19 straight games. … Kyle Bradish (7-6, 3.19) will face Bryce Miller (7-4, 4.20) on Sunday at 4:10 p.m.
Minor league report: Mychal Givens allowed three runs on two hits, walking two while recording just one out in a rehab assignment in Triple-A Norfolk’s 4-0 loss to Jacksonville.
Aaron Hicks was hitless in four at-bats in the second game of his rehab assignment. Shortstop Joey Ortiz had two of the Tides’ four hits.
Tyler Wells allowed one run on three hits in 3 1/3 innings in Double-A Bowie’s 5-2 win over Richmond. Wells threw 60 pitches, striking out three and walking two.
Centerfielder Jud Fabin had three hits, including a two-run homer, his 10th.
Cather Samuel Basallo drove In four runs and hit his first home run for High-A Aberdeen in its 8-3 win over Brooklyn.
Trey McGough pitched three shutout innings for Single-A Delmarva in its 6-3 loss to Carolina.