Highlights end early in blowout loss
Rays’ homers ruin O’s Hall of Fame night
By Ryan McFadden
On the night of the Orioles Hall of Fame ceremony, which featured heartfelt messages, tears and standing ovations, the O’s again watched another lead falter at the bat of Tampa Bay Rays designated hitter Nelson Cruz.
With a runner on second in the top of the fifth and Cruz’s team trailing by a run, the former Oriole launched a two-run home run to center field, jump-starting a 12-3 victory Saturday. This was the fourth straight game in which the Orioles allowed double-digit runs, setting a franchise record.
The bullpen struggles mounted in the top of the eighth inning. The Rays had the bases loaded with one out when former Maryland Terrapin Brandon Lowe connected on the first pitch thrown by César Valdez and sent it deep to left field for a grand slam. Rays shortstop Wander Franco followed with a two-out solo shot to right.
Orioles starting pitcher Spenser Watkins had given up four runs in each of his previous two starts. The narrative continued in his sixth start this season, as he allowed five earned runs on eight hits in six innings.
Rays first baseman Yandy Díaz sat on a 1-2 curveball, then launched the ball into left field for his eighth home run, which gave Tampa Bay a 1-0 lead in the top of the second. After Joey Wendle singled to left, Manuel Margot hit a ground-rule double over center fielder Cedric Mullins’ head. The Rays tacked on another run when Wendle reached home on Kevin Kiermaier’s groundout.
After the fans rose to their feet to honor the team’s Hall of Fame inductees, shortstop J.J. Hardy, outfielder Mike Devereaux, broadcaster Joe Angel and super fan Mo Gaba, they found themselves with something to cheer in the bottom of the third inning when Mullins hit a two-run homer to center to give the Orioles a 3-2 lead. He extended his hitting streak to a career-tying 15 games.
Watkins pitched two scoreless innings before running into trouble again in the fifth. Lowe doubled, then Cruz sent a 1-1 pitch into the stands for his second home run of the series, giving the Rays a 4-3 lead.
After a three-run third inning, Rays pitcher Shane McClanahan held the Orioles scoreless for three consecutive innings, allowing only one hit. The Baltimore native struck out eight batters and walked just one in seven innings.
The Rays extended their lead to 5-3 in the top of the sixth when outfielder Brett Phillips doubled double down the right-field line, scoring Wendle. Phillips entered the game in center field in the third inning after Kiermaier left with right knee soreness. The Rays announced during the game that Kiermaier’s exit was for precautionary reasons.
Pedro Severino exits in fourth with bruised right knee
Orioles catcher Pedro Severino was replaced by Austin Wynns in the top of the fourth inning after suffering a bruised right knee. Severino struck out in two at-bats before exiting the game.
Before Saturday’s loss, Severino had been solid at the plate the past 15 games, batting .308 with four home runs and nine RBIs.
Around the horn
The Orioles made some roster moves before the game, recalling right-handed pitcher Isaac Mattson from Triple-A Norfolk and reinstated left-handed pitcher Ryan Hartman from the COVID-19 injured list. Pitcher Connor Greene was designated for assignment after giving up three runs against the Rays on Friday night. Mattson appeared in the ninth inning and allowed two runs.
Orioles outfielder Ryan Mountcastle is still in concussion protocols. Manager Brandon Hyde said the club is proceeding with caution and that Mountcastle is trending toward a possible stint on the injured list.