BALTIMORE- What happened? The Chicago White Sox will likely end the season with the worst record in modern baseball history, but the Orioles can’t relax against them.
For the last two games, they haven’t, and they’ve outscored Chicago 22-3. On Tuesday night, the Orioles capitalized on White Sox mistakes. Chicago pitchers walked nine, and six scored in a 9-0 Orioles win.
Combined with the New York Yankees’ 7-4 loss to Texas, the Orioles regained a 1/2 game lead in the American League East. It’s the first time the Orioles have led since August 20th.
Three runs scored when third baseman Miguel Vargas collided with leftfielder Andrew Benintendi. Vargas left the game with a right-eye abrasion.
Cade Povich threw 7 1/3 shutout innings, allowing just five hits, striking out 10 without walking a batter. It was the longest Povich had pitched in his professional career.
After two innings, the Orioles led by seven, and Povich could cruise.
“I mean, offense gets out to a huge lead and it just lets me kind of relax, go back to the game plan, really focus on what I need to do,” Povich said. “And just continue to have their back like they had mine.”
Is it difficult to play a bad team? The White Sox are 31-109 and have lost 12 straight and 42 of 46. To avoid surpassing the 40-120 mark of the 1962 Mets, Chicago must finish 12-10.
“We’ve got to understand, aside from what’s going on over there, that’s a major league team,” Ryan O’Hearn said. “Anybody can jump up and bite you. We’ve just got to go about our business the way we do every day, no matter who we’re playing. I think our guys did a really good job of that tonight, pretty clean defensively. Great at-bats all night. Povich really threw the ball well, and then Burch [Smith] and Craig [Kimbrel] came in and shut it down. That’s what you’ve got to do, no matter who you’re playing.”
The Orioles have won three straight for the first time since July 14th-20th.
After Wednesday’s game, the Orioles have 15 straight against Boston, Tampa Bay, Detroit and San Francisco, teams currently not in the playoff picture.
“We don’t look at it that way,” O’Hearn said. “We treat every game the same no matter who we’re playing. Every win, obviously, matters at this point and we’re chasing down the East. It doesn’t matter who you’re playing, you’ve got to find a way to win.”
Manager Brandon Hyde was pleased that his team used those mistakes to their advantage.
“We had a lot of traffic, and I thought we did a nice job of not expanding the strike zone,” Hyde said. “Walked a ton. Nine walks. Did a nice job not trying to do too much and took advantage of some walks.”
How good was Povich? Povich showed marked improvement from his last start, when he allowed five runs on 10 hits in five innings against the Los Angeles Dodgers on August 29th.
A start like this, even against an opponent not in the same class with the Dodgers, can boost his confidence.
“I think it’s really good, obviously,” he said. “Stuff we worked on has kind of been working, but then to see kind of everything come together and execute as one is really good.”
Hyde thinks it might help Povich’s confidence.
“I hope so,” Hyde said. “It’s all about command with Cade, because he’s got life to his fastball and he’s got secondary, and when he can work ahead in the count and be unpredictable, move the ball in and out the way he did, keep guys off balance, he’s capable of pitching deep into the game. And he showed that tonight.”
Hyde pinpointed the key to his success.
“Command. Really good command of the changeup,” he said. “A lot of fastballs for strikes. Dumped some nice curveballs in there also. But pretty much the best command we’ve seen him have since he’s been with us this year. Totally in control, and great to see him work ahead of hitters the way he did. We got a lead for him and he filled up the strike zone. So, awesome to see him go into the eighth inning there.”
The big lead and low pitch count allowed Povich to pitch into the eighth.
“I think really whenever you’re working efficiently, close game or you have a big lead like that, it’s kind of something that is in your mind,” Povich said. “You always want to go deep into games. I think, as pitchers, if we could go nine every single game, we’d like to. I guess that’s more of an old-school kind of mindset nowadays. But being able to play almost an entire game is pretty cool.”
How closely is Hyde following the standings? If all went well for the Orioles, they could clinch a playoff spot as early as September 11th. Hyde wasn’t aware of that but knows the ins and outs of the pennant race.
“Not clinching, but I’m looking at the standings, though,” he said. “Looking to see what other people do. I watched the Yankees game [Monday] night. The teams that are leading or in wild-card contention in the American League, I’m following what they’re doing. I’m not doing the math, yet, but definitely interested in what’s happening, generally around baseball, but specifically with us.”
What is the latest on Coby Mayo? Coby Mayo wasn’t in the lineup for the second straight game. He started Sunday in Colorado, after he was recalled from Triple-A Norfolk and was 1-for-2.
In his two stints with the Orioles, Mayo is 2-for-19 (.105) in eight games and has played at home only once. Hyde wasn’t definitive about Mayo’s role.
“I think a little bit of third, possibly a little bit of first, if we face a left-hander,” Hyde said. “He’s played a little bit of first in Triple-A. I’m having him get some work out there today if he goes in for [Ryan] O’Hearn, maybe late in thew game.
“We’re facing quite a few right-handers. [Emmanuel] Rivera has played really, really well, and he’s an excellent defensive third baseman. He had a nice game [Monday]. I liked how he swung the bat. I’m going to pick my spots with Coby.”
What does it mean? The Orioles hope their play over the last three days enables them to play more consistently than they did in July and August.
What’s the word? “Just being confident, obviously, but it helped out just being able to relax. Really just staying grounded with everything we’ve been working on.”-Povich on his stronger start.
What’s the stat of the day? 0. The Orioles threw their eighth shutout of the season, and their first since July 2nd.
What’s going on in the minor leagues? Justin Armbruester (4-10) allowed four runs on six hits in five innings in Norfolk’s 4-2 loss to Charlotte. First baseman TT Bowens and third baseman J.D. Davis homered.
Double-A Bowie was held to three hits in its 5-2 loss to Harrisburg.
In his first game with High-A Aberdeen, first baseman Ryan Stafford drove in two runs in a 6-5 win over Jersey Shore.
Outfielder Vance Honeycutt, the Orioles’ top draft choice, infielder Griff O’Ferrall, catcher Ethan Anderson and outfielder Austin Overn were also promoted from Single A-Delmarva.
The Shorebirds lost to Carolina, 11-3.
Catcher Adam Retzbach and infielder Carter Young moved from Aberdeen to Bowie.
Infielders Noelberth Romero and Anthony Servideo and right-hander Levi Stoudt moved from Bowie to Norfolk.
Bowie placed infielder Collin Burns on the 7-day injured list and infielder Luis Valdez moved from the Florida Complex League Orioles to Bowie.
Catcher Cole Urman moved from Aberdeen to Delmarva. Infielders Alfredo Velasquez, Steven Ondina and Edrei Campos moved from the FCL to Delmarva. Infielder Fernando Peguero moved from Norfolk to Delmarva.
What’s next? Albert Suárez (7-4, 3.14) will face Jonathan Cannon (2-9, 4.70) on Wednesday night at 6:35.
Call for questions: Most weekdays, I’ll be answering at least one Orioles question. Please send yours to: Rich@BaltimoreBaseball.com