A Solid starting effort by Orioles starter JT Brubaker was ruined by a bullpen that gave up the lead then allowed the Royals to score two in the 11th for a 5-3 win.
Orioles Lineup vs LHP Danny Duffy (3-1, 4.05)
- Jose Iglesias – SS
- Andrew Velazquez – 2B
- Austin Hays – CF
- Renato Nunez – 1B
- Bryan Holaday – C
- Rio Ruiz – 3B
- Pedro Severino – C
- Anthony Santander – RF
- Hanser Alberto – 2B
Starting Pitcher – JT Brubaker (0-1, 8.10)
Well what do you know, the Orioles got on the board first as SS Jose Iglesias singled to lead off the game and LF Andrew Velazquez smacked a two-run homer to left to make it 2-0 before they recorded an out.
Orioles starter JT Brubaker was nails through four innings, striking out seven and allowing just two hits and a walk, but the Royals got to him in the top of the 5th when 1B Ryan McBroom led off the inning with a solo home run to cut the lead to 2-1. Brubaker ended up walking two more that inning, but struck out the last two batters to keep the score 2-1.
That would be the end of the night for Brubaker who took 100 pitches to strikeout nine, walk three and allow just one run over five innings of work. Manager Brandon Hyde brought in David Hess to start the 6th.
Hess, who has been solid in long relief, was not up the job as Hunter Dozier led off against him with a game tying home run to know things up at 2-2. He settled down and got the next three batters.
In the bottom of the 6th, the Orioles got the lead back when 1B Renato Nunez tee’d off on a Danny Duffy offering and placed it into the left field stands for his 5th home run of the year to make it 3-2.
Hunter Harvey was brought in to start the 8th to protect the one run lead, but after striking the first two batters out, Dozier smacked a long solo home run into the bullpens to tie the game up at 3-3. That’s the second game in a row Harvey has blown the lead. Harvey ended up striking out the side but that home run hurt.
After the Orioles offense went quietly in the 8th, Mychal Givens was brought in to start the 9th and he tossed a perfect frame, striking out ex-Oriole Mason Williams to end the inning and send the Orioles to the bottom of the 9th with a chance for their second straight walk off.
Ian Kennedy was brought in and he got pinch hitter Chance Sisco (Note: Sisco is 0-for-4 with 3Ks as a pinch hitter now) to fly out, then got the next two batters out though Rio Ruiz did hit one deep to left.
After needing just 10 pitches to get through the 9th, Givens came back out to pitch the 10th. With one out, Whit Merryfield singled and then tried to steal second, but Sisco actually threw him out, the first runner he’s thrown out in five attempts. Givens then gave up another single but got out of the inning with it 3-3.
In the bottom of the 10th, Dwight Smith Jr. led off with a double and was moved to 3rd on a ground out by Hanser Alberto. The Royals then brought Greg Holland to face Iglesias. He promptly struck Iglesias looking but walked Velazquez to bring up last night’s hero Austin Hays to the plate. Hays who was 0-for-3 with a walk and 13-game hitting streak on the line, stared in but Holland got ahead and then struck him out on a high fastball to send the game into the 11th.
Although he pitched 17 pitches yesterday, and 19 three days before, Hyde rolled the dice and brought in Miguel Castro to calm down Dozier and the two lefties coming up after. Castro looked like a worn out version of himself and walked Dozier, got a flyout, but gave up a double and walk to load the bases with Mason Williams coming up. Hyde went to the equally worn out Paul Fry but the Royals went ahead and brought in right-handed hitting Maikel Franco to pinch hit.
With the bases loaded and the infield drawn in, Fry got Franco to ground to Iglesias who fired to home for the force out before Sisco fired to first but was a hair late as Franco beat it out. That would prove to be huge as C Cam Gallagher lined single to right field to score to and give the Royals a 5-3 lead. Fry got Merryfield to fly out but the damage was done.
Holland looked like the old closer Holland and took care of the Orioles pretty quietly in the bottom of the 11th and there will be no late game heroics for the Orioles who fall in a heart breaker 5-3 to the Royals. The Royals have now beaten the Orioles all four times they’ve faced them this year, just like in 2014. Have I mentioned my despise of the Royals since that 2014 team got white hot just at the wrong time and knocking a perfectly World Series contending Orioles team out?
Orioles fall to 10-18, Hays loses his 13-game hit streak, Harvey blows a lead in the 8th, and the bullpen is pretty much completely shot and tired and in need of rain out or fresh arms.
Orioles Player of the game: JT Brubaker (5IP, 9Ks, 1ER)
Minor League Highlights
Norfolk win 3-1 (13inn) (7-11)
Dean Kremer (4.29) tossed five innings of one-hit shutout ball, walking two and striking out five. Yusniel Diaz (.316) went 2-for-6 including a walk off two-run homer in the 13th to lead the Tides to the win.
Bowie win 9-6 (10-8)
Ryan McKenna (.232) went 2-for-4 with a BB, and a two run homer to drive in five runs to lead the offense. Preston Palemiro (.271) hit his team leading 5th home run, a three-run shot as well. Kyle Bradish (7.13) allowed two runs over 4.2 IP spreading out five hits and three walks while striking out six.
Keys off (7-11)
Keys were off
Delmarva won 7-0 (6-13)
Griffin McLarty (5.50) tossed 4.1 shutout innings, striking out four. 1B Ben Breazeale went 1-for-3 with a double and two RBIs on his Shorebirds debut.
Orioles moves, trade and signings
The Orioles announced a host of moves after the game. Yhey signed veteran pitcher and former Orioles Wei Yin Chen to a minor league deal. The Orioles signed the veteran after he passed through waivers and was released by the Marines after two appearances in which he did not allow a run. Chen is expected to be added to the roster before tomorrow’s game and could replace either Tommy Milone of Kohl Stewart in the rotation. The Orioles designated Cody Carroll (7.20 ERA in AAA) to make room on the 40-man.
The Orioles also announced they have acquired LHP Robbie Erlin from the Pirates for 18-year old pitcher Jairo Vasquez (DSL last year). Erlin was added to the 26-man roster and Brady Rogers was DFA’d to make room.
