Baseball

Wells’ short start puts O’s in tough spot vs. Dodgers

BALTIMORE — After getting into the week as the most popular crew in baseball, the Orioles had been cooled off by the Nationwide League West-leading Dodgers the previous two nights at Camden Yards.

Might this be the collection wherein Baltimore is lastly on the flawed finish of a sweep?

The O’s haven’t been swept in any of their previous 69 multi-game collection, a run courting again to Might 13-15, 2022. They’ll attempt to preserve that streak intact on Wednesday afternoon by rebounding from a 10-3 loss on Tuesday.

Baltimore has been outscored 16-7 thus far within the set in opposition to Los Angeles.

Following a 6-4 defeat on Monday — which snapped the Orioles’ season-long eight-game win streak — Tyler Wells aimed to information the crew to a bounce-back win. As an alternative, the 28-year-old turned in an uncharacteristic transient outing.

Wells has been Baltimore’s most constant starter this season, as he went 5 or extra innings in every of his first 18 outings. However he lasted solely two frames on Tuesday, attributable to a tricky second wherein the Dodgers plated 5 runs whereas batting across the order.

The primary 5 Los Angeles batters within the second all reached base, and every got here round to attain. That stretch included a three-run homer by Jason Heyward to open the scoring, the twenty second house run allowed by Wells in 2023 (tied for second most in MLB).

“I undoubtedly felt like I form of failed the crew slightly bit tonight,” mentioned Wells, who gave up six hits, issued two walks and matched a season excessive with 5 earned runs allowed. “Didn’t actually set a great tempo, and undoubtedly that lengthy inning within the second obtained to me.”

Though Wells had thrown solely 59 pitches (40 within the second), supervisor Brandon Hyde opted to tug the righty, who nonetheless leads the Majors with a 0.98 WHIP and ranks second within the Orioles’ rotation with a 3.54 ERA.

“For Wells’ sake, form of the place he’s, we thought the suitable factor to do there was get him out of the sport,” Hyde mentioned.

Baltimore turned to left-hander Cole Irvin, who offered a vibrant spot within the lopsided loss to begin the third. Popping out of the All-Star break, the 29-year-old was moved again to the bullpen. He pitched nicely to finish the primary half (a 1.88 ERA over his ultimate three begins), however the O’s wanted to make room within the rotation for Grayson Rodriguez, who they felt was able to return.

Irvin tossed four-plus innings of reduction, placing up zeros on the scoreboard within the third, fourth, fifth and sixth. He even labored out of a no-out, bases-loaded jam within the sixth with out yielding a run.

Nonetheless, Irvin was charged with two earned runs, as he issued back-to-back walks to open the seventh. Each of these runners got here round to attain after Cionel Pérez entered.

Nonetheless, Hyde praised Irvin for the “unbelievable job” he did out of the ‘pen. Wells was appreciative, too.

“Cole was superb,” Wells mentioned. “In any case that, I gave him a giant ‘ol hug, as a result of he deserved that. I feel that everytime you’ve obtained a starter that solely goes two innings, that’s by no means what you need.

“And I feel that Cole got here in and picked up the crew in an enormous manner.”

Irvin combined all 5 of his pitches nicely, which was the explanation he felt he was having success on the finish of the primary half. He’s been a lot improved from his powerful April, when he had a ten.66 ERA over three begins earlier than being optioned to Triple-A Norfolk.

Whereas Irvin would doubtless want to be within the Orioles’ rotation, he’s keen to assist one of many Majors’ prime groups in any manner he can.

“I wish to win with these guys. I wish to win with this group right here,” Irvin mentioned. “There’s instances the place you’ve obtained to place your ego apart about what you suppose you’re and simply give attention to getting the job carried out, and that’s form of the place I’ve come to phrases with it.”

Baltimore might have fallen for the second straight sport, however it stays just one sport again of Tampa Bay within the American League East, because the Rays once more misplaced to the Rangers.

Now, the O’s will look to maneuver on from a sloppy loss (throughout which they dedicated a season-high 4 errors) and notch a finale win over the Dodgers earlier than opening a four-game highway set vs. the AL East leaders on Thursday.

“We simply didn’t play very nicely tonight,” Hyde mentioned.


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Printed : 2023-07-19 04:05:00

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