Defense lets down Zimmermann before O's decide on next starters

NEW YORK – Clarity came to the Orioles rotation this afternoon only if TBA counts as a parting of the clouds.

Left-hander Bruce Zimmermann made today’s start against the Yankees and exited with four unearned runs in 4 1/3 innings in a sloppy 10-5 loss that completed the sweep. Who follows this weekend might not be revealed until Friday, and perhaps in daily increments.

Spenser Watkins’ next turn plops him into the series opener versus the Red Sox at Camden Yards. Veteran Jordan Lyles would pitch Sunday. But the Orioles could push back Watkins and use someone else Friday night.

The same night that Kyle Bradish is listed as Triple-A Norfolk’s starter in Gwinnett.

It’s important to stay on your toes while tracking who might be handed the ball.

The Red Sox are starting Rich Hill, Nathan Eovaldi and Nick Pivetta, which the Orioles learned earlier today.

Tyler Wells worked a career-high five innings and 72 pitches last night, the most since Aug. 31, 2018 with Double-A Chattanooga in the Twins’ system. He broke away from the tandem setup, with Joey Krehbiel relieving him and facing only three batters before Félix Bautista entered. But Wells apparently won’t be stretched out beyond his outing in the Bronx.

“I think last night’s probably going to be at the max just because he is on an innings limit for the season, so if he throws four or five innings, I think that’s kind of what the goal is going to be for the rest of the year,” said manager Brandon Hyde.

“I thought he was great last night with five (innings), 72 pitches. If I let him go further than that, we’re going to lose him later in the year, and I’d rather see him pitch a full season and we’ll go from there.”

The other starters are close to being where you’d expect if the Orioles had had a normal spring training, creeping to the desired 100-pitch range. Wells isn’t operating under the same conditions after missing two seasons and pitching last summer in high-leverage relief as a Rule 5 pick.

Whoever is on the mound can't be subjected to what happened today.

Zimmermann lasted 4 1/3 innings because he didn’t get the necessary support behind him. The Orioles committed five errors, three while he was pitching, and were swept in a three-game series in the Bronx for the first time since 2017. They went 3-7 on the trip.

The six unearned runs were the most since July 20, 2019 versus the Red Sox.

The Baltimore native carried a shutout into the fifth and lost it when Kelvin Gutiérrez committed his second error and Marwin González doubled to reduce the Orioles' lead to 2-1. Jorge Mateo was responsible for the third miscue of the game on a failed attempt to backhand DJ LeMahieu’s grounder, and Aaron Judge singled in the tying run on a hard one-hopper that deflected off Rougned Odor’s glove.

Anthony Rizzo’s clean single into left gave New York a 3-2 lead, and Bryan Baker replaced Zimmermann. Giancarlo Stanton singled to score Judge, but Gutiérrez fielded Josh Donaldson’s grounder and started a 5-3 double play.

Zimmermann allowed five hits, walked one and struck out five while lowering his ERA to 0.93. He hasn’t surrendered an earned run to the Yankees this month in 9 1/3 innings.

Anthony Santander made a terrific running catch in right field to rob Rizzo leading off the fourth, ending it with a minor collision with the fence, but Stanton’s scorching ground ball went between Gutiérrez’s legs. Zimmermann retired the next two batters, striking out Joey Gallo for the second time.

Reliever Mike Baumann began the sixth inning by walking Gallo, throwing a wild pitch, mishandling Tim Locastro’s comebacker and throwing the ball past first base for an error. González’s sacrifice fly to center field on the 11th pitch of the at-bat gave the Yankees a 5-2 lead – every run unearned.

Baumann allowed a run-scoring single to Josh Donaldson in the seventh after LeMahieu led off with a double on a ball that scooted past Mateo’s glove and sat in shallow left field.

Mateo couldn’t handle a slow ground ball in the eighth, giving him two errors on the day. Paul Fry’s wild pitch scored a run and Judge brought home three more with a homer.

Ryan Mountcastle sat out another game with neck stiffness. His condition is improving, “but not enough to make a start,” Hyde said.

“Hopefully, he’ll be able to start tomorrow. The neck feels a lot better.”

The Orioles took a 2-0 lead without him.

Ryan McKenna doubled with one out in the second and scored on Gutiérrez’s single. McKenna entered the lineup yesterday after Mountcastle was scratched, and he remained this afternoon in a reshuffling that put him in center field and Cedric Mullins in the designated hitter role.

Jameson Taillon hit Mullins on the foot leading off the third, and two wild pitches and Trey Mancini’s roller to the left side of the mound increased the margin.

Odor struck out to end the first inning after Mancini singled and Austin Hays doubled, and he stuck out again to end the third after Hays’ second of three doubles.

Anthony Bemboom’s sacrifice bunt in the fourth put two more runners in scoring position with one out after Mateo’s leadoff single and McKenna’s walk. Gutiérrez struck out and Mullins popped up to catcher Kyle Higashioka.

Taillon was done after Hays singled with two outs in the fifth. Hays had an RBI double in the ninth for his first career four-hit day.

Odor doubled in the fifth against former Oriole Miguel Castro – two more runners in scoring position – and Mateo walked to load the bases, but McKenna struck out.

The game spun in the bottom half, with the Orioles’ defense providing the momentum.

The last time the Orioles had four errors in a game was June 15, 2021 in Cleveland with Matt Harvey starting. Mateo’s second error gave the Orioles five for the first time since Aug. 8, 2018 in St. Petersburg.

Odor reached on an infield single in the seventh inning for his first multi-hit game as an Oriole, and he doubled in the ninth to score Hays. Odor scored on McKenna's single, bringing a two-out pitching change and unfavorable comments from some Yankees fans as the place was emptying.

Santander’s streak of reaching base ended at 18 games this season, though he made it to first base in the sixth inning on a fielder’s choice. Mancini struck out looking to strand two more and raise the total to 10. The Orioles were 1-for-10 with RISP through the sixth.

Notes: Catcher Creed Willems has been transferred from the Florida Complex League to Single-A Delmarva. The Orioles selected Willems in the eighth round last year from Aledo High School in Texas.

The Orioles announced plans this morning for the inaugural Mo Gaba Day at Camden Yards on Thursday, July 28, when they host the Rays at 12:35 p.m.

On the second anniversary of Gaba’s passing, the Orioles will welcome his mother, Sonsy, along with friends, family, and caretakers from Johns Hopkins Children’s Center. Fans purchasing tickets at Orioles.com/Tickets may include a donation to the Johns Hopkins Children’s Center in Gaba’s honor.

Gaba was the 14-year-old superfan elected to the club’s Hall of Fame in 2020, one day prior to his passing after enduring four battles with cancer and losing his eyesight, but never his humor and passion for Baltimore sports.