Two more Orioles returned from lengthy injuries in Petco Park on Tuesday night. Tyler Wells (1-0) and Albert Suarez returned to the mound following right UCL surgery and right shoulder strain, respectively. Making his first start in 508 days, Wells was the winning pitcher in a 6-2 defeat of the San Diego Padres (76-63) in front of a sell-out crowd (42,536) on Manny Machado basketball jersey night.
Wells, who threw 85 pitches (65 K’s) over 5.0 innings, allowed a pair of runs on 5 hits while striking out 5 to earn the win in the end. The two runs were a result of a two-run homerun off the bat of Luis Arraez in the third inning. Wells also navigated Southern California traffic in every inning except the first.
Happy with his performance, Wells had this to say after the game, “I was happy with the stuff, I was happy with the command. I was happy with the way that I competed. I think that it was a lot of fun. I told Laureano before the game, I was like, ‘We’re gonna have some fun tonight.’ And yeah, he sure had fun tonight. But yeah, I think it was a lot of fun just being able to go out there and compete, especially with them being a playoff-caliber team. I think that’s just kind of the icing on the cake.”
Wells got by with a little help from his friends
The offensive support that Wells received came from two sources: Jeremiah Jackson and Emmanuel Rivera.
What more can be said about J Jackson? He wasted no time in extending his hitting streak to thirteen games with a first inning homerun to left field, his fourth of the season. Just as amazing as the hitting streak is, Ramon Laureano‘s Spider-Man like attempt to corral the homerun is just as amazing.
During the streak Jackson is producing a .333/ .367/ .614 slash line with 2 doubles, 4 homeruns, 9 runs scored, 13 RBI and 3 walks, all while splitting time in the field at right field and third base as well as at designated hitter.
Jackson (1 for 4, R, 2 RBI) knocked in what proved to be the winning run with a groundout to short with runners on second and third and one out in the eighth.
Rivera hit a pair of 2-RBI singles in 5 at-bats, one in the third inning and one again in the fifth. The four RBI tied his career high.
Six RBI by two players were all that was needed to secure the win.
The bullpen does it again
Four relievers covered the final 4.0 innings with the only hiccup coming from Kade Strowd who walked the bases loaded with a ground ball forceout and wild pitch sprinkled in. Rico Garcia ended that seventh inning threat by striking out Arraez and by inducing a Machado forceout to short.
Shawn Dubin allowed a hit in the sixth inning, the only Padres hit off of the bullpen.
Shut the door
Suarez pitched the last two innings of the night in his return and needed just 22 pitches (14 K’s) to retire six batters, striking out one who ironically enough was Laureano.
Just like as in Kyle Bradish‘s return, the key to their returns will be how Wells and Suarez feel and recover over the next few days.
Three other Orioles’ hitters, Jackson Holliday, Ryan Mountcastle and Colton Cowser, joined Rivera by recording two hits in the game.
2025 Record: 63-76
Next Game: Wed. 9/3 @ 4:10 pm vs. Padres in San Diego