Orioles can’t keep pace in wild-card race, get shut out for 8th time in 5-0 loss to Athletics.
Orioles can’t keep pace in wild-card race, get shut out for 8th time in 5-0 loss to Athletics. A loss to the Oakland Athletics on a quiet Sunday represents one defeat out of 162 video games as the overarching essence of the situation.
In contrast, the month of September imbues each competition with a greater sense of importance, even when a winning sequence has already been secured with victories on Friday and Saturday.
Especially when these games are played against teams that are currently occupying the lowest possible position in their respective division.
Brandon Hyde, the supervisor, stated before the game, “today is really important, and I think everyone realizes it.” He did not want his players to be thinking ahead to the four-game series against the Toronto Blue Jays that will begin on Monday. This is a series that has a lot of bearing on whether or not they will make the playoffs.
There is no way to know for sure how much of an impact that game against the Blue Jays, who are currently sitting in the final wild-card slot in the American League, had on the Orioles’ mindset. But the loss to the Athletics by a score of 5-0 was lackluster enough to merit turning the page, even as it comes as a squandered opportunity to keep up with Toronto’s pace.
Sunday’s victory over the Pirates allowed the Blue Jays to complete a three-game sweep of a team that is now in last place in their division. That opportunity was blown by the Orioles, who now trail their division foe by a score differential of two and a half games.
It occurred in opposition to the right-handed pitcher Adrián Martnez, who was a rookie for Oakland and had by no means labored as far into a sport as he did on Sunday when he completed six innings in opposition to Baltimore. However, he was the one who allowed the run to score.
Martinez faced the most difficult challenge of his career in the first inning when runners were put in scoring position with one out thanks to a single by Adley Rutschman and a double by Anthony Santander. However, a ground ball hit by Rutschman that was fielded by Sheldon Neuse resulted in an out at the plate because Rutschman ran on contact.
After that, Gunnar Henderson, who had provided beginning pitcher Spenser Watkins earlier in the inning with two performances worthy of a highlight reel at second base, lined out to conclude the inning.
Martnez retired the next ten men he faced after Ramón Uras’s leadoff single to start the second inning. He did this by relying on a sinker-changeup combination, which resulted in four strikeouts and soft contact from the batters.
This streak came to an end when Jorge Mateo reached on an error with two outs in the sixth inning. Despite the fact that Mateo had just stolen base number thirty, which would place him in first place in the American League, Martinez finished his outing by getting catcher Robinson Chirinos to leave the game. Throughout the six shutout innings, Martinez allowed three hits and walked two batters.
In the meantime, Watkins had a difficult start for the second game in a row. Watkins allowed five runs over the course of four and two-thirds innings while pitching for Cleveland on Tuesday.
This marked the most runs allowed by Watkins since he returned from the disabled list in June. In seven of these 11 outings, he limited the opposition to two runs or fewer on the scoreboard.
However, Watkins allowed four runs throughout the course of his six innings of work on Sunday. And despite the fact that the output was not the kind that ought to put an offensive to rest, that is precisely what happened.
After Martinez allowed Uras to reach base with a single in the second inning, Baltimore got five more runners on base throughout the rest of the game. The two runs were scored in the ninth inning, with Anthony Santander hitting a single and Uras reaching on an error before left-handed reliever A.J. Puk shut the door.
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Around the horn
Right-handed pitcher Tyler Wells participated in a bullpen session at Camden Yards on Sunday in order to prepare for the next stage of his rehabilitation process from a strained pectoral muscle that he sustained in July. When he does return, Wells has declared that he is willing to accept a job with fewer responsibilities if that is what is necessary.
Wells made the following statement: “The beginning rotation has done an absolutely wonderful job.” “I can’t tell you how proud I am of those guys. If they make the decision to put me in the bullpen in the end, then I will accept it. I’d be thrilled to be of assistance to those gentlemen as well. They have been carrying out a great deal of responsibility this year. I am willing to assist in any way that they deem necessary in order to make a push for the wild card.
On Sunday, right-handed pitcher Mike Baumann was added to the taxi squad in preparation for a possible start in Monday’s doubleheader against the Toronto Blue Jays.
According to Baseball America, Baumann is listed as the twenty-second top prospect for Baltimore’s organization. In his most recent 16 innings pitched for Triple-A Norfolk, he has only allowed two earned runs on the scoreboard. Hyde has indicated that he will consult with right-hander Jordan Lyles to determine whether he wants to start the first or second game.
Game 1
BLUE JAYS@ORIOLES
Monday, 1:05 p.m.
TV: MASN
Radio: 97.9 FM, 101.5 FM, 1090 AM
Game 2
BLUE JAYS@ORIOLES
Monday, TBD
TV: MASNRadio: 97.9 FM, 101.5 FM, 1090 AM
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