BALTIMORE–What happened? On a historic day in Orioles history, the team played one of the uglier games of the season. Earlier in the day, the team announced that rookie catcher Samuel Basallo signed an eight-year contract for a reported $67 million.
Basallo, who’d played four games before he signed the contract, wasn’t in Friday night’s starting lineup. Interim manager Tony Mansolino said Basallo was tired after getting up early to take his physical.
After being introduced to the crowd early in the game, Basallo was used as a pinch-hitter, striking out to end the seventh. He struck out again in the ninth.
Oriole starter Cade Povich allowed six runs and made a critical throwing error in a four-run fourth as the Orioles lost to the Houston Astros, 10-7, before 24,224 at Camden Yards on Friday night.
The Orioles (59-69) lost for the second straight night to the Astros (71-58). After trailing 7-3, they made it closer, though they never caught up.
In the third, Houston scored the four with the help of two Oriole errors. Povich walked Mauricio Dubón. Cam Smith reached on an error by third baseman Luis Vázquez. Chas McCormick’s bunt was thrown into right field by Povich, with Dubón scoring. Jeremy Peña hit a three-run homer to give the Astros a 4-0 lead
After the Orioles scored three in the fourth against Houston starter Lance McCullers, the Astros scored three in the fifth for the 7-3 lead.
Povich (2-7) walked Carlos Correa and Jose Altuve singled. Christian Walker hit a three-run home run against Yennier Cano.
Povich allowed six runs, four earned, on four hits in 4 2/3 innings.
“I could have made some better pitches in certain situations,” Povich said. “I think early on, I was falling behind a little too much. I was able to work my way back and then with the home run, I worked myself into a full-count situation. Don’t want to [give up] a walk and load the bases. Obviously, I don’t want to give up a home run, either. Trying to make a pitch, a good pitch in the zone. It was in the zone, just not a good pitch.”
The Orioles left five runners on base in the first two innings against McCullers and didn’t score.
In the fourth, an RBI single by Alex Jackson and two-run double by Jeremiah Jackson cut the Astros’ lead to 4-3.
After the Orioles loaded the bases in the sixth on singles by Dylan Beavers, Vázquez and Jackson, Beavers and Vázquez scored on infield outs.
Colton Cowser’s 10th home run, his first since July 28th, in the seventh cut the lead to 7-6. But the Orioles wouldn’t get any closer.
Houston tacked on three runs in the eighth on a two-run double by Victor Caratini and a double to right by Peña for a 10-6 lead.
Vimael Machin, added to the roster when Jordan Westburg landed on the injured list with a sprained right ankle, homered to right, leading off the eighth, in his first major league game in nearly three years.
Machin was the first Oriole to homer in his initial at-bat with the team since Keon Broxton on May 24th, 2019.
“I don’t even know how to explain it, to be honest,” Machin said. “But all I wanted to do was get a good pitch to hit, obviously, and do damage. It’s been since 2022, I believe, so being back here, I’m not gonna lie, I was kind of nervous on deck. That’s why I had that plan going. Just try to be as early as I can and put a good swing on.”
Gunnar Henderson and Ryan Mountcastle singled with two outs, but Houston’s Bryan Abreu struck out Cowser on a called third strike.
In the ninth, Coby Mayo was hit in the right hand by Abreu, who recorded his second save, but X-rays were negative.
The Orioles were 3-for-14 with runners in scoring position and left 11 on base.
What’s wrong with Cano? Cano’s ERA is now 5.56 after the home run by Walker.
“That one was a little frustrating,” Mansolino said. “We have so much faith in him. The people who have been here over the years, we’ve got a lot of faith in him. We’ve seen him so good, and you kind of see him in Boston, that last game, and get through that 11th inning and get that big double-play ball.”
Cano didn’t allow an earned run in his first 12 appearances this season. Since then his season has gone south.
“He’s one of the guys when there’s a big spot, that he’s one of the first names in that bullpen that we think about,” Mansolino said. “And then in that spot right there, you have to give credit to Walker. That’s a proven big league hitter, obviously, and he’s done that a lot. Just an unfortunate result right there for us and for Yenny.”
What does it mean? The Orioles won three straight series against Seattle, Houston and Boston, all playoff contenders. They won’t win a fourth but will try to get a split against the Astros if they win the final two games of the series.
What’s the stat of the day? Machin was the 63rd player used by the Orioles, setting a team record.
What’s the word? “Any time you have two guys that can catch at a high level on a big league team, you have a massive advantage over teams that don’t.”–Mansolino on why Basallo and Adley Rutschman can play on the same team.
What’s going on in the minor leagues? In a rehab assignment, Albert Suárez pitched five scoreless innings, allowing two hits as Triple-A Norfolk beat Charlotte, 4-1.
Jordyn Adams homered.
Austin Overn had three hits and Reed Trimble drove in two runs as Double-A Chesapeake beat Richmond, 5-3.
Baysox infielder Aron Estrada was placed on the injured list with a right quad injury.
High-A Aberdeen was held to one hit in its 3-0 loss to Brooklyn.
Raylin Ramos drove in three runs and Wehiwa Aloy hit his first professional home run as Single-A Delmarva beat Kannapolis, 4-2.
What’s next? Dean Kremer (9-9, 3.97) will face Cristian Javier (1-1, 3,38) on Saturday night at 7:05.
Call for questions: Most weekdays, I’ll be answering at least one Orioles question. Please send yours to: Rich@BaltimoreBaseball.com