Bo Bichette hit a grand slam in the top of the 15th inning off Hector Velazquez and the Orioles failed to score at least one run for six straight innings from the 9th on as they fall for the 8th straight time.
Orioles Moves
The Orioles DFA’s infielder Pat Valaika and promoted C Bryan Holaday.
Orioles Lineup vs LHP Hyun-Jin Ryu (3-1, 5.20)
- Hanser Alberto – 2B
- Andrew Velazquez – LF
- Austin Hays – CF
- Renato Nunez – 1B
- Pedro Severino – DH
- Bryan Holaday – C
- Anthony Santander – RF
- Jose Iglesias – SS
- Rio Ruiz – 3B
Starting Pitcher – Wade LeBlanc (0-2, 5.20)
Well what do you know, two batters into the game and the Blue Jays jumped on Wade LeBlanc and the Orioles 1-0 with a triple followed by a double. After two strikeouts, Travis Shaw hit a two-run homer to make it 3-0 before the Orioles even get to bat.
In the 3rd inning, the Blue Jays picked up three hits but a great throw from Austin Hays to cut a runner down at the plate kept the game 3-0. In the 4th though, Teoscar Hernandez connected on a 439 ft home run with a runner on to make it 5-0.
In the bottom of the 4th, after being no-hit for 3.2 IP, Renato Nunez hit a two-out solo home run (4) to right to cut the lead to 5-1.
In the bottom of the 5th the Orioles used two singles and error by the center fielder to put runners on 2nd and 3rd and no outs. A ground out scored one then a solid single by Rio Ruiz scored the other to cut the lead to 5-3.
The Blue Jays got another homer off LeBlanc in the 6th to expand the lead to 6-3 and Hyde went to Miguel Castro.
In the bottom of the 6th, the Orioles got going again when Nunez led off with a single then was doubled home by Pedro Severino to cut the lead to 6-4. A single and sacrifice fly by Jose Iglesias cut the score to 6-5.
Despite two two-out singles, Castro got through the 7th scoreless. In the bottom of the 7th, with (surprise) two outs, Austin Hays crushed a pitch over the left field fence to tie the game at 6-6 with his 8th home run of the year.
In the 8th, with two of the three batters coming up being lefties, Brandon Hyde went to Richard Bleier. Bleier got the first lefty, but allowed a single then a double to the left handed batter that scored the go ahead run. Another terrible performance by Bleier who can'[t seem to get anyone out. Hyde walked slowly to the mound and took out the ineffective lefty and brought in Hunter Harvey to try and keep it a one run game.
Harvey faced one batter who grounded over near first but as Harvey went to cover, he seemed to come up lame. He got the batter out, but Hyde had to take him out of the game and bring in Mychal Givens. Givens struck out the only batter he faced to keep it 7-6.
In the bottom of the 8th, the Orioles made things exciting by C Bryan Holaday singled and then moved to second when pinch hitter Chris Davis drew a walk. Against left-handed reliever Jarlan Garcia, Rio Ruiz lined a two-out single to right field bringing in a hustling Holaday to tie the game 7-7.
In the top of the 9th, Givens struck out the first batter before Lourdes Gurriel lined a hard double off the center field wall that just missed going out. To make matter worse, Gurriel took off and stole 3rd putting a runner on 3rd and one out. Hyde brought the infield in with the dangerous Vlad Guerrero Jr. at the plate. Givens though dug in and got Guerrero to ground back to him for 1-2 putout to bring up number four hitter Randal Grichuk. Givens got ahead 1-2 and threw a great slider that froze Grichuk for a strikeout and the last out of the inning, keeping it 7-7.
The Orioles went 1-2-3 in the bottom of the 9th so Hyde went with LHP Paul Fry in the 10th. After allowing a one out double, a sacrifice fly put a runner on second with two outs so with right-handed batter Hernandez up, they intentionally walked him to bring up left -handed hitting Derek Fisher. Fry went right after him and on 0-2, got him to swing through a great slider to keep it 7-7.
The Orioles got one runner on in the bottom of the 10th when Dwight Smith Jr. walked with two outs, but he amazingly got picked off first to take it to the 11th.
Davis Hess came on in the 11th and set the Blue Jays down through two innings before the Blue Jays loaded the bases with one out in the 13th on a double, international walk and infield single. That Gurriel who lined a drive to right field, Anthony Santander moved over, caught the ball and fired a strike at home plate where Chance Sisco applied the tag for the out. What a throw and the game goes to the bottom of the 13th, 7-7.
With two out, in the bottom of the 13th Andrew Velazquez hit a long drive to right center that fell in and rolled to the wall, with an easy double that would have had the tie run on second base with Hays up next, Velazquez tried to stretch it into a triple and made the cardinal sin on making the 3rd out of the inning at third base.
Hyde went to his pen in the 14th, bringing in Hector Velazquez to face the 3-4-5 hitters. Velazquez was up to the task getting them 1-2-3 and sending it to the bottom of the 14th.
The Orioles though decided they weren’t going to even threaten to score again, went weakly once again taking it to the 15th,
In the 15th though, Velazquez wasn’t up to task when he loaded the bases, walked a run home to put the Blue Jays up 8-7, then served up a grand slam to put the Blue Jays up 12-7. Honestly, what did we expect? Did we expect a happy ending with this team? Did we expect them to get some great relief pitching, only be down to their last pitcher available and still win?
It took 5:27 and 15 innings, but the Orioles fall for the 8th straight loss. Honestly, if you get six chances to win with one run and can’t do it, you deserve to lose.
Orioles Player of the Game: David Hess (3 shutout IPs of relief)
After game roster moves
Needing pitching, the Orioles optioned Richard Bleier and Hector Velazquez to Norfolk. Corresponding moves will be announced before tomorrow’s game.
Minor League Highlights
Norfolk loss 5-12 (6-9)
Not satisfied to let the Orioles be the only team in the organization that can’t win, the Tides lost their 7th straight when Alex Wells (9.69) allowed six runs in 4.2 IP to continue his poor pitching. RF Yusniel Diaz (.326) went 1-for-3 with a home run and drove in three.
Bowie loss 5-2 (9-6)
Tom Eshleman (3-0, 0.78) allowed just one run over six innings with six strikeouts to lead the Baysox. C Martin Cervenka went 2-for-4 with his first home run of the year to lead the offense.
Keys won 6-0 (7-9)
Grayson Rodriguez (4.56) had his best start of the year, tossing seven shutout innings allowing just four hits and walk while striking out a season high nine. DH Seamus Curran (.308) went 2-for-2 wih two walks and LF Johnny Rizer (.310) went 2-for-5 with two RBI to lead the offense.
Delmarva loss 5-9 (5-11)
Conner Gillespie (6.89) allowed six runs in 4.2 IP. LF Zach Watson (.259) went 2-for-3 with two BBs, and a 3B to lead the offense.
Minor League moves
SP Tom Eshlman and RP Jordan Kipper were promoted to Norfolk AAA. SP Alex Wells was demoted to Bowie.
