Orioles unable to hold early 3-run lead against Yankees, allow tiebreaking 3-run homer in 8th in 6-3 loss – The Denver Post

A Baltimore offense that was silent for much of the latter half of its latest homestand hoped Sunday’s eighth-inning rally would spark a turnaround. That seemed to be the case for the first third of Monday’s game at Yankee Stadium.

But the lineup’s inability to produce returned for the rest of what became a 6-3 loss to the New York Yankees to open the final road trip before the All-Star break. Unable to hold an early three-run lead thanks to three Yankees homers, the Orioles (49-34) are now only three games above New York for the American League’s top wild-card spot.

“We got some hits with runners in scoring position, just not enough,” manager Brandon Hyde said. “We had traffic, especially those first six, seven innings a lot. Didn’t have as much power tonight as they did. They got runs back quickly, and we had to string hits together, but just didn’t string enough tonight.”

The Yankees (46-39) plated four runs over their final two offensive innings, rallying against three of Baltimore’s most dependable bullpen arms. With the Orioles leading by a run in the seventh, Mike Baumann left two in scoring position for Yennier Cano, who was a pitch away from escaping before an 0-2 sinker went to the backstop and evened the game. Danny Coulombe inherited a runner from Cano in the eighth and allowed another before hanging a sweeper to Harrison Bader for a decisive three-run home run.

“They’ve been great all year,” Hyde said. “Just had an off night in the ’pen.”

Five of New York’s runs came via long balls. A day after he was among those snubbed of an All-Star appearance, Orioles right-hander Tyler Wells delivered a start that was in many ways the epitome of his outings in 2023. Over six innings, Wells allowed only two runs, coming on back-to-back solo home runs by Anthony Volpe and Kyle Higashioka in the fifth. He nearly allowed another in the sixth, with Giancarlo Stanton’s drive coming a foot shy of clearing the center field wall. Wells followed that double with a walk but retired the next two Yankees to finish off his seventh quality start.

Each of Wells’ 17 outings have lasted at least five innings, a mark only four other pitchers match. His WHIP, which rose to .902 with Monday’s seven base runners, leads the majors. His ERA fell to 3.19, though 27 of the 37 runs he has allowed have scored on home runs. The 21 he’s surrendered are tied for the second most in the majors.

“If I’m going out there and giving up two solo homers and going six every time, then sometimes it’s hard to complain,” Wells said. “I’m very happy with [my first half]. Hopefully, it continues into the second half. I think that’s where it’s gonna matter more. But if I give my team a chance to win, then I’m happy, and that’s literally what I’m trying to do every single time I go out there.”

But the chance he provided didn’t come to fruition despite Baltimore’s early offense. Coming off a perfect game against the Oakland Athletics, Yankees right-hander Domingo Germán began his night with another clean frame before three straight singles from Ryan O’Hearn, Ramón Urías and Cedric Mullins opened the second and plated a run. Urías was picked off second, limiting the scoring opportunity.

In the third, Adley Rutschman followed Gunnar Henderson’s single with a double to deep left, scoring Henderson from first. Rutschman scored Baltimore’s third run on another knock from O’Hearn, giving the Orioles as many runs in three innings against Germán as they did in the final 28 innings of the homestand. But O’Hearn left multiple runners on base in both the fifth and seventh as the Orioles did not score over the game’s final six innings, allowing New York’s comeback.

“Obviously a tough one,” O’Hearn said. “I feel like we should have won this game.”

In his first game since being named an All-Star and hours after announcing he will participate in the Home Run Derby, Rutschman recorded three hits. The Orioles finished with 12, though 10 were singles.

Right-hander Chris Vallimont got the final two outs of the eighth inning in his major league debut as the Orioles lost for the fifth time in six games.

“We’ve got a really good team and a really good lineup and really good pitching,” O’Hearn said. “We have everything you need to have success, and we will. Just a tough stretch right here. We’ve got to find a way to finish strong in this first half and have a solid road trip.”

Around the horn

• All-Star outfielder Austin Hays and rookie infielder Jordan Westburg were both absent from Monday’s lineup after suffering injuries Sunday, with Hyde saying they are “sore” but “feel a lot better.” Hays bruised his left hip in a collision with Minnesota Twins first baseman Donovan Solano and exited the game. Westburg took a 101 mph fastball to the left hand with the bases loaded in the eighth inning, bringing home the winning run in Baltimore’s 2-1 victory. He stayed in for the final half inning, and Hyde said tests on the hand showed no breaks and Westburg was able to take batting practice, though the hand was wrapped.
• Although first baseman Ryan Mountcastle (vertigo) has improved offensively of late during his rehabilitation assignment with Triple-A Norfolk, Hyde said he remains day to day without a designated day to come off the injured list. After going 0-for-11 in his first four rehab games, Mountcastle is 8-for-20 with a home run in his past four.
• Catcher James McCann, on the 10-day injured list with a left ankle sprain, “feels ready to go” after playing in two rehab games with Double-A Bowie over the weekend, Hyde said.

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