Orioles hurt by home runs, short start, shaky bullpen in 12-3 loss, Santander hits 40th homer (updated)

BOSTON – Cedric Mullins broke hard on Jarren Duran’s line drive to right-center field, went into full extension on his dive and made a remarkable catch. Anthony Santander raised his fist after Mullins crashed to the ground. Cade Povich raised his cap in appreciation.

Three pitches later, Mullins raced back to the center field warning track, slowed and watched Rob Refsnyder’s ball land in the seats for a two-run homer after Rafael Devers singled.

The third pitch thrown to Tyler O’Neill was 110.1 mph off the bat and launched at 41 degrees to clear the left field wall. The Red Sox went back-to-back against Povich in his 13^th major league start and first at Fenway Park, which can be downright cruel to left-handed pitchers. A higher level of experience isn’t always a shield.

The Orioles grabbed a quick lead, let go almost as fast and began an important series in Boston with a 12-3 loss before an announced crowd of 30,600.

Santander drove in all three runs, the last on his 40^th home run, launched against Josh Winckowski leading off the seventh inning. He’s the eighth Orioles player to reach that mark, the first since Mark Trumbo in 2016, and it’s the ninth occurrence. Chris Davis did it twice. Santander also is the first switch-hitter in the majors with 40 since Carlos Beltran and Lance Berkman in 2006.

Eight switch-hitters have belted 40, including Mickey Mantle four times and Berkman twice.

“He’s had a heck of a year," said manager Brandon Hyde. "I’m proud of him for how far he’s come in our years together here, and to see a guy with 40 homers, that’s a special milestone. Even in a game like this, it’s something to celebrate. Not many guys can do that, a switch-hitter hitting 40 homers.”

Povich allowed four runs in 4 2/3 innings after tossing 7 1/3 scoreless against the White Sox, and the Orioles slipped to 82-63 overall, 24-25 since the break and 4-4 this month. They trail the Yankees by 1 1/2 games.

“I just didn’t think he had his off-speed command," Hyde said. "I thought the fastball was good with a mostly all-righty lineup. Just didn’t execute his off-speed pitches. He did keep us in the game, got into the fifth only giving up four runs, but for me he wasn’t as sharp as he was last time out.”

A fifth run charged to Povich was avoided when Colton Cowser made a barehand grab of O’Neill’s ball that hit high off the Green Monster against Burch Smith and threw out Refsnyder trying to score from first base. Adley Rutschman applied the lunging tag.

"I thought it (stuff) wasn’t too bad," Povich said. "I thought a couple pitches were on the edges, but just left a little too up. And then, the fastball, I think to O’Neill, was up but maybe just not up enough. But I mean overall, I thought the stuff was all right at the beginning, and then I think those last couple innings it was trending toward the right direction, getting better, starting to get back in a groove."

Hyde pulled Povich at 76 pitches. Smith loaded the bases in the sixth and Ceddanne Rafaela’s single plated two more runs for a 6-2 lead. Gregory Soto entered and surrendered a two-run single to Refsnyder, whose four RBIs were a career high.

Craig Kimbrel struck out the first two batters in the seventh and the last that he faced. But Trevor Story’s single, a walk to Danny Jansen and two-run double by Rafaela gave Boston a 10-3 lead. His ERA is 4.35 after being scored upon for the 10^th time in 18 appearances, with 17 earned runs and 19 total in 17 1/3 innings.

“It’s kind of how the innings have been going lately where he gets two quick outs and then a base hit and stolen base," Hyde said. "Tough time putting a clean inning together. He’s throwing the ball really well. First two hitters punchouts. And then Story kind of a nice piece of hitting there on a fastball away, and didn’t execute after that.”

Refsnyder and O’Neill went back-to-back again in the eighth against Cole Irvin, who also struck out three batters in the inning.

Asked about the clubhouse morale, Mullins said it's "doing fair."

"It’s not at its best, but it's not terrible, either. We got soundly beat today but the beauty of baseball is we come out tomorrow and set the tone for us to move forward.”

What’s ailing the Orioles offensively and a cure for it clashed in the top of the first inning.

They were making loud contact against Red Sox starter Brayan Bello – 104.7 mph from Gunnar Henderson on a leadoff single, 101.8 on Mullins’ liner to Rafaela, 101.6 on Rutschman’s single that loaded the bases. They already led 1-0 on Santander’s single.

The Orioles went 1-for-16 with runners in scoring position in the Rays series and they already had two hits tonight in the first. But Eloy Jiménez and Cowser struck out and the Orioles settled for one run in an inning primed to offer much more.

Henderson was stranded in the second after a two-out walk and Rutschman was stranded in the third after reaching on a two-out error. The bases were loaded in the fourth on walks to Cowser and Livan Soto and a pitch with two outs that hit Mullins on the foot. Santander worked the count full and also walked to reduce the lead to 4-2, but Ryan O’Hearn swung at the first pitch and flied to left.

At that point, the Orioles were 2-for-7 with runners in scoring position and left eight on base. Bello had issued five walks. He allowed two runs and three hits in 5 1/3.

Pinch-hitter Emmanuel Rivera doubled off Brennan Bernardino with one out in the sixth and didn’t advance. Rutschman doubled in the seventh after Santander’s homer and Cowser walked with two outs, but Coby Mayo flied out.

Devers singled with one out in the bottom of the first, Refsnyder doubled and O’Neill’s ground ball tied the game. A walk in the second produced nothing, but Mullins’ acrobatic play in the third, with Statcast assigning a 10 percent catch probability, only lessened the damage against Povich.

Duran might have rounded the bases if the ball got past Mullins. Refsnyder and O’Neill took turns doing it.

"It was just one of those where you’re on your horse, you get to it as soon as you can," Mullins said. "It’s a moment that keeps someone off the bases for sure and made the play.

“I think I was done ranking a couple of plays ago, but it was definitely up there. It was a good one.

"With this field, with all the nooks and crannies, that gap specifically you try to protect a little bit. That’s why I was like really strong first step that way, saw it off the bat really good. I was able to read it just right.”

Said Povich: "The ball’s in the air, I thought it was for sure in the gap. When I saw Cedric run, I was like, ‘He might have a chance.’ Some of the plays he’s made for me and for other guys, it really wasn’t any surprise. He’s unbelievable to have in center field."

The Orioles have scored seven runs in their last five games. They went 2-for-11 with runners in scoring position tonight and stranded 11.

“Our guys know," Hyde said. "I actually thought our at-bats were better early, I thought we were more competitive offensively tonight. Nice to see Rutsch get going with some good swings. But once Cade came out we had a tough time with the bullpen.

“Our guys are grinding, there’s no doubt. We’ve got to just turn the page on this and come back tomorrow. Not a whole lot went right tonight. Wasted a couple opportunities and just had a tough time putting zeros up out of the bullpen.”

* Triple-A Norfolk reliever Nick Anderson strained his Achilles tendon last week during warmups, per a source, and no longer is a consideration for a call-up.

The good news is that there’s no structural damage and the Orioles anticipate a three-to-four week recovery, per the source. He could pitch for them later.

The Orioles signed Anderson on Aug. 29 after he opted out of his contract with the Dodgers.