Orioles beat Rockies but lose all-star closer Bautista to injury
BALTIMORE (AP) — Down by a run within the eighth inning and needing a win to elongate their lead within the AL East, the Baltimore Orioles had the Colorado Rockies proper the place they needed them.
Gunnar Henderson hit a two-run homer off Brent Suter in yet one more collapse by the Colorado bullpen, and the Orioles pulled out a 5-4 victory Friday night time for his or her ninth win in 12 video games.
Baltimore’s victory was marred by an obvious harm to nearer Félix Bautista, who slipped awkwardly off the mound after delivering a pitch with two outs within the ninth.
Manager Brandon Hyde mentioned Bautista left with “arm discomfort” and was “still being checked out.”
“When the best closer in the game leaves the game, it’s never a good feeling,” Hyde added.
Danny Coulombe completed, throwing one pitch for his second save.
Ryan Mountcastle and Austin Hays homered for the Orioles, who moved three video games in entrance of Tampa Bay, which misplaced to the Yankees.
Colorado arrived in Baltimore after dropping 4 straight video games, all during which it was tied or held the lead within the eighth inning. The final three of these defeats got here towards the Rays, who gained every recreation of their final at-bat.
Worse, the last-place Rockies’ bullpen got here in with a 7.77 ERA in August.
The development continued. After Kyle Freeland pitched six innings and left with a 4-3 lead, Jake Bird labored a scoreless seventh.
But Suter (4-3) got here in for the eighth and walked Hays earlier than Henderson despatched a drive over the right-field scoreboard. The rookie skipped round first base and wore an enormous smile as he headed for dwelling.
“It was really awesome. I was really happy to help the team come back in a way like that,” Henderson mentioned. “It’s what you dream of as a kid, to hit a homer like that. It was pretty cool.”
Colorado has misplaced 5 straight when tied or main within the eighth inning, the primary time that’s occurred within the massive leagues because the Montreal Expos did it in 1970.
“These are tough. Nobody feels worse tonight than Brent,” manager Bud Black said. “But these are moments when you grasp the understanding of what this means. In a way it’s good stuff. It helps you win in the future.”
For a younger staff, the late collapses are usually not for naught.
“These are good baseball games. The guys are understanding the intensity of these games,” Black mentioned. “They hurt. But they also make you tougher.”
Shintaro Fujinami (6-8) labored two innings of aid for the win.
Mountcastle gave the Orioles a 1-0 lead with a homer that was something however atypical. His drive to proper struck the highest of the wall, and Mountcastle hustled to 3rd base earlier than coming dwelling on a wild throw. But it turned out that his jaunt across the bases was pointless — it was decided that the liner hit the highest of the grounds crew shed, and that’s a house run at Camden Yards.
Hays adopted up with a first-inning RBI double, however the Rockies pulled even with a run-scoring double by Elias Díaz within the third and Alan Trejo’s sacrifice fly within the fourth.
Colorado went up 4-2 within the fifth when Charlie Blackmon drew a stroll on a 12-pitch at-bat and Ezequiel Tovar adopted together with his fifteenth homer.
By successful the opener of the three-game set, Baltimore is assured of finishing its 81st consecutive sequence with out being swept, the fifth-longest such streak in main league historical past.
ROSTER MOVE
Rockies: With an eye fixed towards the longer term, Colorado chosen the contract of LHP Evan Justice from Triple-A Albuquerque. To make room on the roster, LHP Justin Bruihl was designated for task, lower than a month after being obtained from the Dodgers for money issues. Bruihl had a 14.73 ERA in seven appearances totaling 3 2/3 innings.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Orioles: RHP Jack Flaherty, scratched from his begin Wednesday with “general soreness,” is on the mend and could possibly be able to return “in the next couple days,” Hyde mentioned. … OF Aaron Hicks (decrease again pressure) is operating and “progressing well,” in line with Hyde.
UP NEXT
Rockies: Chris Flexen (1-5, 7.18 ERA) makes his sixth begin with Colorado when the sequence continues Saturday night time. The right-hander was acquired off waivers from the Mets on July 13
Orioles: Kyle Bradish (8-6, 3.03 ERA) appears to increase a profitable August. He’s 2-0 with a 1.90 ERA this month and Baltimore has gained all 4 of his begins.
