Another look at a homer-happy night and win and more on Norby's debut

TORONTO – Maybe this had nothing to do with the Orioles getting swept three straight in St. Louis and is just about the ups and downs of the season. And the Orioles offense is having an up for a stretch right now.

But since losing those three games and scoring eight total runs at Busch Stadium, the Orioles are 9-2 and scoring 5.9 runs per game.

The team in the last 11 games has scored five or more runs seven times, with 21 doubles, 19 homers, a .282 batting average and .833 OPS.

Last night they tied a season high with four homers in beating Toronto 7-2. They are 25-3 this year when hitting two or more homers.

For the Orioles, homers lead to runs and runs lead to wins.

“Yeah, I think it’s the ebb and flow of the season. You’re going to get hot, you’re going to cool off and heat back up,” said left fielder Austin Hays who produced his first two homers of the season in the win, and it was his sixth career two-homer game. “The weather is getting hotter now, the ball usually starts to fly better, so, we’re going to have a good June.”

Hays, who hit a two-run shot in the fourth and a 405-foot blast to right center for a solo homer in the seventh, is 5-for-10 his last three games.

In 14 games since returning from the injured list, Hays is 12-for-38 with four doubles, two homers and seven RBIs. In this span he is batting .316 with a .904 OPS.

To hear him tell it, an illness in spring training forced him to lose strength and weight. Both are now back.

“I used the time that I was down to my advantage to put the strength and the size back on. So, I just was able to really focus on the right things. Get my body right, get my mind right. Be ready when I came back.

"I really started feeling like myself and now I am able to drive the ball like I was before I lost that weight. So I'm feeling good,” he said.

The game also featured an impressive homer from Anthony Santander, a two-run shot for a 2-0 lead in the O’s second. He got a fastball from right-hander Kevin Gausman at 96 mph that was actually above the zone and still turn on it and lined it out to right.

Santander has 11 homers for the year and has hit two in the past three games and four in his last 10. In those 10 games, he is batting .297 with an OPS of 1.003.

“He’s our middle of the order bat,” Hays said. “He’s our guy that hits 30 homers and drives in 100, so he’s a big piece of this team. When he is going, we’re going, we’re scoring a lot of runs. Good to see him driving the ball.”

Added Hyde: “Santander has been really swinging the bat well the last week. Bat speed is there. Looks like he is getting to the high heater right now. But also, really good piece of hitting on that offspeed pitch down and away that he started that rally with, the base hit to left field. Good swings by him.”

Second baseman Connor Norby, after playing in 198 games at Triple-A since 2022, made his MLB debut last night. He went 0-for-3 with two strikeouts and a fly out as he chased a couple of Gausman pitches early on.

“It’s the big leagues,” said Hyde. “There is never an easy landing spot. He did fine. He’s tough. Nice to get his first start and first few at-bats out of the way. Be back in there (today). But cool to see him make his debut and nice for his first to get a win.”

More Norby: With Norby starting at second last night, the Orioles had eight home-grown players start the game counting pitcher Grayson Rodriguez.

Their farm is fertile and keeps producing.

Norby told reporters before Monday’s game that while he patiently waited for his chance in the majors, that other young players kept pushing him and encouraging him.

The O’s organization features talented young players who sincerely embrace each other’s successes.

“The guys that came up (helped me),” said Norby. “There are so many guys I came up with. We’ve all pushed each other in so many ways. We push each other and we all want to be here and help this team win. That is what we think about all the time – how can we get better, how can we improve each other, how can I push the next guy?

“And that’s what we’ve done. Coaches have done an unbelievable job too. They have put us in positions to succeed. They create plans for us and what we need to do on a daily basis. They have been awesome throughout my three years so far.”

Added Jordan Westburg before the game: “I hope he feels you know as settled in as possible tonight. I know he’s going to be nervous, and this game is full of anxiety as is. Hopefully that helps him and we’re going to be here for him if he needs anything.”

Hays was hopeful that Norby was able to enjoy his big day.

“I told him to keep the lineup card and make sure he keeps everybody’s names on there, get it all signed. It’s a special moment. Make sure he checks his number and see what number (player) he was to make his debut and wear a major league jersey. It’s nothing to take lightly. It’s hard to get to the big leagues. Told him to really soak that moment in. It’s special.”

Final notes: The Orioles pulled to within 2.5 games of idle, first-place New York.

Right-hander Grayson Rodriguez allowed one earned run over 6 2/3 and is 6-2 with a 3.28 ERA and he took over the team lead in wins.

O's starters have allowed two earned runs or less 15 times in the last 19 games and they have an ERA of 2.59 in that span.

The O's bullpen has thrown four scoreless games in the last five and has an ERA of 1.04 in the five games. 

The Orioles are 7-1 at Rogers Centre since the start of the 2023 season.