Orioles first-pitch proficiency, Baumann passing Jackson, being careful with Bautista

Orioles rookie Jordan Westburg stood at the plate yesterday against Mets starter José Quintana, nobody on base and two outs in the sixth inning, and got the barrel of his bat on a first-pitch sinker. His line drive through the left side of the infield, clocked at 108.7 mph, produced the Orioles’ fourth hit of the afternoon.

Catcher James McCann led off the seventh with a double down the left field line on a first-pitch changeup from Quintana, and he scored on a fielder’s choice grounder.

The only runs in the game.

Pretty much on brand for this club.

The Orioles began yesterday leading the majors with a .395 average on the first pitch after ranking 26^th last season at .316, according to STATS.

The Mets were 26^th yesterday at .326 after ranking fourth last year at .356.

Their records are a lot different, too.

This is sort of done by design. Players aren’t in immediate attack mode, but the hitting program and data that they’re exposed to puts them in a position to recognize how to inflict damage early in the count.

“I think it’s part of the process of us going up there with a really good plan, preparing every day for the lane we’re looking for, the spot in the zone,” said Orioles co-hitting coach Ryan Fuller. “And you always fall back on, if they throw it middle-middle, we want to be able to pull the trigger because that’s where the hard-hit balls, really good damage, is. So, whether it be the fourth pitch of the at-bat, the seventh pitch or the first one, if they put it in the lane we’re looking, take your shot at it because usually good things happen.

“It’s not something we’re preaching, get on that first pitch, but it’s just something that, if they throw it in the zone we’re looking at, take your good swing at it.”

Manager Brandon Hyde doesn’t appear to be a heavy user of the take sign.

“Hyder does a great job of letting these guys be themselves, play,” Fuller said. “Whether it’s 0-0, 3-0, good hitters counts where you feel like you’re going to get a pitch you can drive, take you’re A swing on it. And usually with these guys being so talented, good things happen with it.”

They aren’t batting 1.000, of course.

Gunnar Henderson swung at the first pitch yesterday and flied to shallow left field with two outs in the third inning and the bases loaded, after Quintana walked Adley Rutschman and Anthony Santander.

Hyde appreciates the balance required to make it work. Don’t be passive, don’t be reckless.

“Definitely want guys to be ready to hit from the first pitch. You see something in the middle part of the plate, we want guys to offer, and offer aggressively, and I think we’ve done a good job of that,” Hyde said.

“I think our offensive approach is just, we’ve come so far in two years. The way we manage the strike zone, the way we battle with two strikes, the way we put the ball in play and run. I think we put a ton of pressure on defenses. You’ve seen multiple singles stretched into doubles the last couple weeks just because we get out of the box so well, putting pressure on corner outfielders. It’s kind of contagious a little bit.

“I’m really proud of how hard our team plays and how hard our team runs down the line. We think double out of the box, and I don’t think our guys get enough credit for that, honestly. Middle of August and guys are playing really, really hard. Our offensive approach is greatly improved in the last couple years.”

The weekend series provided numerous examples of Orioles stretching singles into doubles, taking the extra base. And they bust it up the line.

The Orioles ranked 20^th yesterday in infield hits with 79, per STATS, but they might lead the league in forcing close calls.

“It’s something that, one, we have really good makeup guys,” Hyde said. “I actually have a couple guys that, I tell them to back off at times because it’s just in their DNA to run hard and to play hard, which is great, which is amazing. You’d much rather pull guys back than have to push guys. I don’t have to push many of our players.

“Our hitters, they get down the line really, really well. But I think it’s a standard, honestly, and I think that if everybody’s giving a good effort down the line, you’re going to get noticed if you don’t. We don’t harp on it in team meetings or anything because we don’t need to. I think it’s just something that’s already ingrained in our club.”

Henderson is one of those players who doesn’t require any prodding to hustle. He has an extra gear, which makes Hyde nervous.

“I just don’t want to see him hit the base so hard. That drives me nuts,” Hyde said.

“He just plays so hard and he’s so awesome. I just want to see him hit the base a little easier. But he’s so young and wants to get there so bad. It’s a great problem to have, having him go too hard sometimes. It’s a big body that’s moving, and I want him in there at 7:05 the next night.”

* Reliever Mike Baumann is 27-years-old and mostly unfamiliar with left-hander Grant Jackson, who pitched for the Orioles from 1971-76, when they traded him to the Yankees in the famous 10-player deal that netted Scott McGregor, Tippy Martinez, Rick Dempsey, Rudy May and Dave Pagan.

Baumann has read a little about Jackson, who held the club relief record with an 8-0 record to begin the 1973 season. Baumann passed him Friday night, which explains the sudden interest.

“I saw his numbers. He had a phenomenal 1973 season. But that’s about all I know,” Baumann said.

“Right now, I’m just trying to stay out of the loss column, more importantly. I owe the offense a lot for the wins, but really, the starters have been doing a fantastic job and the offense always keeps us in the game. I just want to take pride in staying out of that loss column as much as possible.”

Baumann replaced Dean Kremer in the top of the sixth inning Friday after the Mets tied the score, he got a double play, and the Orioles went ahead in the bottom half. He retired the side in order in the seventh after becoming the pitcher of record.

“They’ve all kind of been different,” Baumann said. “I know the one before that (July 30) just kind of fell in my lap, where it was the fifth inning when I went in, we already had a (seven-run) lead, so that was like the definition of vulturing win.

“When I go in with runners on base, just trying to limit the damage there and do my job, to get out of the inning in as few pitches as possible. Just go back out if called upon to try to keep us where we’re at.”

* Joey Krehbiel warmed in the top of the ninth inning Friday with the Orioles ahead by four runs. Yennier Cano got the call and stranded a runner on second base.

Félix Bautista didn’t budge.

Hyde might have summoned Bautista earlier this season, but he's trying to be more selective in the second half.

“I’d like to just use him in a save situation, and I would like to just use him in the ninth inning,” Hyde said before Bautista pitched yesterday “However, sometimes there’s certain circumstances which I have gone away from that.”

Bautista recorded a five-out save July 31 in Toronto after Cano surrendered a home run to Whit Merrifield and walked two batters in the eighth.

“We haven’t had a save situation since then,” Hyde said.

“I’d love to keep all those guys as rested as possible. We have such a long way to go still. We’re going to be playing a lot of close games the rest of the way, I know that, so I’m trying to keep Bautista ready but also as fresh as possible.”

Bautista recorded his 30^th save yesterday after Mark Vientos’ leadoff double. Two fly balls, and a strikeout on a 101.9 mph fastball.

The 30 saves are first in the American League and third in the majors. Bautista is 6-1 with a 0.85 ERA, 0.85 WHIP, .133 average against and 102 strikeouts in 52 2/3 innings.

The Cy Young ballot has room for five names. Bautista absolutely deserves to be on it at this point.

To argue against it exposes your reliever bias. Don't expose yourself.