Hays undergoing ankle surgery, O's down 10-0

Outfielder Austin Hays, one of the top-rated prospects in the Orioles system who made his major league debut last September, will undergo surgery Thursday morning to repair a fractured ankle.

Hays was limited to 75 games this season, 66 at Double-A Bowie, due to the injury. However, he finished the season with the Baysox and was ticketed to play in the Arizona Fall League.

The Glendale Desert Dogs' roster included Hays, but his participation was pending the results of today's examination. Dr. Robert Anderson, a foot/ankle specialist based in Green Bay, Wisc., has recommended a surgical procedure on the ankle.

The Orioles were in the process today of collecting more information, but the outcome seemed pretty clear. There's no reason to further attempts to have the fracture heal on its own.

Hays later confirmed via Twitter that he's having surgery. He should be ready for spring training.

Hays batted .242/.271/.432 with 12 doubles, two triples, 12 home runs and 43 RBIs with Bowie. He also went 7-for-37 in nine games with short-season Single-A Aberdeen on an injury rehab assignment.

The Orioles placed Hays on the minor league disabled list in late May, the second injury-related setback in 2018. He sat out a few weeks of spring training with a strained right shoulder that eliminated any chance of breaking camp with the team.

Hays made his major league debut on Sept. 7, 2017, placed on the 40-man roster a year before necessary to protect him in the Rule 5 draft, and went 13-for-60 (.217) with three doubles, a home run and eight RBIs in 20 games.

A healthy and productive Hays probably would be getting starts in right field for the Orioles this month with Adam Jones moved to the bench during a weekend series at Tropicana Field. Rookie Cedric Mullins is playing center field and DJ Stewart made his major league debut tonight in left field, popping up to Athletics shortstop Marcus Semien to close out the bottom of the second inning.

The first 11 Oakland batters reached base in the third inning and the Orioles fell behind 10-0. Andrew Cashner was charged with eight of the runs, Cody Carroll the other two. Carroll let an inherited runner score and couldn't stop the bleeding.

The Athletics loaded the bases twice with no outs and sent 15 batters to the plate. Ramón Laureano popped up to shortstop Tim Beckham for the first out and fans cheered, the sarcasm cutting through the humidity.

Matt Chapman had a two-run double to break a scoreless tie and added an RBI single later in the inning for an 10-0 lead. Matt Olson hit a three-run homer off Cashner following RBI singles by Jed Lowrie and Khris Davis.

Eight straight batters reached against Cashner, who didn't record an out in the third inning.

Tonight marked the second-shortest outing for Cashner this season. He lasted only 1 1/3 innings on Aug. 2 while surrendering 10 runs to the Rangers.

The A's collected 10 hits in the inning and also drew two walks. Nick Martini and Jonathan Lecroy each singled twice at the bottom of the order, the latter delivering a two-run single off Carroll.

The Orioles also surrendered 10 runs to the Royals in the first inning of a May 8 game at Camden Yards. They hit four home runs off Dylan Bundy before making an out, which came after the right-hander exited.

Liam Hendricks worked one inning for Oakland tonight, allowing two-out single to Trey Mancini and throwing eight of 11 pitches for strikes. Cashner threw 52 pitches in two-plus innings. Carroll threw 32 in the third.

The A's are having a bullpen game tonight. Theirs was planned all along. Sean Gilmartin is the third Orioles pitcher used in four innings.