Orioles lose wild opener of anticipated series vs. Phillies, 5-3, in 11 innings: ‘They’re not all like that’
Alec Bohm’s tiebreaking two-run double and the Orioles offense’s inability to come through in the clutch handed Baltimore a 5-3 loss.
Kyle Schwarber crushed the fourth pitch of the game into the stands, and it was immediately clear what type of game it would be Friday night at Camden Yards.
No, not a high-scoring one, despite the matchup featuring baseball’s two best offenses. It was a playoff-caliber game — from the elite starting pitchers to the star hitters to the sold-out crowd — with twists and turns, clutch hits and an extra-inning rain delay to boot.
From the moment Schwarber’s 406-foot blast carried over the fence, and the significant portion of Philadelphia Phillies fans showered Oriole Park in cheers, it was evident this was no regular-season game — no matter what the schedule or standings say.
But that wasn’t the biggest hit from a Phillies batter on the night.
After a 1-hour, 11-minute rain delay before the 11th inning thinned the raucous announced crowd of 43,987 to roughly one-third of that, Phillies cleanup hitter Alec Bohm’s tiebreaking two-run double and the Orioles offense’s inability to deliver in the bottom half handed Baltimore a 5-3 loss.
“The energy in the stadium was unbelievable,” left fielder Austin Hays said. “It was like everything was riding on every pitch for both sides. There were a lot of Phillies fans there, too, so whether it was going our way or their way, it was loud. As a player, you dream of the games like that. We play 162, but they’re not all like that. There’s only a handful of games in a regular season where the energy of the stadium is like it was tonight.
“I wish we could’ve came out on top for the fans, but it was a fun game to be a part of.”
Anthony Santander’s game-tying solo homer in the eighth breathed life into a lineup lumbering with the lumber. But it couldn’t manage a hit in the final three innings against the Phillies’ bullpen.
The Orioles went 1-for-13 with runners in scoring position and left 10 on base.
“Pretty good baseball, we just didn’t get the big hit,” manager Brandon Hyde said. “I think we were 1-for-13 for with runners in scoring position. That kind of was a telling stat.”
The bigger loss than the one on the scoreboard could be that of starting pitcher Kyle Bradish, who exited after the fifth inning with elbow discomfort. It’s a concerning development for a pitcher who missed the season’s first five weeks with a partially torn elbow ligament, and for a rotation that is already without John Means and Tyler Wells for the remainder of the year.
An already perforated Orioles pitching rotation might have taken another hit with Kyle Bradish's early exit.
"It’s really tough,” Austin Hays said. “I’m going to say a lot of prayers tonight."https://t.co/F6cvYVOYAI
— Sam Cohn (@samdcohn) June 15, 2024
The Orioles’ bullpen nearly escaped the 10th inning without surrendering a run, aided by second baseman Jorge Mateo throwing a runner out at the plate on a grounder. But Yennier Cano allowed two batters to reach and southpaw Cionel Pérez gave up a left-on-left RBI single to Schwarber. Santander nabbed Johan Rojas trying to score on Schwarber’s clutch hit, keeping the Orioles’ deficit at one run.
Down to the Orioles’ last out, Gunnar Henderson walked to load the bases, and Cedric Mullins, the automatic runner to begin the inning, raced home to score on Phillies reliever Orion Kerkering’s wild pitch. He was originally called out as the errant pitch ricocheted right back to catcher Rafael Marchán, but the replay review clearly showed Mullins’ acrobatic head-first slide beat the tag.
Minutes later, rain poured in Baltimore, delaying one of the Orioles’ most exciting games of the year.
“That’s what Ced does,” Hays said. “That’s why it’s so important that he’s on the field. He’s just a game-changer.”
CEDDY AND THE JETS!!!! pic.twitter.com/LCYv5Ceods
— Baltimore Orioles (@Orioles) June 15, 2024
When the players and some fans returned, Jacob Webb was out to pitch the top of the 11th. He intentionally walked Bryce Harper with one out before Bohm crushed a first-pitch 93.5 mph fastball at the top of the zone onto the warning track in left field. Hays attempted a miraculous grab — Statcast gave Bohm’s 105.6 mph batted ball an expected batting average of .830 and Hays just a 20% catch probability — but couldn’t make the leaping snag to save Webb (1-4).
“I have to make that catch. I was there, the route was there, my glove was there. I just didn’t make the catch,” Hays said. “I’m going to lose sleep over that tonight because I know that’s a catch that I can make.”
Baltimore is 45-24 and has lost consecutive games after winning six straight. Despite owning one of baseball’s best records, the Orioles are 3 1/2 games back of the American League East-leading New York Yankees (50-22).
The Phillies and Orioles entered the contest with the second and third best records in Major League Baseball, respectively, making this weekend a rare interleague series that has the trappings of a potential World Series preview.
“Honestly, no it’s another series,” Hyde said before the game when asked if this weekend’s series is a measuring stick for his club. “This is a great team. They’ve played so well this year. … Tough test and hopefully we can play well.”
The Orioles might be MLB’s best team. Their series vs. the Phillies could test that.
“Two teams that are playing well, two different leagues. That’s what you say: This could be a matchup at the end of the year. That’s what both sides are hoping.” https://t.co/BdX6fR4Rem
— Jacob Calvin Meyer (@jcalvinmeyer) June 14, 2024
The Orioles and Phillies lead their respective leagues in runs per game, and both clubs also sport two of the majors’ three best rotations. That was evident Friday when Ranger Suárez and Bradish toed the rubber opposite each other.
Suárez, a National League Cy Young Award candidate and perhaps the best left-handed pitcher in baseball, entered with a 10-1 record and a 1.81 ERA. Bradish, an ace in his own right, has been even more dominant this season than he was last when he finished fourth in AL Cy Young Award voting.
Aside from a game-tying RBI double by Adley Rutschman in the third to continue his tear against left-handed pitching, Baltimore’s bats couldn’t get to Suárez, who scattered six hits and two walks across 6 1/3 innings. The biggest missed opportunity came in the fourth inning after Santander and Hays began the frame with consecutive singles. All it took to squander that scoring chance was a failed sacrifice bunt by Mateo and a double play from James McCann.
Bradish, who exited after only 74 pitches, surrendered two runs — solo homers to Schwarber and No. 9 hitter Marchán — while giving up only three hits and setting career-best pitch speeds on the radar gun. Left-hander Keegan Akin followed Bradish with three scoreless innings to save the Orioles’ bullpen.
“Oh my god, he was incredible,” Hyde said of Akin. “He was fantastic and gave us a chance.”
In the seventh against reliever Jeff Hoffman, Jordan Westburg doubled with two outs to serve as the go-ahead run, but Rutschman struck out looking on a borderline pitch to end the threat. After Santander’s long ball cleared Camden Yards’ deep left field wall, closers Craig Kimbrel and José Alvarado both pitched scoreless ninth innings to send the game to extras.
Santander’s home run was his 15th this season and sixth this month. The veteran switch-hitter leads the majors with four game-tying or go-ahead homers in the eighth inning or later.
“That’s what Tony does, man,” Hays said. “How many times I’ve stood in the on-deck circle and watched him do that in a big moment in a game, I’ve lost count at this point. He’s so clutch for this team. He always hits the big homer.”
The energy isn’t expected to dissipate for the series’ final two games Saturday and Sunday. Both are already sold out, the Orioles have announced, and if Friday’s game is any indication, those fans are in for quite a show.
Phillies at Orioles
Saturday, 4:05 p.m.
TV: MASN
Radio: 97.9 FM, 101.5 FM, 1090 AM
