Mancini and Mullins on Jones, plus a few final notes

By Steve Melewski

Orioles

September 30, 2018, 8:43pm

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It was a season where not a lot went right for the Orioles, but on the final day, almost nothing went wrong. The Orioles pitched well, they got clutch hits, they made some plays in the field. And most importantly, they sent Adam Jones off in impressive fashion.

Before the game, Jones gave bats and balls to fans. During the game they returned the love. From Jones running to center field all by himself before first pitch, to his exit from right field for a sendoff in the ninth inning, the fans stood and cheered often. An appreciative Jones said, "It's all cool and you just have to take it all in. It's been a great run here and hopefully (now I) go somewhere and see what the next chapter of my career has for me."

The rebuilding Orioles seem to be moving away from holding onto many veteran players, even one that means as much to the team and town as Jones.

But Sunday's farewell could not have been scripted much better.

"It was an emotional day, but one of the coolest baseball experiences I've ever had," said first baseman Trey Mancini. "Just tried to take in every moment. In a tough season for us and our fans, today was a good day."

Mancini hugged Jones as he ran off the field before the start of the ninth inning.

"It was surreal," he said. "Since I got drafted, he's been the cornerstone of this franchise and our team leader. Seeing him operate the last two years since I've been here has been a true honor and a pleasure, and he's as good as it gets."

Yesterday was also rather meaningful to rookie Cedric Mullins. Jones took him under his wing and was ready to move to right field so Mullins could take over in center. On the night of Mullins' major league debut, Jones made sure it was Mullins, not him, who led the team onto the field.

"It was exciting," said Mullins. "It was awesome to watch him take the field and take the moment in. The crowd giving standing ovations was awesome to watch. He's taught us a lot, even about things outside the game. The way he's involved with the community. It's hard to describe just what he has done for more than just our team."

Mullins' bat cooled off to end the season. He went 2-for-33 in his last eight games as his average tumbled from .277 to end at .235 in 45 games. But Mullins had a nice season on the farm in 2018 and he looks poised to take over for Jones as the center fielder in Baltimore.

"It was a big year," Mullins said. "To have the success I did in the minors this year and to come up here and have success, as well. Of course, I went through my struggles. Who doesn't? It was a learning process. I can take that into the offseason and come back strong next year."

Jimmy Yacabonis, Paul Fry and Mychal Givens combined on a one-hitter in Sunday's 4-0 win as the Orioles finished 47-115. That was the 41st one-hitter in team history and eighth combined one-hitter. The last combo one-hitter was from Chris Tillman and Zach Britton on July 18, 2015 at Detroit.

Fry picked up his first major league win yesterday. He threw six hitless and scoreless innings over his last two games. Fry finished the year with an ERA of 3.35, and a 1.42 mark in 18 home appearances.

Givens ended the year on a huge roll. Over his last 11 games and 14 1/3 innings, he gave up one run and one hit. In that span, opponent batters went 1-for-44 off Givens, dropping his season batting average against from .254 to .218. Givens posted an ERA of 2.25 and average against of .111 in August and September.

Orioles starting pitchers worked to an ERA of 2.74 in the four-game Houston series.

On Sunday, the team posted a rare win when they failed to homer and finished the season going 7-51 in games when they did not hit a home run.

The Orioles became the seventh team in the modern era (since 1900) to finish at least 60 games behind, as they were 61 games out of first place to end the year. The last team to finish at least 60 out was the 1962 New York Mets at 62 1/2 games back.

Renato NÃºÃ±ez hit .400 (12-for-30) with eight RBIs in his last nine games. He hit .313 in 25 games in September.

After starting his major league career going 0-for-13, DJ Stewart hit .370 (10-for-27) over his final 12 games.

Now we all await any decisions and/or announcements about the future with the Orioles for the club's top baseball decision makers in executive vice president Dan Duquette and manager Buck Showalter. If there is news this week on that front, it is expected to happen sooner rather than later.

When your teammates make sure you savor the moment.@SimplyAJ10 #StayHungry #Birdland pic.twitter.com/hZpmR6m7bp
-- Baltimore Orioles (@Orioles) September 30, 2018