WASHINGTON- What happened? Cade Povich allowed a run on four hits in 6 2/3 innings and the Orioles scored two runs in the fifth inning as they broke a three-game losing streak with a 2-1 win over the Washington Nationals before 23,058 at Nationals Park on Thursday night.
The Orioles (10-14) won for the first time this season when scoring three or fewer runs. They had been 0-12.
Povich (1-2) allowed a one-out double to Amed Rosario in the second and a run-scoring single by Josh Bell. After that, he allowed just two singles until he was removed with two outs after Gunnar Henderson’s error at shortstop on Bell’s ground ball in the seventh.
Yennier Cano threw one pitch and retired Dylan Crews on a grounder to first. Gregory Soto retired the three batters he faced in the eighth.
Ramón Laureano, who is now 6-for-8 against Nationals starter MacKenzie Gore (2-3), doubled with one out in the fifth. Ryan O’Hearn’s single scored him, and after Jorge Mateo lined to shortstop CJ Abrams, Cedric Mullins’ single scored O’Hearn. The hit came on the ninth pitch of the at-bat.
“We’re just playing better baseball,” manager Brandon Hyde said. “We faced a really good starter tonight, and for O’Hearn to get a start against a left-hander and have a big base hit, Cedric Mullins, maybe the at-bat of the year for me. Just playing an incredible brand of baseball right now in every single facet. The way he spoiled pitches and got something to hit, a base hit up the middle. I’m so impressed with him and how he’s bringing it every day. A huge, huge hit for us.”
The Orioles had a tough start to their series. After losing 24-2 to Cincinnati on Sunday, they had just one hit against Mitchell Parker and the Nationals in a 7-0 loss on Tuesday night. While they lost 4-3 on Wednesday, Hyde lauded them for playing well.
On Thursday night, Félix Bautista recorded his third save, allowing an infield single to Kelbert Ruiz with one out in the ninth. Pinch-runner Nasim Nuñez stole second. Nathaniel Lowe grounded to second, and Rosario grounded to short to end the game.
“I was telling a couple of the guys that haven’t been here before that the last two games was more of the games we’ve played the last few years,” Hyde said. “Solid defense, we made one error, but for the most part solid defensively, good bullpen, a few timely hits. These guys are grinding right now. To get a win like that, it’s a boost for these guys.”
How good was Povich? Povich allowed one run on four his in 6 2/3 innings. He struck out five and walked one.
“That’s the best start I’ve seen him make,” Hyde said. “Just the command, how he got ahead of hitters, that was the key for me: 0-1 on so many guys, and it allowed him to expand the strike zone a little bit. One mistake to Bell, that was pretty much it on the evening. He just threw the ball so well.”
With so many starters hurt, Povich is getting an opportunity to stay in the rotation.
“For me to be the one, great, I guess. I’m not looking to be the sole guy or to be the hero,” Povich said. “Obviously, we’ve heard a lot about injuries in the past — last year, this year — it’s all about the next guy stepping up.
“This was my turn. Each start, I’m just trying to go out there and give our team the best chance to win, keep as many runs off the board as possible, allow our offense to work, and it worked out that way this time.”
Povich knows how difficult the last two series have been. Even though the Orioles lost two of three to Cincinnati and Washington, he feels he’s part of the solution.
“Obviously, we haven’t gotten the start that I think many of us would’ve wanted,” Povich said. “But to say we’re putting pressure on ourselves, obviously we want to turn things around, we want to be better. But it’s really just us trusting the process and continuing to trust who we have in this clubhouse, what we’re doing and just trying to stack days and continue being a group, one group together and kind of being a family.”
How can you keep this going? In the first four weeks of the season, the Orioles have played a fairly difficult schedule. Only two teams they’ve faced, Toronto and Kansas City, are below .500, and they’re just a combined three games below.
The Orioles will face lively arms in Detroit this weekend. Casey Mize, Jackson Jobe and last year’s unanimous Cy Young Award winner, Tarik Skubal, will pitch for the Tigers.
“I think today’s a big confidence builder, winning a close ballgame like this,” O’Hearn said. “We haven’t had too many like this this year. I think when you can hold on at the end there, and have Félix come in and get the big save and stuff like that, it just builds confidence for everybody. That’s what we need right now. Happy with the way we played tonight, take it to Detroit and do the same thing.”
What does it mean? After Wednesday night’s close loss, the Orioles needed a win, and they got it. Though they didn’t hit a home run in this series, and scored just five runs in three games, they seem to be playing better.
What’s the word? “Gunnar Henderson’s numbers are going to be there at the end of the year. Jordan Westburg’s numbers are going to be there. You’ve got to keep going. It’s a long, long season.”-Hyde on statistics.
What’s the stat of the day? The Orioles beat Gore, who was leading the majors in strikeouts, and they’re now 2-6 against left-handed starters.
What’s going on in the minor leagues? Centerfielder Jud Fabian hit his sixth home run, and first baseman Coby Mayo drove in two runs in Triple-A Norfolk’s 7-6 loss to Memphis.
Trace Bright allowed five runs on seven hits in 3 1/3 innings in Double-A Chesapeake’s 7-5 loss to Altoona.
Second baseman Frederick Bencosme hit a three-run home run. Shortstop Jeremiah Jackson had a two-run homer.
High-A Aberdeen had just three hits in its 2-1 loss to Wilmington.
Single-A Delmarva lost to Augusta 9-5 in 10 innings. The Shorebirds are 4-14.
Infielder Max Wagner, who left Tuesday’s game with left hamstring discomfort was put on the Baysox’s injured list. TT Bowens was transferred from Norfolk to Chesapeake.
What’s next? Brandon Young (0-0, 6.75) will face Casey Mize (3-1, 2.22) when the Orioles open a three-game series at the Detroit Tigers on Friday night at 6:40.
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