Rich Dubroff

Orioles end 20-game road losing streak with 10th-inning comeback win; Harvey has solid start; Minor league recap

The Orioles ended their 20-game road losing streak with a four-run eighth and an extra-inning run that scored without a hit.

Pat Valaika’s bases-loaded walk scored Trey Mancini in the top of the 10th, and the Orioles beat the Toronto Blue Jays, 6-5, at Sahlen Field in Buffalo on Friday night.

Mancini was the automatic runner to begin the 10th. Ryan Mountcastle popped out to second. Trent Thornton (1-3) walked Anthony Santander. Mancini moved to third on an Austin Hays forceout. Hays was jammed on an inside pitch and beat the relay throw to first to avoid a double play.

Maikel Franco walked to load the bases, and Valaika walked to give the Orioles the 6-5 lead.

Paul Fry (1-2) pitched a perfect ninth for the win. Cole Sulser picked up his second save with a strong 10th.

“We’re partying like we won a wild-card game,” manager Brandon Hyde said jokingly. “Rightfully so. We haven’t had much to celebrate lately.”

The win was the first on the road since John Means pitched a no-hitter on May 5th in Seattle. It also ended a six-game losing streak that began last Saturday when Fry and Tyler Wells gave up six runs to the Blue Jays to blow a 7-4 Orioles lead.

“It’s important for us to try to keep our morale up during times like this,” centerfielder Cedric Mullins said. “We know we have a talented group of guys. It’s just a matter of putting everything together, and we were able to do a little bit of everything today and come out with a win.”

Marcus Semien was the automatic runner in the 10th for Toronto (38-36). Bo Bichette walked. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hit into a double play, and Sulser struck out Teoscar Hernandez.

“These guys have been busting, and it’s been really, really hard,” Hyde said. “Everybody knew that we were losing a ton of games on the road and having a tough couple of months. For us to win in that kind of fashion, it means a lot to our guys. It’s fun to see smiles on their faces again.”

It appeared the Orioles were headed for another loss until a four-run eighth that tied the score at 5. Mountcastle and Santander had run-scoring singles and Hays hit a two-run double to tie the game. It was the kind of rally the Orioles have been lacking, and it followed a solid start by Matt Harvey.

Harvey, who hasn’t won in his last 10 starts, allowed three runs on six hits in 5 1/3 innings in his strongest start since May 1st. He walked one and struck out two.

“Winning major league games are a lot of fun, especially where we’ve been at on the road the last 20 games. It’s been frustrating,” Harvey said. “We’ll definitely remember what winning is like again and get back out there tomorrow and try and keep that streak going.”

George Springer hit his third home run in the second, and the Orioles (24-52) tied the score at 1 when catcher Pedro Severino scored on shortstop Freddy Galvis’ double play in the third.

Guerrero slammed his 25th home run in the fourth, his second in as many nights, to put Toronto (39-35) ahead, 2-1.

The Blue Jays took a 3-1 lead in the fourth when Randal Grichuk tripled with two outs and scored on Lourdes Gurriel’s single.

“He was making quality pitches,” Hyde said of Harvey. “This is a very, very difficult lineup. A big smile on his face, too.”

Alek Manoah who was ejected from last Saturday’s game for hitting Franco with a pitch after back-to-back home runs by Mountcastle and DJ Stewart, allowed one run on four hits in six innings, walking two and striking out six.

Manoah was suspended for five games, but he’s appealing the suspension.

In the seventh, Dillon Tate gave up two runs when Gurriel and Reese McGuire began the inning with singles. Severino’s seventh passed ball of the season allowed Gurriel to move to third. It brought the infield in, and both scored on Semien’s double.

Tim Mayza pitched a spotless seventh. In the eighth, Tyler Chatwood walked Mullins and Galvis. Mancini struck out and a single by Mountcastle scored Mullins.

Tayler Saucedo replaced Chatwood and gave up a single to Santander that scored Galvis.

Hays’ double scored Mountcastle and Santander to tie the score at 5.

“Hays came up big in that situation for us,” Mullins said. “I know he’s had some struggles, but he’s been working his tail off to get his swing the way he wants it to be, and it showed today.”

Notes: John Means bobbleheads will be given to the first 15,000 fans 15 and over on August 21st. … Keegan Akin (0-3, 6.42 ERA) will face Hyun Jin Ryu (6-4, 3.25) on Saturday at 3:07 p.m.

Minor Matters: Kyle Bradish struck out 10 in five innings in Triple-A Norfolk’s 6-2 win over Gwinnett. Bradish allowed two runs on three hits and walked three.

Rightfielder Yusniel Diaz had three hits, including his second home run. Centerfielder Ryan McKenna hit a leadoff homer, his sixth, and second baseman Ramón Urias drove in three runs. Urias had a two-run homer, his fourth.

Mike Baumann gave up seven runs, six earned, on three hits in 2 1/3 innings as Double-A Bowie lost to New Hampshire, 10-8. It was their seventh straight loss. Baumann (0-2) has an 8.64 ERA in six starts for the Baysox.

Designated hitter Kyle Stowers had a three-run home run, his first since joining Bowie on Tuesday. First baseman Patrick Dorrian had a two-run homer, and third baseman Toby Welk also homered.

Drew Rom allowed one run on five hits in six innings in High-A Aberdeen’s 3-2 loss to Rome. The IrionBirds were held to two hits.

TT Bowens hit a three-run home run in the first inning, leading Low-A Delmarva to a 6-3 win over Fredericksburg. Bowens, a first baseman who signed with the Orioles as an unsigned free agent last summer, hit his fourth home run and drove in a fourth run in the second inning on a bases-loaded walk.

Ryan Watson (3-1) pitched five scoreless innings in relief. He allowed four hits and struck out seven without walking a batter.

Right-hander Tyler Joyner was transferred from Bowie to Norfolk. Right-handers Xavier Moore and Shelton Perkins have been promoted from Delmarva to Aberdeen.

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