BALTIMORE- What happened? The Orioles left five runners on in the second and third innings and trailed the Tampa Bay Rays, 2-0. In the fourth, Emmanuel Rivera and James McCann singled with two outs, and Gunnar Henderson drove the ball deep to center field, where Tampa Bay’s Jose Siri made a spectacular leaping catch at the wall to take away a home run from Henderson.
Henderson tipped his batting helmet and then slammed it to the ground. It symbolized the Orioles’ frustration.
After that play, they had just two hits, a fifth-inning single by Anthony Santander and Cedric Mullins’ sixth-inning home run. The Rays kept adding on to their lead and won, 7-1.
With the New York Yankees’ 2-0 win over the Chicago Cubs, the Orioles fell ½ game behind New York in the American League East.
Zach Eflin, winner of his first five starts with the Orioles, allowed three runs on eight hits in 5 2/3 innings. Yandy Diaz and Taylor Walls homered against him, and Walls had an RBI single.
“We squandered a couple opportunities there early,” manager Brandon Hyde said. “And then Siri with a great catch on Gunnar for what would’ve been a three-run homer there. Just kind of a struggled all around today, honestly. We wasted opportunities offensively, and we made a mistake defensively and gave up too many runs.”
Tampa Bay added four runs in the last three innings. Two scored after Logan Driscoll grounded to first baseman Ryan O’Hearn, who threw wildly to reliever Matt Bowman, who was covering first.
Hey, Siri, how great was that catch? Siri’s catch might have been a game-changer.
“It was an unbelievable play,” Henderson said. “Obviously, wanted it to go over the fence, seeing how it was still a two-run ballgame.
“I wouldn’t say it changed the whole outcome, but it’s definitely not fun whenever a three-run homer turns into an out. Obviously, we could have had a lot more opportunities, but it definitely kind of halted the momentum.”
Hyde has seen Mullins make some outstanding catches for the Orioles, and this one went against him
“That was a heck of a play,” Hyde said. “Timed it, the ball was hit so high, he timed it really well and took three runs off the board from us.”
What does the offense have to do to heat up? After scoring 25 runs in their three-game winning streak, the Orioles’ offense has again fallen flat.
“I mean, yeah, we’re going out there and trying to battle and they’re making good pitches,” Henderson said. “They’re unbelievable pitchers out there. Trying to go out there and just trying to manufacture runs.”
Henderson can’t precisely say what the Orioles need to do.
“Just play ball,” he said. “There’s not really a secret formula. Just go out there and continue to play hard. It’s bound to flip around at some point.”
Hyde has repeatedly been asked about the Orioles’ offensive woes, and doesn’t have many new answers.
“I mean, we scored one run,” he said. “You’ve got to take advantage of opportunities there early to swing the game, get a little momentum going early. But just didn’t do it.”
Eflin has been with the Orioles for six weeks, and since he was traded from Tampa Bay on July 26th, they’ve gone 21-20.
“I think it’s just honestly maintaining positivity and showing up every day expecting to win a baseball game,” he said. “It’s really all we can control. There’s no lack of energy or effort or anything. It’s more so just getting the job done. I’m not worried at all. I think we’re going to be just fine.”
How did Eflin throw? Eflin didn’t pitch badly, and he wasn’t critical of his performance.
“I felt like for the most part the stuff was good,” Eflin said. “Maybe command of the pitches was a little off. But for the most part, they did well on my mistakes and kind of made me pay for those.”
Eflin hadn’t allowed multiple home runs since June 16th.
“I feel like both those pitches, they did what they should have with them,” Eflin said. “At the end of the day I kind of fell behind a lot of guys and I really just feel like I couldn’t hit the corners like I normally did. I kind of kept a lot of pitches thigh line, could have done a little better north and south. And they had a good approach against me today. They worked me. Tough day for us.”
What does it mean? The Orioles continue to fail to string together consistent offensive performances.
What’s the word? “They’ve got a Jose Siri in center field. He’s an incredible defender. And he kind of showed it off right there.”-Eflin on his former teammate’s catch
What’s the stat of the day? 4. The Orioles have scored just four runs in the last three games. They did win, 2-0, on Friday night.
What’s going on in the minor leagues? Heston Kjerstad was hitless in three at-bats for High-A Aberdeen in his first game of a rehab assignment in a 4-0 IronBirds loss to Jersey Shore.
Samuel Basallo homered in Triple-A Norfolk’s 8-4 win over Charlotte.
Cameron Weston (6-9) allowed two hits in six scoreless innings, striking out nine, in Double-A Bowie’s 3-1 win over Harrisburg.
Single-A Delmarva lost to Carolina, 18-4.
The Orioles re-signed utilityman Terrin Vavra to a minor league contract.
Infielder Noelberth Romero was assigned to Delmarva from Norfolk. Right-handed pitcher Juan De Los Santos was moved to Aberdeen from Delmarva.
What’s next? Corbin Burnes (13-7, 3.19) will face Zack Littell (5-9. 4.04) on Sunday at 12:05 p.m. The game will be seen exclusively on Roku.
Call for questions: Most weekdays, I’ll be answering at least one Orioles question. Please send yours to: Rich@BaltimoreBaseball.com