SAN DIEGO–What happened? Kyle Bradish had an uneven second start post-Tommy John surgery on Monday, going only four innings against the San Diego Padres. The Orioles were fortunate that he was so efficient in his first start six days before when he breezed through six innings, striking out 10 without a walk, allowing two solo home runs on four hits.
In Bradish’s second start, he plodded through four innings, allowing two runs on four hits, walking two and striking out five, throwing 84 pitches, three more than he threw in two more innings in his first start.
“Obviously, that first start was a lot better,” Bradish said. “I felt like I was just battling command. I was getting ahead in counts and letting them back in or I was pitching behind in counts and letting them foul off a lot of balls. It’s a good hitting team. Obviously, I didn’t have my A stuff today, but I was able to battle through four, gave up two runs.”
Bradish did retire his final seven batters, perhaps setting up a better third start, which if the Orioles continue to use six starters, might not occur until September 9th since the Orioles have two offdays over the next week.
“I think every start from here until the end of the year is probably going to be up and down, learning a lot about where I’m at, just physically and mechanically after taking 14 months off, but I was pleased to be able to grind through that, only giving up two runs there,” Bradish said.
Interim manager Tony Mansolino didn’t expect Bradish’s path back to be linear.
“We’ve seen it with a lot of guys coming back from surgery that he had, that there’s going to be days where the command isn’t quite there,” Mansolino said. “It’s usually the last thing to come … I do think we are going to cruise at times and I think there’s going to be a couple hiccups along the way, and I think that’s pretty normal.”
On Tuesday, Tyler Wells, who also had right elbow surgery last June, will make his first start in nearly 17 months. The Orioles would be ecstatic if he could throw six innings as Bradish did last week.
“I’m real excited. I think he’s going to come out and throw the ball well,” Bradish said. “He’s had a long rehab journey, just like me, and being able to go through it, I’ll be excited to watch.”
What happened in the game? Dylan Beavers’ seventh-inning RBI single scored Jeremiah Jackson, and the Orioles beat the Padres, 4-3, before 45,586 at Petco Park.
It was just the third win in their last 12 games for the Orioles (62-76).
Jackson, who had three hits, singled with one out again Jason Adam. Gunnar Henderson’s hit skipped past Adam (8-4), who suffered a ruptured left quad tendon and was taken off the field with a cart.
Beavers’ two-out single put the Orioles ahead, 4-3.
Samuel Basallo hit a two-run double against San Diego starter Dylan Cease in the second, giving the Orioles a 2-0 lead. The Padres tied it in the bottom of the second against Bradish on RBI singles by Bryce Johnson and Luis Arraez.
Jackson’s third home run gave the Orioles a 3-2 lead in the top of the fifth, and Dietrich Enns’ throwing error in the fifth led to the game-tying run.
Enns (2-2) allowed the unearned run on two hits in 2 1/3 innings.
Rico Garcia retired each of the five batters he faced in the seventh and eighth. Keegan Akin threw a scoreless ninth for his fourth save.
What’s Mansolino’s strategy with Bradish and Wells? With Bradish and Wells working consecutively, it could put strain on the ever-evolving bullpen.
Mansolino has nine relievers with Albert Suárez’s addition. He used three — Enns, Garcia and Akin — leaving six available for Wells’ start.
“You know, that’s kind of the reason we’ve set up the ‘pen with Suárez having some length, Dietrich Enns having some length, just because with these guys coming back there’s going to be days where they don’t have the best command and that’s OK,” Mansolino said.
He again improvised his way to the win.
“We hung in there, man. Listen, we’re just trying to piece this together,” Mansolino said. “There’s gonna be days where it works and there’s gonna be days where it doesn’t. We’ve got guys kind of pitching up in terms of like roles they’re throwing and today it worked out. I’m proud of the guys. They did awesome, and we were kind of due for a good one, so happy for that.”
Mansolino didn’t choose Enns as his long man in advance.
“We were open to anything, but just with kind of where the things landed and how the lineups were structured, it kind of landed on Enns today,” Mansolino said. “I thought he did a wonderful job. Wasn’t [pre]determined … Just kind of worked out that way and we’re set up tomorrow with Albert.”
What does it mean? With 24 games to play, Bradish most likely has four more starts, and they’ll be vital in preparing him for next season
What’s the stat of the day? All four runs were driven in by rookies, two by Basallo and one each by Beavers and Jackson.
“They knocked in all the runs today, which was pretty cool,” Mansolinos said.
What’s the word? “Professionally, this is the best I’ve felt. The mechanics are there. I think the main part is just competing in the box and not trying to do too much and just try to do my job and help the team win.”-Jackson on his hitting.
What’s next? Tyler Wells will make his season debut on Tuesday night against Yu Darvish (3-4, 5.66) at 9:40.
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