Jack Flaherty gets win in O's debut as Birds take three of four from Jays (updated)

TORONTO – Jack Flaherty’s Orioles debut got off to a rocky start today. But it quickly got better. And it mostly stayed that way, especially thanks to some clutch pitching from the right-hander in the last of the sixth. 

Flaherty allowed one run and four hits over six innings on 92 pitches as the Orioles beat Toronto 6-1 to win three of four in this series at Rogers Centre.

The Orioles (67-42) are 8-2 this year versus Toronto. Their AL East lead grows to two games over idle Tampa Bay.

Since July 20, the Orioles have gone 3-1 in both four-game series against their closest pursuers in the Rays and Jays. They also went 2-1 against the Yankees in that span. They are now 22-10 in their past 32 games over the last 10 AL East series, going 8-0-2 in those series.

“Complete team," Flaherty said of the Orioles. "You kind of new that coming in and you get around them and see what they’re about. They are a complete team. Offense, defense, pitching – they can do it all.”

With the O’s leading 3-0 in the last of the sixth, Flaherty took the mound having retired 15 in a row since the first inning. He was at just 58 pitches through five and was rolling.

But the first two batters reached that inning on Kevin Kiermaier’s single and Whit Merrifield’s fielder’s choice. He hit a grounder to third where Ramón Urías threw to second for a force. The call was out but it was overturned to safe via replay and Toronto had a threat going.

After Brandon Belt’s lineout, Vlad Guerrero Jr.’s single to right made it 3-1 and Flaherty walked George Springer to load the bases. But Flaherty got Matt Chapman swinging at a curveball and got Alejandro Kirk to fly out on a breaking ball. He stranded the bases loaded and completed six strong with his team leading 3-1. Big pitches and big outs to end the sixth.

“You know when things are going smooth and easy that’s one thing. But you get in a little pinch there with bases loaded. To be able to get out of that, keep his composure and make quality pitches, that definitely says a lot," said catcher Adley Rutschman. 

Added manager Brandon Hyde of sticking with Flaherty there: “He’s been in the league for a while. Honestly, we need our starters to get through the sixth innings, we’re having a tough time. Really wanted to see him get through that and he did.

“Great breaking ball, two breaking balls and a cutter. Lot of swings and misses. Throwing up to 96 in that sixth inning there also, so he kept his velocity. Sold out crowd, tough environment. Just love the way he pitched.”

Flaherty’s first inning with his new team started with Merrifield recording a single and then Belt walked. Immediate trouble for the right-hander, but Guerrero lined out (making him 4-for-32 this year versus the O’s) and he fanned Springer and Chapman. A 19-pitch inning but a zero on the board.

The Orioles had gone 1-2-3 on 11 pitches in their first against Kevin Gausman but the O’s second was very different. They batted seven men, scored twice and Gausman needed 42 pitches that inning.

With one out Ryan Mountcastle singled to right, making him 8-for-10 this series. He went to third on Adam Frazier’s single. On the ninth pitch of his at-bat, Austin Hays singled to left on a Gausman splitter for a 1-0 Baltimore lead. After a walk loaded the bases and Ryan McKenna struck out, Adley Rutschman lined a single to left for a 2-0 lead. Hays was thrown out at home by left fielder Daulton Varsho trying to score a second run on the play.

The O’s challenged that Kirk the catcher blocked the plate too soon, but that out at home was upheld.

The O’s had a great chance to expand their 2-0 lead in the fourth but could not. They loaded the bases on singles by Mountcastle and Hays and a walk. But McKenna struck out on a split and Rutschman grounded out.

Gausman, who has thrown 115 pitches twice this season and 100 or more 12 times, was at 91 pitches through four innings.

He would not last through the fifth when Mountcastle’s sac fly gave the O’s a 3-0 lead. Singles by Gunnar Henderson and Ryan O’Hearn put runners on the corners with one out as Gausman exited. Reliever Bowden Francis faced Mountcastle, who extended the Baltimore lead.

Gausman gave up three runs and eight hits in 4 1/3 taking the loss. He threw 103 pitches and O's batters went 8-for-20 against the former Oriole.

Flaherty walked two and fanned eight today and improved to 8-6 with a 4.28 ERA between the Cardinals and Orioles. He got swings and misses on 19 of 46 swings today – his second most of this year. His fastball touched 97 mph in the last of the first. His last pitch at that velocity came on Sept. 22, 2022. And he had eight or more strikeouts today for the fourth time in the season.

By just about any standard, it was a strong debut for the new Oriole.

“It was fun. New energy, new everything," Flaherty said. "Sometimes that can be a bit tricky but Adley was great back there. Didn’t have a lot of time to prep for these guys. Everything we rushed together but he did a good job and we had a really good game plan. Guys put together some runs there we got a lead. All in all, everything has been unbelievable.”

In this series, O's starting pitchers gave up eight earned runs in 24 2/3 for an ERA of 2.92 and Baltimore pitchers allowed 10 runs in four games.  The O's are 6-1 this season at Rogers Centre. 

The O's bullpen put up zeroes late with a scoreless inning each for Danny Coulombe, Yennier Cano and Mike Baumann.

The O's insurance run in the eighth was unearned and they scored two in the ninth. Hays' infield hit, his third hit today, started the eighth inning and he scored the fourth run on Chapman's throwing error. In the ninth, Adam Frazier's sac fly scored Colton Cowser who doubled and Hays' RBI double, his fourth hit, added the sixth Baltimore run. 

Mountcastle went 4-for-4 with four singles today. He went 11-for-13 this series with four doubles and six RBIs and reached base in 14 of 18 plate appearances. His OPS is rising fast, now at .780. Hays 4-for-5 raised his average to .287. 

“Just getting good pitches to hit and laying off some tough ones," Mountcastle said of his huge series here. "When I can do that I can put together some good at-bats and just sort of clicked this series.

“Just trying to stay the middle of the field and not pull off anything (he said of hits to right and right center). Stay with that approach and hopefully it keeps working.”

As they head home to face the Mets and Astros, the Orioles have won four of five, eight of 12 and 18 of the last 25 games.

“Still a long way to go, but love the we’re playing. … I think our record against above .500 teams speaks for itself and we can play with anybody," added Hyde. 

Toronto (60-50) is 4-21 in its last 25 AL East games.