In what may have been excitement driven hyperbole, Minnesota’s radio broadcaster said “Lopez is human” following Byron Buxton’s 9th inning, 1 ball 2 strike, walk-off 2 run homerun off Jorge Lopez (0.0 IP, 2 H, 2 R). The homerun eas the first given up by Lopez in 2022 and it tagged him with not only a blown save but the 3-2 loss as well.
The runs were the first surrendered by Lopez in a month and the first earned runs he has allowed in six weeks.
Spenser Watkins started and gave the Orioles a quality start; the first inning, however, did not indicate how the start would go. Watkins threw 29 pitches in the first and surrendered 1 run on 3 hits. Were it not for an outfield assist by Ryan McKenna (throwing out Carlos Correa at home), the inning could have been worse. Watkins proceeded to retire the next 15 batters he faced to finish with a line of 6.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 5 K, 70 pitches (52 strikes) and a no-decision.
McKenna also made a diving catch in the sixth inning and scored the then go-ahead run in the eighth and finished the night 1 for 3 with a double and a run scored.
Jorge Mateo went 0 for 2 with a run scored, 1 RBI and a walk.
Cedric Mullins went 1 for 4 with a double and 1 RBI.
Manager Brandon Hyde was ejected after the to of the third inning for arguing what he called a “disrespectful exchange” between the Orioles bench and home plate umpire Ramon De Jesus.
2022 Record: 35-43
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