Orioles fall in split-squad nightcap, 6-1
The Baltimore Orioles hosted the New York Yankees tonight in Sarasota, in the second game of their split-squad day. As I’ve covered multiple times today, today was their second day of split-squad games and the second time facing the Yankees in a split-squad action.
How many more times can I say split-squad, in one blog? The Orioles began the evening after the other half of their split-squad scored 17 runs in Port Charlotte against the Tampa Bay Rays. I guess I fit it in one more time.
David Hess made his second start for the team this evening, pitching three-and-a-third innings and allowing just two earned runs. The Yankees came out swinging though, as Tyler Wade took Hess’ first pitch into left field, onto the warning track for a ground-rule double. Two batters later, after Gleyber Torres flied out to center field moving Wade over, he scored on a Gary Sánchez deep fly ball to center field.
The Orioles didn’t have an answer for Yankees starter Luis Cessa. They didn’t get their first hit until Chance Sisco singled on a line drive into center field. However, any chance of a middle-inning rally was snuffed out when Cessa struck out Renato Núñez swinging.
Richard Bleier made his first appearance this spring, entering in the fifth inning. It was his first appearance on the mound since recovering from a season-ending injury to his lat last summer. However, after 19 pitches, Bleier was knocked out of the game after recording just two outs.
Manager Brandon Hyde had told the media prior to the game that Bleier’s pitch count would be limited to 20 pitches, and he was almost right on the money there. Bleier allowed three hits, doubles to Gio Urshela and Billy Burns and a single to Gary Sánchez that got through the left side of the infield. He was charged with one earned run on three hits, while striking out one.
Mychal Givens pitched the sixth inning and retired the Yankees, in order. Givens was roughed up on Tuesday against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Tagged for five earned runs in two-thirds of an inning, Givens induced a ground out, a fly out and a line out.
In the seventh inning, the Yankees led 5-0 as the Orioles still only had two hits all evening. Jimmy Yacabonis began the inning, allowing a single off the bat of Trey Amburgey, who also stole second base with one down in the inning. Making his third appearance of the spring, Yacabonis was able to exit the top half of the seventh unscathed, striking out L.J. Mazzilli, son of former Orioles manager Lee Mazzilli, to end the inning.
Jace Peterson opened the bottom of the seventh inning with a walk as the Orioles tried to mount some offense in the late innings. Pinch-runner J.C. Escarra replaced him at first as Hanser Alberto went down on strikes. However, Anthony Santander came up, 0-for-2 for the night and roped his sixth double off the right field wall.
With two in scoring position and one out in the seventh, Richie Martin and Ryan McKenna – replacing Cedric Mullins in center field – each struck out, ending the potential scoring threat.
Jean Carlos Encarnacion, replacing Sisco as the designated hitter, singled in the eighth inning, but he was left stranded at first base as the Orioles failed to score. Yacabonis stayed on for the final two innings, but gave up a solo home run in the ninth – his first run allowed all spring.
In the bottom of the ninth, Escarra finally got the Orioles on the board via a solo home run, his first of the spring. Ryan Bannon, replacing Alberto at second, then reached base on a dropped strike three. Zach Jarrett flied out to right, Adam Hall and McKenna each struck out, ending the game.
With the loss, the Orioles fall to 9-6-2 in Grapefruit League action. Next up, the Phillies make their first trip to Ed Smith Stadium with a 1:05 start time tomorrow afternoon.
