Orioles Report 8/29

Photo: Julio Cortez/ AP

One of the best week's of the season there performance wise, absolutely marred by the loss of All-Star closer Felix Bautista on Friday night. It was a devastating sight to see, one that I'm wishing looks worse than it is, but optimism is low. Pouring one out for ya Big Guy, let me know if there's anyway I can send my UCL over to you to help.

Let's get into more fun things though

Record since Last Orioles Report: 5-2

Overall Record: 82-49

Toronto Comes to Town for Three

Another quality start to kick off the Toronto series for Grayson Rodriguez. Three earned, eight hits and five K's over six innings aren't world-beating numbers, but it's certainly refreshing to see him continue to pitch effectively. 

The lineup matched the Jays' three runs, courtesy of doubles by Austin Hays and Jordan Westburg plus an error that plated Jorge Mateo. All knotted up through nine, the teams had to go to extras, where Michael Baumann did what he's been doing this month and melted. The reliever allowed three decisive runs to send our boys home with a 6-3 loss in the tenth. Baumann was optioned to Norfolk after the game in favor of Austin Voth.

Hell of a bounce back in the middle game though! Dean Kremer was locked in, outdueling Cy Young candidate Kevin Gausman with six shutout innings on the bump. Always nice when Good Dean's in the building. 

Ryan Mountcastle put the Orioles ahead 1-0 by plating Adley with a third inning single before Anthony Santander took his former teammate deep in the fifth to double the lead. The score stayed that way until Trevor Richards came in for Toronto in the eighth inning and got absolutely lit up. Santander went yard for the second time to lead things off, sparking a five run outburst for the Birds. Shoutout Cedric Mullins and Rutschman for their contributions to the big inning, providing a sac fly and two-RBI single. 7-0 Baltimore win.

Kyle Gibson hasn't been pretty these last few weeks, but that all changed Thursday night at Camden. Eight innings, three earned, six hits and eight strikeouts for the wily veteran, stymying the Blue Jays attempts to rally while giving the bullpen some much needed rest.

Photo: Kenneth Lam/ Baltimore Sun

Anthony Santander stayed scorching, launching a two run bomb in the fourth to tie things up at two apiece. Cedric Mullins added a two run dinger of his own the next inning, followed up by a Gunnar Henderson RBI single to build the lead up to three. More then enough with the way Gibson was pitching, and the best closer in baseball to slam the door in the ninth. 33rd save for Bautista as the Orioles take home a 5-3 win and the series.

Trio vs. the Rockies

Attended game one of this three game set on Friday night, my first of the season. And what a game it was! Modest start by Cole Irvin, getting hit harder the second time through the Rockies' lineup than the first, but still managing to navigate six frames. He was replaced by Shintaro Fujinami while trailing 4-3. 

Photo: Eutaw Street Report

Then it was Gunnar time. After a walk to Austin Hays with one out in the eighth, the future Rookie of the Year launched a go-ahead home run just over the scoreboard in right. Absolute rocket; props to my buddy Andy Thompson for calling it. It put the Orioles ahead by one, before possibly the worst development of the year. 

With one more strike needed for the win in the top of the ninth, Felix Bautista appeared to slip, or pull up when delivering, immediately prompting attention from the medical staff. He was quickly pulled from the game, without any visual attempts to stretch or give it a go. It's been confirmed as some degree of UCL injury, which feels like we've seen the last of him in 2023. Boy, what I'd give to be wrong...but I'm not holding my breath. 5-4 Baltimore victory, with a big blow on the way out the door.

Kyle Bradish is very good. After giving up just two earned with eight strikeouts over six, he found himself in position for a win after a Ramon Urías RBI groundout in the fifth was followed by a two-run Mountcastle double and another productive out from Austin Hays the following frame. Mr. Santander tacked on another in the seventh with a double, that ultimately ended up being essential insurance. 

Jacob Webb walked the first batter he faced in the eighth, allowing him to come in to score just one pitch later on an Elias Diaz double. DL Hall came in from there, allowing Diaz to score but preserving the lead. Yennier Cano was three up, three down in the ninth to seal the deal, earning his fifth save of the year. 5-4 Orioles.

If you told me Ty Blach would come into Camden Yards and allow one run on three hits over seven innings, I'd have asked what you were chopping lines of prior to the statement. But that's exactly what he did Sunday afternoon, stifling a previously hot O's lineup for much of the day. Cedric Mullins provided the early scoring on a solo dinger, but minimal action outside of that.

Jack Flaherty kept Baltimore in things though, despite the stagnant offense, surrendering just three earned to the Rockies in 5.2. The two run deficit was perfectly in reach for Ryan O'Hearn, who went yard in the eighth, to show a little life from the Birds' bats and tie things up at 3. 

Our hero Gunnar started off the ninth with an error on a tough play, throwing a bit wide of first on a slow roller, which spotted Colorado a runner at second with none down. That runner would end up scoring a few batters later on a Baltimore Chop that went just a little too high to make the play at the plate on. With no answer in the bottom of the frame, it was a 4-3 loss to wrap up the interleague series.

Game One vs. the ChiSox

Standing round of applause for Grayson Rodriguez. We're going to talk about him a little more below, but have a day! The kid took a perfect game into the fourth, ultimately giving up just one hit and a walk over six. A masterpiece. 

Photo: Julio Cortez/ AP

O'Hearn, Mountcastle and Ryan McKenna pitched in RBI singles throughout the game, with the latter scoring on a wild pitch as well. Then Anthony Santander did what he's done all week and parked a three run shot over the right field wall to put the Orioles ahead 9-0 late, really laying it on the lifeless White Sox.

Encouraging display from the bullpen too, particularly DL Hall and Fuji, who combined for 2.1 hitless, scoreless innings to slam the door. DL's seemingly built some momentum from Norfolk to the major league level over the last few weeks, would love to see him stay this sharp. 9-0 dub in game one.

Farm Report

-Norfolk had one of the more magical comeback victories you'll ever see Saturday night. The Tides found themselves trailing 11-1 going into the bottom of the third before erupting for six in the fifth, and then scoring at least once in every subsequent inning to pull off a miraculous 13-12 win

-Coby Mayo hit two home runs to help spark that run, posting a productive .286/2/8 line on the week

-Cade Povich bounced back from a previously tough outing, only giving up a solo home run over six innings while striking out seven

-Justin Armbruester was sharp the following evening, hurling five scoreless with six K's

-Tyler Wells allowed one hit and one walk in two shutout innings this week, looking more and more comfortable in the reliever role. He may end up being needed back with the big league club sooner than anticipated

-Dylan Beavers stays raking for the Baysox, going 8/19 plus four walks, raising his AA OBP to a stout .458

-Connor Gillispie recorded two scoreless, five inning starts against Erie to bookend the series, giving up nine cumulative hits while striking out that same number

-Trace Bright, Houston Roth, Kade Strowd and Nolan Hoffman combined for a three-hit shutout Saturday, only allowing five total base runners

-Really quiet week for Aberdeen at the plate, only collecting 29 hits and scoring just 18 times in their six games against Hudson Valley-- averaging out to 4.8 hits and 3 runs per game...not ideal. Elio Prado did have six of the knocks however, which we love to see

-Kyle Virbitsky earned his fifth win of the year Tuesday, tossing a dominant seven innings. He walked two and surrendered just one hit on the night

-Jake Lyons went four scoreless to notch a long save on Thursday, his second of 2023. It followed up a strong start from Juan Nuñez, who gave up just one run in four frames of his own

-Stiven Acevedo started the series against Lynchburg off with an explosive 4-4 day with 4 RBI at the plate, putting an exclamation point on the performance with a three run bomb

-Carter Baumler's moving back up the ladder, giving up just one run in a three inning relief stint for the Shorebirds. He struck out three and earned the decision win

-The local kid Jack Maruskin made a strong impression in his Delmarva debut, following up Baumler with two shut out innings and a pair of strikeouts

-Three more scoreless for Luis de León! The twenty year old lefty's ERA is down to a minute 0.82 at the Class-A level

Concluding Thoughts

Grayson Rodriguez: Since being recalled July 17th, he's had eight starts, going 2-1 with a 2.86 ERA, with 41 strikeouts compared to just 14 walks. Even though Monday night's dominant showing came against the crappy White Sox, majority of these starts have been against some of the best teams the league has to offer-- like the Dodgers, Blue Jays (twice), Astros, and Tampa. This is real ace stuff here folks, providing the Orioles a nasty 1-2 punch with Kyle Bradish. 

Boy, did it feel good taking the season series 10-3 over Toronto. For all the pundits gushing over their talented roster, they just couldn't hang with the upstart Orioles. The Blue Jays are slowly slipping out of the wild card race too, which is an amusing development. They feel like an undisciplined team that just can't get it done regularly enough. 

Vlad, Bichette, Gausman, Whitfield...they've all gotten theirs this year. But the sum of the parts has them sitting 2.5 out of the postseason hunt currently. Would be a shame if they missed out! 

Game two versus the White Sox tonight, 7:05. What do you say Dean?

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@Choppinglines

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