O's game blog: Orioles need a win to avoid a series sweep

After dropping games by scores of 8-4 and 6-4 to start this series, the Orioles host the New York Yankees today to wrap up this three-game series at Oriole Park at Camden Yards.

Both clubs are 4-4 and tied for second in the American League East, 1 1/2 games behind the 6-3 Tampa Bay Rays. Toronto is in fourth at 3-7 and defending World Series champion Boston is last at 2-8, which matches its worst 10-game start ever.

After throwing 6 1/3 no-hit innings in his 2019 season starting debut at Toronto, today right-hander David Hess (1-0, 0.00 ERA) will make his second start and face the Yankees.

Monday Hess exited with a no-hitter going at 82 pitches after getting a line out to start the last of the seventh. Blue Jays batters went 0-for-19 against him. He walked one and fanned a career high eight batters. Hess threw 48 four-seam fastballs and 20 sliders. He averaged 93.8 mph on his four-seamer, topping out at 95.8 mph.

Hess, who has now thrown 8 1/3 scoreless to start his year, retired the first nine batters he faced in the game at Toronto and then the last 10 after a leadoff walk in the fourth.

Hess made that start in Toronto on three day's rest after pitching on opening day in relief. Even though he was pulled with a no-hitter going, after that game he said he understood the tough decision made by his rookie manager Brandon Hyde.

"I think the biggest thing is that he cares about us a lot," Hess said. "It's hard as a player and, I'm sure, harder as a manager to pull a guy for the thought process of keeping him healthy and his well-being. So I have a ton of respect for him in the short time we've been together. He makes decisions that are based on the longevity of a player. He's not thinking what is good right now but is thinking ahead and wants to take care of us. Biggest thing is he cares about each individual guy in this clubhouse and us as a team, and that really shows."

In an interview the day after Hess' strong start in Rogers Centre, Orioles catcher Jesús Sucre talked about how a strong pitcher-catcher relationship played out on the field that night. Even though he is just getting to know Hess as a person and pitcher, Sucre said Hess filled him with confidence before that game. He told Sucre, 'I'm riding with you," meaning he would let the veteran call every pitch and would show full confidence in his game plan for the night.

"That's kind of special. I feel like that is some respect," Sucre said. "I feel special. I'm here to help every pitcher. Being on this team is special. My whole career, I've been a backup, and to have a chance to play every day is special."

Right-hander Domingo Germán (1-0, 0.00 ERA) makes his second start for New York. He went five scoreless on one hit Monday versus Detroit. He walked five and fanned seven, throwing 79 pitches and averaging 94.3 mph on his four-seam fastball. In 21 games last year, Germán went 2-6 with a 5.57 ERA and 1.331 WHIP.

Trey Mancini recorded his team-leading fourth home run last night, hitting a solo in the first inning. He then doubled in his second at-bat for his first multi-extra-base hit game of the season. Mancini, who has hit four homers his last six games, has hit safely in nine of his last 10 games against the Yankees, batting .395 (17-for-43) during this stretch. His four home runs in the Orioles' first eight games are tied for the second-most (done six other times, by five different players) by an O's player in team history. Chris Davis' five home runs in 2013 rank first.