Wei-Yin Chen allowed a two-run homer in the 6th inning, but otherwise shutdown the Royals, but the bullpen was lit up for six runs in a 8-2 loss to the Royals.
Orioles Lineup vs LHP Mike Montgomery (2-2, 2.65)
- Jose Iglesias – SS
- Andrew Velazquez – 3B
- Austin Hays – CF
- Renato Nunez – 1B
- Pedro Severino – DH
- Dwight Smith Jr. – LF
- Anthony Santander – RF
- Bryan Holaday – C
- Hanser Alberto – 2B
Starting Pitcher – Wei-Yin Chen (0-0, 0.00)
The Orioles started off the scoring in the bottom of the 3rd when Hanser Alberto smacked a one-out double off Royals starter Mike Montgomery and then scored when Jose Iglesias followed up with a double of his own to make it 1-0.
Montgomery and Orioles starter continued their pitching duel through five innings with Chen shutting out the Royals on just four hits.
In the top of the 6th though, the Royals got to Chen with a single and then a two-run homer by new Orioles killer Hunter Dozier to make it 2-1 Royals. The Royals end up loading the bases later in the inning by Chen gets escapes with down just 2-1. Chen would end up throwing 102 pitches, allowing just the two run homer in six innings of work in his debut.
Manager Brandon Hyde, short on pitching with Castro, Fry and Givens unavailable, went to Cole Sulser to start the 7th. Sulser put two guys on but also two outs, but with left handed hitting Ryan O’Hearn coming up, he decided to bring on new Orioles lefty Robbie Erlin. Erlin though didn’t get the job done when O’Hearn smacked a two-run triple to extend the lead to 4-1.
In the bottom of the 8th, 3B Andrew Velazquez hit his fourth home run of the season to make it 4-2. The Orioles would threaten some more, but Pedro Severino hit into a 6-4-3 double play to take the air out of the inning.
The Royals though weren’t done when Jorge Solar led off the top of the 9th when he smacked a Erlin fastball into the seat for a 5-2 lead. The Royals then went about teeing off on Erlin who Hyde left out there to take a beating since his bullpen was already short. The Royals ended the inning up 8-2 and well on the way to smoking the Orioles once again.
The Orioles have now lost 11 of their last 12 games.
Orioles Player of the game: Wei-yin Chen (6IP, 5Ks, 2ER)
Minor League Highlights
Norfolk win 1-0 (8-11)
Bruce Zimmermann (3.95) tossed six shutout innings allowing two hits and three walks while striking out six. SS Jose Rondon went 2-for-4 with a double and triple while scoring the only run of the game.
Bowie win 3-2 (11-8)
Mickey Jannis (6.43) allowed two runs on eight hits and two walks in 5.2 IP. He struck out six. C Martin Cervenka went 2-for-3 with a 2B and HE to lead the offense.
Keys win 12-7 (8-11)
Robert Neustrom (.275) went 4-for-5 with a 2B, 3-run HR and six RBIs to lead the offense. Adley Rutschman (.328) went 2-for-5 with a double. Adam Hall (.238) went 3-for-4 as well.
Delmarva won 8-2 (7-13)
Clay Fisher (.281) went 4-for-5 with 3 RBIs to lead a 15-hit attack. Five other hitters had two-hit games.
Orioles moves
After the game, Cole Sulser was optioned to AAA Norfolk and RHP Glenn Sparkman was recalled.
