Nolan Gorman's two-run homer gives Cards the win in completion of suspended game (updated)

ST. LOUIS – The Orioles, even as visitors, took the field first today at Busch Stadium. They batted second. Their pitcher to start the day was reliever Jacob Webb.

It was not a usual day or game.

This was the resumption of last night’s suspended game in the last of the sixth with the game tied 1-1.

The Orioles have not had a lead in this series, and four batters after play resumed they were behind again today. Their only hit after play resumed was Ryan Mountcastle's single in the seventh, which snapped a 1-for-26 run. 

Second baseman Nolan Gorman’s two-run homer to right in the last of the sixth off lefty Keegan Akin – a left-on-left home run – gave St. Louis a 3-1 lead. The Cards beat the Orioles by that same score. The official attendance from the game that began last night, with many fewer here today, was 32,582.

The Orioles fall to 29-17 and are 3-5 their past eight games.

They will need a win later today to avoid being swept three in a row. Should that happen, their streak of 106 consecutive straight sweepless regular-season series would end.

Webb ran to the mound to start the home sixth in this 1-1 tie and got two outs on nine pitches. But he walked catcher Ivan Herrera with two outs and manager Brandon Hyde brought in Akin for Gorman, who hit a 1-2 fastball 407 feet for the tiebreaking home run and lead. It was No. 8 for Gorman.

When this game resumed at 11:16 a.m. local time, it was with that 1-1 tie. Gorman had doubled in a run in the second inning last night and the O's tied the game on Jorge Mateo's RBI double in the fifth. 

The O’s offense has scored just four runs in this series after getting 18 over the weekend in taking two of three from Seattle. Ryan Helsley got the final three outs for the home team to record his 15th save in 16 chances. 

In the game coming next, lefty John Means (2-0, 3.06 ERA) will face right-hander Kyle Gibson (3-2, 4.09 ERA) as the O's try to avoid the sweep.

Bradish on his outing: This morning Baltimore right-hander Kyle Bradish spoke with reporters about his start last night. It was maybe the best of his four thus far, and his ERA right now is 2.41 after he allowed one run over five innings.

Bradish threw 74 pitches Tuesday at Busch Stadium and stranded two runners in scoring position in both the third and fourth innings. He walked one and fanned six and struck out what would turn out to be his last two batters faced.

Bradish on heading to the mound for the last of the sixth, only to see the grounds crew running out on the field: “I was a little confused. I ran out there and they just waved me off the field. Had to talk with the umpires a little bit about it. Was definitely disappointed. Felt really good and pitch count was in a good spot to go deep into the ballgame.”

Was this your best command thus far?: “I think it’s right where I need it to be. I was ahead of a lot of hitters. Felt like I was 0-2, 1-2 on most of the guys. Which kept pitch count down and create early contact. So it was a lot better than the previous three.

“Definitely felt like myself. Both breaking balls were good for strikes and chase, and I was locating the fastball. Working ahead in counts. So that is where I need to be and felt like myself.

“I knew I would get back to this point. But obviously, I need to keep working deeper in games and keep progressing.”

After going through rehab and starting his season late, Bradish has a renewed appreciation for pitching well in the bigs: “Yeah, absolutely. I appreciate every day I’m in the big leagues and every day I get to go out there and pitch. Just that is added benefit when you are coming off an injury, knowing you can get to this spot.”

Hyde on why he went with Webb for the re-start: "We had (Nolan) Arenado there and a left-right pocket and went for Webby. Four-seam, two-out walk and then Ake gives up a homer to a guy hitting left off left-handed pitching. But it's tough to win when you get three hits.

Hyde again on the offense: "We had three hits in the game. So we've got to start swinging the bat."

Hyde liked Bradish's outing: "Really good. That was awesome. Great to see him look like himself. He had great stuff throughout. Did everything he could last night."