In latest chance to shine, Tanner Scott stepped up Sunday

ARLINGTON, Texas - On a day when their pitching staff gave up six runs, pitchers still came up very big on Sunday for the Orioles. The bullpen was critical in the 9-6 win that avoided a four-game sweep at Texas.

We are still waiting to find out which pitchers will work in which specific roles in a 'pen that is now without traded veterans Zach Britton, Brad Brach and Darren O'Day and minus injured Richard Bleier.

One young pitcher that is likely going to get some significant chances to show what he can do down the stretch is hard-throwing lefty Tanner Scott. After Yefry Ramírez was knocked out in the second inning Sunday, Scott entered the game. He would pitch 2 1/3 scoreless as the first of five bullpen pitchers who allowed just one run and one hit over 7 1/3 with four walks and 12 strikeouts in the win.

Manager Buck Showalter said it doesn't matter what inning Scott pitched in yesterday. What mattered is that he got another chance to do well and he did.

"Opportunities are opportunities," Showalter said. "In 2016, '17, '18, each year going to a higher level, walk totals have gone down, his strikeout totals have gone up, and this is part of the process and the progress he's making. He's going to have some outings where you've just got to make sure you're in the right place in the process. We've talked a lot whether, 'OK, is this what's best for him?' As long as he's making strides the next time out and learning. He's getting a lot of information from veteran pitchers and, most importantly, the experiences he's having."

Scott's outing yesterday was the longest of his big league career. He threw 25 of his 37 pitches for strikes. Scott threw more sliders than fastballs in the game, 21 to 16. His fastball touched 98 mph.

In six games since the All-Star break, Scott has a 2.45 ERA after allowing two runs in 7 1/3 innings, with two walks and 11 strikeouts. It appears that, in this remodeled Orioles bullpen, Scott is going to be a key pitcher the rest of the way in 2018. With a chance to position himself well to be prominent in the 'pen next season, as well.

Two Trumbombs: When Mark Trumbo batted in the seventh inning yesterday he already had a homer and three RBIs in the game. The Orioles were ahead 7-5 and there was a runner on second with two outs. The Rangers could have pitched around Trumbo. Instead, he got a pitch from Mike Minor he could handle with a 1-2 count, and he hit a two-run shot. Trumbo said he did not expect to get walked there.

"It's been a while since anyone pitched around me," he said. "For whatever reason, I've been getting to two strikes a lot lately and still getting some hits. So that is kind of what happened there. I got a changeup and put some good wood on it."

Trumbo seems very motivated right now to provide whatever help he can to this now-younger O's team that features fewer veterans, and I asked him if he felt he showed some leadership during his big game.

"I'd like to think so," he said. "There are a few of us guys that have been around a little bit longer than most. The production comes and goes, but the attitude and the mindset is the big thing, and I think these guys are doing a good job."

Since the All-Star break, the Orioles have scored 93 runs in 15 games to rank second in the American League. They are the surprise leaders in the AL since the break in team batting average (.300), OBP (.356), slugging (.499) and OPS (.855).

What does Trumbo see better from the offense in this stretch?

"Guys are ... I see the strikeouts have gone down a little bit, or at least I think so. Lot of hard contact. (Jonathan) Villar has really done a nice job and (Renato) Nuñez as well. Both those guys have kind of hit the ground running, and that definitely helps. Everyone has contributed in some way and I think it has led to a more dynamic team."

Trumbo is right about the strikeouts. Before the All-Star break the Orioles had the fifth most strikeouts in the league. Since the break they have the eighth most.

But Ramírez struggled: It was a tough weekend for Orioles starting pitchers, save Dylan Bundy, who allowed one earned run in six innings Saturday. On Sunday, right-hander Yefry Ramírez allowed five hits, five runs and five walks in just 1 2/3 innings as his ERA increased to 5.66.

Ramírez pledged to take something away from the game, even though it was such a poor one for him.

"I think the days like today is when you learn the most, so I'm definitely going to take advantage of the bad and make it an opportunity and try to work on my things to move forward," he said through interpreter Ramón Alarcón.

At Texas, the trio of Andrew Cashner, David Hess and Ramirez allowed 22 runs (20 earned) in 6 2/3 innings. The O's gave up 37 runs in the Texas series and their rotation ERA for the season of 5.43 ranks last in the American League.