Tate talks about yesterday's dominant outing for Orioles (game status update)

CHICAGO - Dillon Tate sat at his locker this morning wearing a black hoodie, his head covered, his body turned away from the clubhouse. He was relaxed and not looking for any attention. Probably wishing that he could avoid it altogether, given his low-key personality and preference that others bask in the spotlight.

Here’s the conflict: You retire all seven batters you face in your longest relief outing in three years, setting up the rally in the eighth inning that produced a 5-3 win, and you’re going to be praised and asked about it.

Tate earned the win with 2 1/3 spotless frames and four strikeouts. The Orioles hit three homers and scored five runs in the eighth.

“It was good to be back out there, sharing the field with my guys,” said Tate, who was optioned April 29 and recalled on Friday. “Happy to get that win. We needed that.”

Team first, as usual with Tate.

The sweeping slider was a formidable weapon, generating lots of swings and misses. Catcher Adley Rutschman knew early on that it was the best pitch in the arsenal and repeatedly called for it.

“We just kept throwing it,” Tate said, “and it worked.”

Tate hadn’t exceeded two innings since logging 2 2/3 on June 29, 2021 in Houston. Three late-inning relievers were unavailable and Tate more than picked up the slack.

“It’s just about competing at this point and just doing whatever I need to do to help this club win,” he said. “Just play my part.”

Tate was sent down to Triple-A Norfolk because he had options and someone had to leave with Cionel Pérez returning from the injured list. He appeared in seven games with the Tides and allowed three runs in seven innings.

“I was around a lot of good guys, guys that are dedicated to getting better,” he said. “I was able to work on things, and we were still competitive. It’s not anything negative.”

Ryan O’Hearn, Anthony Santander and Jordan Westburg homered in the eighth to give the Orioles their 15^th win after trailing. Pérez got the save, his first this season, by retiring the side in order in the ninth.

“We’re a capable team and I always like to see us come back,” Tate said. “I feel like we’re the comeback kids out there.”

Tate is one of the oldest Orioles at 30. He’s been in the organization since July 2018, when he arrived from the Yankees in the Zack Britton trade. A former starter turned reliever who couldn’t do anything in the majors last season due to forearm and elbow injuries, and who’s getting important outs again.

“I don’t feel like words can really describe it,” he said, “but the best way I can really say that is just that I’m thankful, just thanking God.”

Meanwhile, it’s raining hard in Chicago and we’re waiting for an update on the status of today’s game.

The Orioles aren’t making a roster move after trading yesterday for right-hander Thyago Vieira. It’s going to happen in Baltimore.

Update: The White Sox confirm that the start will be delayed but added that the "weather" is expected to move out of the area within an hour and a new start time will be announced. I say there's still going to be weather, but the storm will leave.

Anyway, they're gonna try to play.