BALTIMORE- What happened? After two lopsided wins over the Chicago White Sox, who are likely headed to the worst record in modern baseball history, the Orioles took a step backward on Wednesday, losing 8-1.
The White Sox had lost 12 straight and 42 of 46. Their record is 32-109, and they’ll have to finish 11-10 to avoid comparisons to the 1962 New York Mets, who were 40-120.
The Orioles scored on Gunnar Henderson’s leadoff homer in the first and not again, getting just seven hits as their three-game winning streak ended.
Though the Orioles lost badly, they remain ½ game ahead of the New York Yankees in the American League East with the Yankees’ loss to Texas.
Albert Suárez allowed six runs, giving up three home runs on six hits in 4 1/3 innings.
Nicky Lopez hit a leadoff home run. Andrew Vaughn and Dominic Fletcher also homered.
“Yeah, we won the series,” manager Brandon Hyde said. “When you win the first two, you definitely want to win the last one and so very disappointed in that. Gunnar got us off to a really good start there in the first, then an Adley [Rutschman] single and we didn’t score, but we got to swing the bat a little better than that.”
What was wrong with Suárez? In Suárez’s previous start, he threw a career-high seven innings at Colorado, but he was far less effective.
“I just thought it looked like they got to his offspeed stuff,” Hyde said. “Vaughn’s homer was a changeup and the homer right was, I think, a breaking ball down. But maybe coming off a seven-inning stint in Colorado, maybe he just wasn’t as sharp tonight.”
Suárez summed up the loss.
“Missing location. They were aggressive today,” he said. “They took advantage of that. Every time I’m behind in the count, I throw the ball in the strike zone, they swing aggressive, so I think that’s what was working for them today.”
The Orioles were looking for their first sweep since June 7th-10th.
“I mean, yeah, you always want to get the sweep, and you go out there and give 100,” Suárez said. “But sometimes things don’t work your way. For me, just stay positive.”
How special is Henderson’s season? Henderson’s 35th home run set the Orioles’ record for most by a shortstop in a season, passing Cal Ripken Jr. (1991) and Miguel Tejada (2004).
“It’s definitely something that I’m going to hold very dear to me,” Henderson said. “To pass those guys in something, in any type of Orioles history, is pretty special.”
Henderson had three of the Orioles’ seven hits, his 15th three-hit game of the season, and his first since August 11th.
“I feel like I’ve been making strides in the right direction,” he said. “Been working. Obviously, it’s a long season, so the body kind of wears down. But I feel like I’ve been making strides in the right direction, kind of feeling out my body and I feel like I’m making the right moves right now.”
For more than a month, Henderson batted third instead of first, but he’s batted leadoff in four of the past five games.
“I would say I’m pretty comfortable with it,” he said. “Pretty much done it the whole year. So, yeah, he’s just trying to get me going again and I’m just trying to help the team win.”
Henderson’s happiness with his team record was overshadowed by the disappointment of losing to the White Sox. “Don’t want to let any games slip away,” Henderson said. “Just go out there and keep playing hard and trying to win every game.”
What does it mean? The Orioles needed to sweep the worst team in baseball, but they couldn’t.
“We didn’t play good baseball tonight,” Hyde said. ”Offensively we didn’t put the ball in play enough. We just got beat. They played better than we did. They played with more energy, intensity. Their bats were better, and their starter — we didn’t do much against their starter.”
What’s the word? “You’re watching a game, and you’re probably like: ‘This would probably be my situation here.”-Danny Coulombe on the difficulty of being on the injured list.
What’s the stat of the day? 10. Henderson hit his 10th leadoff home run of the season. He’s two away from Brady Anderson’s 12 in 1996.
What’s going on in the minor leagues? In his second rehab assignment, Jacob Webb allowed four runs on two hits and a walk while retiring only one batter in Double-A Bowie’s 7-5 loss to Harrisburg. Webb, who threw 21 pitches, is on the injured list with right elbow inflammation.
Rightfielder Dylan Beavers drove in three runs with two home runs. He has 14. Catcher Creed Willems hit his third.
First baseman TT Bowens homered and drove in all three runs as Triple-A Norfolk lost to Charlotte, 4-3.
Vance Honeycutt, the Orioles’ top draft choice, was hitless in four at-bats in Single-A Aberdeen’s 6-2 loss to Jersey Shore.
Single-A Delmarva was held to five hits in its 4-0 loss to Carolina.
What’s next? After Thursday’s offday, the Orioles host the Tampa Bay Rays for three games, beginning on Friday at 7:05 p.m. Neither team has announced its starters.
Call for questions: Most weekdays, I’ll be answering at least one Orioles question. Please send yours to: Rich@BaltimoreBaseball.com