What happened? Heston Kjerstad hit a three-run home run and Anthony Santander homered in a four-run first inning as the Orioles defeated the Oakland Athletics, 6-3, in the final scheduled game for Baltimore in the Oakland Coliseum.
After the game, the focus shifted to the selections for All-Star Game pitchers and reserves. Oriole manager Brandon Hyde was happy ace starter Corbin Burnes got the nod, but he was unhappy that no one else joined Burnes and All-Star starters Gunnar Henderson and Adley Rutschman.
First baseman Ryan Mountcastle, third baseman Jordan Westburg, outfielder Anthony Santander and designated hitter Ryan O’Hearn finished second in fan voting but were snubbed.
“I’m excited for Corbin,” Hyde told reporters in Oakland. “He’s the best pitcher in the league. He’s been an unbelievable starter for us and definitely deserves to be there.
“I’m disappointed that a lot of other guys didn’t get in. Hopefully, things will happen and spots open. I was disappointed.
“When you win as many games as we have in the last year-and-a-half, and you only get three guys in, and you’re on the pace we are on now and won 101 games last year with a lot of the same guys we had last year, you’d think we’d get a lot more guys in, and I’m disappointed in that, but hopefully they’ll have All-Star second halves.”
Closer Craig Kimbrel, a nine-time All-Star, and starting pitcher Grayson Rodriguez, who won his 11th game on Sunday, also were overlooked. Rodriguez chose his words carefully to convey disappointment for his teammates.
“I’d like to say some stuff about that, but I can’t. I think we should have had more than three All-Stars, for sure,” Rodriguez said. “There’s a lot of guys in that clubhouse who are deserving to be there.”
On Sunday, Santander hit his first home run in Oakland, his 23rd, and Kjerstad hit his third against Oakland starter Mitch Spence (5-5).
“Really good offense early,” Hyde said. “Loved the way we came out and swung the bats. We went dormant for a while … Pretty well-played game today.”
Who was hot? The Orioles took a 5-0 lead in the third when Santander singled and advanced to second on a wild pitch by Spence and scored when centerfielder JJ Bleday muffed Kjerstad’s fly ball. Kjerstad reached third but didn’t score.
Rodriguez (11-3) allowed three runs on six hits in six-plus innings.
“I feel like I’m throwing the changeup better. It’s allowed me to pitch deeper in the ballgame,” Rodriguez said. “Obviously, the defense has been spectacular. When you’ve got guys making plays behind you, it’s really easier to pitch deeper in the game … The way I’m throwing has a lot to do with our offense, so thanks to those guys.”
Rodriguez, who has won six of his last seven starts, struck out eight and walked one. In his previous start, he gave up two hits in 6 1/3 scoreless innings.
“It’s his 11th win on the season. For a guy in his first full year, it’s unbelievable,” Hyde said.
The Orioles (57-33) completed their West Coast trip winning two of three against Seattle and the Athletics (34-58). On Saturday, they lost 19-8.
“Skip just told us that’s championship baseball,” Rodriguez said. “When you go to the West Coast, it’s not easy. When you’re able to go 4-2 like that, that’s big. That’s going to carry us deep into October.”
Oakland scored two runs in the sixth on an RBI double by Tyler Soderstrom and sacrifice fly by Shea Langeliers. Lawrence Butler scored the third run on a force play by Bleday.
Gunnar Henderson’s RBI single in the ninth gave the Orioles a 6-3 lead.
Jacob Webb, Yennier Cano and Kimbrel combined to record the final nine outs. Kimbrel registered his 23rd save.
Santander played in his 13th game in Oakland and was relieved to get the home run.
“I got a good pitch to hit, and finally I got a homer here,” Santander said on the MASN postgame show.
How does Burnes feel about being an All-Star? Corbin Burnes was named an All-Star for the fourth consecutive year. It tops an exciting last few weeks. Burnes’ wife delivered twin girls last weekend.
“It’s been a little crazy,” he said “Excited to be part of an All-Star Game, honored to represent the Orioles in the American League.”
Burnes had said he wasn’t sure he was going to go with three small children to take care of.
“I’m still going to have that conversation with my wife,” Burnes said. “She’s already told me to go.”
Burnes, who won the National League Cy Young Award in 2021 and was traded to the Orioles from the Milwaukee Brewers on February 1st, wasn’t ever sure he’d be an All-Star. From 2021-2023, Burnes represented the National League and threw two innings in 2021.
“Growing up, you just want to play professional baseball,” he said. “When you get in the pros you want to play in the big leagues. I never really dreamt of being an All-Star, winning the Cy Young. All of those are just kind of afterthoughts.”
What’s the word? “I never expect to be an All-Star. I never expect to put up good results.” –Burnes on his expectations for this season.
What does it mean? It was surprising that the Orioles, who had four All-Stars last year, had only three. It wouldn’t be surprising if Kimbrel, Westburg or O’Hearn were added to the team as a substitute for a player unable to play because of injury.
What’s the stat of the day? 1980. Steve Stone was the last Oriole pitcher to start an All-Star Game in 1980. Burnes hopes to join him.
What’s next? After a day off on Monday, the Orioles open a three-game series with the Chicago Cubs. Dean Kremer (4.4, 3.93) will start for the Orioles at 6:35 p.m. The Cubs have yet to announce their starter.
Call for questions: Most weekdays, I’ll be answering at least one Orioles question. Please send yours to: [email protected]