Orioles miss chance to win in 9th, lose in 10th as they pursue postseason berth

BALTIMORE- What happened? The Orioles could have clinched a postseason berth on Saturday had they beaten the Detroit Tigers and Seattle lost to Texas. As it turned out, neither happened, so Sunday could be that day.

On Saturday, in an atmosphere at Camden Yards that felt like a postseason game, the Orioles missed scoring chances and faltered on defense and in the bullpen in a 6-4, 10-inning loss to the Tigers.

The Tigers scored two runs off Cionel Pérez in the top of the eighth to take a 4-2 lead. The Orioles tied it in the bottom of the ninth on Gunnar Henderson’s two-run double with none out. With Jackson Holliday on third and Henderson on second, Cedric Mullins, Anthony Santander and Colton Cowser each failed to produce.

“You know I got Ced up and Santander on deck and Cowser and Rutsch, you feel like those guys have come through a lot,” manager Brandon Hyde said. “Tonight it just didn’t happen.”

The Tigers scored twice against Yennier Cano in the 10^th, and the Orioles left runners on first and third in the bottom of the 10^th.

“I just think it felt like the stakes were high and two teams really fighting to get into the postseason,” Hyde said. “And you know a lot of benches emptied and a lot of bullpen guys used, it was a heck of a game. Unfortunately, we just didn’t finish it. We had a great rally there in the ninth inning, we battle back a couple times throughout the game. We had first and third there in the 10th, too, just didn’t quite get it done.”

How many chances did the Orioles have? The Orioles loaded the bases in the second and scored on Emmanuel Rivera’s sacrifice fly but left two on.

In the fourth, Adley Rutschman, Ryan O’Hearn and Heston Kjerstad singled. Rutschman was thrown out trying to score on Kjerstad’s single.

“We’re not scoring a ton of runs and I don’t think he had the best read at second base and then I think [third base coach Tony Mansolino] was just being aggressive there trying to score runs,” Hyde said.

In the sixth, Rivera drove in the second run to tie it at 2, but the Orioles left runners on first and third.

Sean Guenther retired all six Oriole batters in the seventh and eighth. The Orioles left two runners on in the ninth and 10^th.

Did the MVO come through? After Henderson was presented his second consecutive Most Valuable Oriole award, he was hitless in his first four at-bats, three times leading off an inning.

In the ninth, he demonstrated the kind of situational hitting the Orioles are lacking, lining a two-run double to right-center tie the game. Had his hit not been cut off in the outfield, Holliday would have scored to win the game.

“Yeah, I mean, we have confidence in the guys, and I know that normally, about nine times out of 10, we put together a good at-bat and get that run in,” Henderson said. “It just didn’t happen to go our way today.”

With the Orioles not scoring runs recently, Henderson was relaxed.

“Just try not to do too much,” he said. “I feel like I’ve got caught up kind of doing that recently and was able to just take a deep breath, go up there and just take what he gives me.”

Henderson thought the atmosphere was different.

“Yeah, I mean, the crowd was into it and it was a big spot,” Henderson said. “I’m glad to be able to come through in that way.”

Last year, Henderson played in the postseason, and now he’s ready to do it again.

“These games, they all matter, they’re all meaningful,” Henderson said. “Just got to treat them one game at a time.”

It could have been the start to a special day, but it wasn’t.

“I had no idea that we could clinch tonight but, yeah, I mean, any time you’re in that situation, obviously you want to come through,” he said. “It just didn’t happen tonight. But I was proud of the way we battled back, especially in the ninth right there, and put together a lot of good at-bats.”

What did Hyde think about key plays? In the top of the eighth, Jake Rogers singled under Jackson Holliday’s glove at second. It scored Mark Vierling, the first of two runs.

“It just looked like it was a hard hit and maybe fooled him a little bit,” Hyde said. “A step or two to his right and backhanded maybe, I’m not really sure. But I don’t think that was an easy play, it was coming in between hop and a hard-hit ball.”

Rivera also missed a tag at third because he was too far from the base when he fielded the ball.

Hyde said he didn’t have much choice but to use Cano in the 10^th.

Cade Povich started and allowed two runs on two hits in five innings. Matt Bowman, Keegan Akin, Pérez, Seranthony Dominguez, Gregory Soto, Bryan Baker and Cano all pitched.

“Tough spot for Cano. I was trying to stay away — we weren’t going to pitch [Jacob] Webb and [Danny] Coulombe unless it was an emergency,” Hyde said. “So, Cano was the only guy left and when you roll — I don’t usually put him in those types of situations with all those left-handers and just little bit too much of the plate the first few hitters early in the count.”

What did Mayo learn? The Orioles optioned Coby Mayo to Triple-A Norfolk before Saturday’s game. He would be eligible to return for the postseason. Mayo was the designated hitter in Norfolk’s game on Saturday night.

“It’s tough to evaluate young players, especially with a short sample,” Hyde said. “Especially since he’s so young, 22…It’s very normal to have your ups and downs and even in your second or third year, there’s going to be periods where you have tough times. Coby didn’t have that many at-bats. It’s was nice to see him get his feet wet … I thought there were some positives.”

Mayo hit .098 (4-for-41) in 17 games for the Orioles.

What does it mean? It was a game that featured a lot of drama, getting the Orioles and their fans ready for October.

What’s the word? “There’s room to grow in every single area. It’s hard to believe, but he’s going to continue to get better.”-Hyde on Henderson’s Most Valuable Oriole award.

What’s the stat of the day? 59. Outfielder Daniel Johnson’s contract was purchased from Norfolk earlier in the day. Johnson was added because Mullins had neck discomfort that caused him to miss Friday night’s game.

Mullins, who hurt his neck in an outfield collision with Austin Slater on Thursday, was able to play.

Johnson was used as a pinch-runner, scored the tying run in the ninth and grounded out to end the game.

He’s the 59^th player used by the Orioles this season, three short of the record 62 players they used in 2021.

What’s going on in the minor leagues? Jordan Westburg homered and Ramón Urías was hitless in two at-bats in their rehab assignment for Norfolk.

They were both removed in the top of the fifth inning as planned.

Westburg is recovering from a broken right hand and Urías from a sprained right ankle.

First baseman Ryan Mountcastle was hitless in four at-bats. Mountcastle is rehabbing a sprained left wrist.

Utilityman Terrin Vavra was on the Orioles’ taxi squad on Saturday.

What’s next? Albert Suárez (8-6, 3.60) will start for the Orioles on Sunday at 1:35 p.m. in the final home game of the regular season. Detroit hasn’t named its starter.

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