Orioles struggle at the plate, in the field and in the bullpen in losing 2 of 3 to Mets

NEW YORK- What happened? For the second time in three games, Seranthony Dominguez allowed a game-winning home run to the New York Mets as the Orioles’ offense continued to flounder and the defense faltered on two double-play chances.

It added up to another loss and another losing series for a team that continues to stumble in the second half.

On Wednesday, Dominguez allowed a leadoff home run in the bottom of the ninth to Jesse Winker for a 4-3 Mets win.

Dominguez has allowed four runs since joining the Orioles on July 26^th, each on home runs. The Mets’ Francisco Alvarez homered in the bottom of the ninth against him on Monday, another 4-3 Orioles loss.

The Orioles had just three hits. In five of their last six games, they’ve had six or fewer hits.

Cole Irvin, whose contract was purchased from Triple-A Norfolk, started and allowed two runs on five hits in 4 1/3 innings.

Craig Kimbrel allowed a home run to Mark Vientos in the seventh.

Sean Manaea retired the first 17 Orioles before Jackson Holliday was hit by a pitch and Austin Slater homered.

“It stinks. At this point in the season every game matters,” Slater said. “But you know, the effort today was good from the guys and you can’t ask for anything more than that.”

What’s wrong with the bullpen? To help the struggling Kimbrel, the Orioles acquired Dominguez and left-hander Gregory Soto from Philadelphia in late July ahead of the trade deadline.

Dominguez has been manager Brandon Hyde’s late-inning guy, but perhaps Hyde will look elsewhere. Soto had a rough beginning with the Orioles, but in his last four outings, he’s thrown 3 1/3 scoreless innings, allowing just one hit.

“I don’t have a set closer,” Hyde said. “Searching for outs from whenever the starter comes out to the end of the game. Searching for outs.”

Hyde used Colin Selby, Kimbrel, Cionel Pérez and Dominguez. For the moment, the Orioles have only seven relievers since they added a sixth starter in Irvin.

“We’re going to continue to throw them out there,” Hyde said. “Whoever’s on the roster. We’ve got [seven] guys in our ‘pen and trying to find some guys to get hot for us. I thought Cionel did a good job, Selby did a good job for us there. We didn’t turn a couple double-play balls that hurt. But we got three hits, so tough to win a major league baseball game getting three hits.”

Will Hyde stretch his relievers? Hyde did something unusual with Burch Smith from August 15th-17^th. He used him three games in a row, something he almost always avoids.

Hyde hasn’t used Yennier Cano, Seranthony Domínguez or Pérez three straight games. He would consider doing that down the stretch if certain conditions are met.

“If it lined up before the three days in a row,” he said. “I use Cano and Pérez so much. That’s another thing when you’re winning games, you’re playing tight games, I need to use eight [relievers] and not just use three. Their workloads before the three days, that really matters.

“I had Cano up five games in a row. He only pitched in three, but he was up five. That’s not ideal. We need to find other guys to fill those types of roles.”

What’s been ailing the offense? On Tuesday night, the Orioles scored nine runs on 11 hits in their 9-5 win, their only strong offensive performance in their last six games. In the other five games, they’ve had just 17 hits, including two three-hit games, one of which they won.

“With our pitching the way it is right now we’ve got to be able to score some runs,” Hyde said.

The Orioles had bases loaded with none out in the eighth, and Ryan O’Hearn, who was hitting for Slater, struck out and was ejected for arguing with home plate umpire Marvin Hudson. It appeared Hudson missed the second pitch to O’Hearn, changing the at-bat.

Colton Cowser scored on Adley Rutschman’s foul fly to left and Gunna Henderson fouled out.

The tie lasted until Winker won the game in the bottom of the ninth.

“We had an opportunity there in the eighth, we had bases loaded, no outs, we had the right guy up and only scored one run,” Hyde said. “We’ve got to be able to score some runs. It’s a grind right now on the mound, so until we get through this thing, we’ve got to be able to help them out and score some runs.”

Since the Mets started three left-handers, Slater started each of those games, and was 3-for-8 while many of his teammates did little.

“I think sometimes it’s slow starts and it kind of just piles up and it’s hard to get a rhythm in the dugout,” Slater said. “Sometimes it’s just seeing a pitcher that’s on his best stuff. That happens for an offense. I don’t think we’re too concerned about it. This offense is too talented to have too many more games like that.”

How happy was Irvin to be back? With Eflin, Kyle Bradish, John Means, Grayson Rodriguez and Tyler Wells on the injured list, the Orioles turned to Irvin, whom they designated for assignment on August 1^st after Trevor Rogers was added to the roster.

“We’ve got a lot of good arms,” Irvin said. “We’ve got a lot of good guys on this ballclub. Because of that trade deadline, to be in the mix, is awesome. I love these guys. I’ll go to the ends of the earth for every guy in this clubhouse, just happy to pitch again.

“Take the joy of being here, the situation, the moves, you can’t control that. For me, was it a shock? Sure, but at the end of the day, I wasn’t pitching well at the time and I had gone three innings, gave up a homer, and I was going to be down for a couple of days. The situation, the way it was handled, gave me time to reset, to refocus and get back to what I do really well, throw strikes and command the zone and move the ball in and out and have some fun.”

Irvin was glad to be back with the Orioles. In the season’s first half, he had a 4.67 ERA, and had only three relief appearances before he was designated and had a 7.50 ERA.

“Just a lot of kind of self reflection, refocusing, understanding, for me, that God’s got a plan for me, and respecting that and trusting that and knowing that there have been battles that I have been fighting all season, mentally, internally,” he said.

“First half was fantastic. Second half has been really rough and so there’s a lot of really good things to take away from my work the past three weeks … Been doing a lot of good work and just really happy to just be healthy and back here with the guys.”

Is there anything new on Heston Kjerstad? Kjerstad has been on the injured list since August 1^st with a concussion. He was optioned to Triple-A Norfolk before he was put on the injured list, and he’s not currently with the Orioles.

“I know that he’s still under the concussion protocol,” Hyde said. “I know he’s doing baseball activities, and he’s feeling better.”

What does it mean? The Orioles’ offense must improve. Starting against there left-handers, Holliday was hitless in eight at-bats, and he’s 0-for-his last 12.

What’s the word? “I mean we definitely knew what was going on. Sean [Manaea] had his best stuff today and he pitched really, really well. Hats off to him. Luckily we were able to get something going there in the sixth and, you know, a little too late for us probably.”-Slater on Manaea’s bid for a no-hitter.

What’s the stat of the day? 0-for-3. The Orioles had just three runners in scoring position, and didn’t get a hit. Two of those opportunities came in the eighth inning.

Transactions: To make room for Irvin on the 26-man roster, the Orioles optioned right-hander Dillon Tate to Triple-A Norfolk, and designated right-hander Nick Avila for assignment to make room for him on the 40-man roster.

The Orioles also acquired infielder Emmanuel Rivera off waivers from the Miami Marlins and designated utility player Terrin Vavra for assignment.

What’s next? The Orioles open a four-game series with the Houston Astros. Corbin Burnes (12-5, 3.10) will start for the Orioles. The Astros haven’t announced their starter. The game, scheduled to begin at 7:08 p.m., will be shown exclusively on FOX Sports.

Call for questions: Most weekdays, I’ll be answering at least one Orioles question. Please send yours to: Rich@BaltimoreBaseball.com