Orioles respond to lost late lead with rally in ninth for 6-5 win (updated)

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – The Orioles have faced Baltimore native Shane McClanahan nine times in his career. Or “too much,” according to manager Brandon Hyde.

McClanahan led the majors in ERA as he warmed for today’s start, preparing for a team that scored one run in its last 15 innings. A team that never beat him and was shut out in six innings in an earlier matchup this year.

The challenge for the Orioles was bereft of subtleties. It was a hammer to the head.

They pounded McClanahan in the fourth, sending nine batters to the plate and scoring five runs. They got an impressive performance from rookie Grayson Rodriguez. And they recovered from a late blown lead to move ahead in an important series with a 6-5 victory over the Rays before an announced crowd of 25,025 at Tropicana Field.

Key hits off the bench were the final nails.

Tampa Bay scored twice off Shintaro Fujinami in the eighth inning to tie the game – in his second appearance with the Orioles in less than 24 hours. But pinch-hitter Adam Frazier led off the ninth with a single off Pete Fairbanks, James McCann laid down a sacrifice bunt while ducking to avoid a 98.6 mph fastball, and pinch-hitter Ryan O’Hearn singled into right field.

Félix Bautista retired the side in order with two strikeouts for his 27^th save, most in the American League, and the Orioles improved to 60-38 while also reclaiming sole possession of first place in the division. Their 60^th win last year arrived on Aug. 15.

"It was a weird game," Hyde said, "but there were a lot of huge things."

O'Hearn produced his fourth career go-ahead RBI in the ninth inning or later, and his first since June 23, 2021 with Kansas City. He's slashing .357/.370/.619 (15-for-42) in 12 road division games, with two doubles, three home runs and 14 RBIs.

"Stay ready," he said. "I was in the cage working. I had an idea I might face Fairbanks at the end there when they tied it up. Had a good look at him the last few days, I know what he throws, and I was just kind of waiting on that slider. It's just kind of pick your poison with him. You've got to either look slider or look fastball. It's hard to cover both. Glad that ball fell in and got the dub.

"It means everything. That's why I show up here, to get better and to get better to help the team win. I love this team. It's the most fun I've ever had in my career, being part of it, and to be able to contribute, especially in a big game against the Rays, battling for the division is awesome. And I don't take it lightly at all."

McCann got the runner in scoring position and avoided a concussion.

"Another fastball to the face bunt. Is that three this year?" Hyde said. "He's leading the league in bunts with fastballs to the face in play."

"Just anything to help the team win," McCann said. "Coming away with a victory there is huge. You credit Frazier there for leading off with a single, then big-time credit to O'Hearn for coming through in a big spot."

"Can we talk about McCann's bunt?" O'Hearn said. "I don't know if you guys have seen the video yet, but that should be circulating on the internet because that's unbelievable that he got that bunt down and he didn't get seriously injured on that pitch."

McCann has laid down three sac bunts this season.

"I think as a professional baseball player it's important to be able to do everything and be good at every facet and be able to get the job done when your name's called," he said. "I do take pride in being able to get it done, and today it was get it done or hurt tomorrow, so glad I got it done."

Rodriguez tied his career high with 5 2/3 innings and blanked the Rays until Wander Franco’s two-run single in the sixth.

"I thought Grayson was unbelievable," said Hyde, whose club hasn't lost a series against a division opponent in the last seven, the longest stretch since 2014. "Really impressed with his last two starts since he's been back from Triple-A. Really good fastball command. Lost a little bit there in the sixth. Maybe he got a little bit tired. I'm not sure. But all good stuff - good breaking ball, good changeup, good fastball. Throwing 99 mph with life. Ton of confidence. And it's not an easy lineup to pitch to."

Rodriguez made his 12^th major league start and second after the club optioned him to Triple-A Norfolk. Pitted against the first-place Dodgers earlier this week and a Rays team with the second-best record in the American League.

He was exceptional until running into trouble in the sixth with Josh Lowe’s leadoff walk and José Siri’s double. His previous high in innings also came against Tampa Bay on May 9.

"Anytime you can't finish an inning, it's a disappointment," Rodriguez said. "My goal is to get through the sixth there."

Rodriguez faced the minimum number of batters through the fifth after the Orioles turned their second double play. He was at 70 pitches with one hit and one walk.

"He commanded his pitches really well," McCann said. "He got ahead and he used all four of his pitches. When you're ahead and you're locating four pitches, it's going to be a tough day for an opposing team."

Siri reached on an infield single with one out in the third inning after Rodriguez retired the first seven batters. René Pinto flied to shallow right field and Siri kept running until he got to third base. Anthony Santander flipped the ball to first baseman Ryan Mountcastle, who stepped on the bag after some confusion.

Brandon Lowe walked with one out in the fifth and Isaac Paredes lined to third baseman Gunnar Henderson, who made a diving backhand catch and fired to first for the last out. Henderson yelled and pumped his fist.

"That was incredible, the only way to describe it," Rodriguez said. "Really wasn't expecting that after that ball was barreled, to see the outcome of that. That was spectacular. Definitely helped me out a lot."

Two runners were in scoring position in the sixth when Pinto struck out and McCann threw out Yandy Díaz on a tapper in front of the plate. Franco grounded a 2-2 changeup through the left side of the infield to reduce the lead to 5-2.

Danny Coulombe entered with Rodriguez at 93 pitches, and McCann cut down Franco trying to steal.   

A complete game for McCann today.

"He's done an amazing job controlling the running game," Hyde said, "and every time he goes back there, there's serious, serious leadership, and that's a guy who's been back there for nine years. He's doing a lot of little things really, really well. Nice to see him get a double there. He's had a lot of balls not fall for him."

Yennier Cano inherited two runners from Coulombe with one out in the seventh and Paredes lined an RBI single into center field. Mountcastle made a diving stop of Josh Lowe’s ground ball and flipped to Cano, and Siri grounded out.

Fujinami moved into a high-leverage role with Cano removed after nine pitches. He walked the first two batters, threw a wild pitch, and retired Franco on a bouncer that cut the lead to 5-4. Harold Ramírez struck out on a splitter, but Jorge Mateo couldn’t corral Randy Arozarena’s bouncer to his right. The run-scoring single tied the game.

“He was just so good yesterday and that was, we felt like, the spot for him, where they were in the lineup," Hyde said. "He just had a little bit of command issues the first two hitters. But really, really impressed with how he came back. Gets a ground ball, he punches out Ramírez, he’s throwing 102 mph. He’s one pitch away from really getting out of the inning and Arozarena, just doesn’t get it up high enough, but his stuff was great. He’s going to be a huge help for us.” 

The blown lead left Rodriguez with his eighth no-decision, but his ERA was lowered from 7.33 to 6.91.

"I think we were able to locate the fastball a little bit better today, really work both sides of the plate and get in on some guys," he said.

"I think that it gives me something to build off of. Definitely helped my confidence out a lot."

Rodriguez has felt more like himself in his two starts this month.

"I feel like a totally different pitcher, back to what I know, I guess," he said, "and that's just to go out and get outs."

Rodriguez keeps getting dealt aces, which could benefit him or ramp up the pressure by knowing that run support might be scarce. He’s started against McClanahan, Jacob deGrom, Dylan Cease, Eduardo Rodríguez, Zach Eflin, Shohei Ohtani and Jon Gray.  

“I just think this is major league baseball and it’s tough every night,” Hyde said earlier today. “I want to say that things even out, but if you look at Dean Kremer’s first, like, seven starts in the big leagues, I think five were against New York. It’s just how it kind of falls sometimes.

“This is a tough league and we’re going to face really good starters the rest of the way. I think it’s just kind of worked out that way. … But every experience he’s having right now is a positive one.”

McClanahan walked two batters in the first inning and ran his pitch count to 22, but he didn’t surrender a hit until Mountcastle lined a single into center field with one out in the first. Henderson singled with two outs, Ramón Urías walked, and McCann’s ground ball into left-center field became a two-run double.

Mateo followed with his own two-run double, on a fly ball to the fence in left-center, and Austin Hays quieted his slump with a bloop double to right that increased the lead to 5-0.

McClanahan’s career high in runs allowed is five. The Orioles matched it in one inning, and he was done for the day.

Rough treatment of a pitcher who was 6-0 with a 2.14 ERA and 1.122 WHIP against them.

"We have never done that against McClanahan," Hyde said, "so to string some hits together, bunch of guys pitching in."

Hays was 0-for-15 and 4-for-32 before the at-bat, and 4-for-22 lifetime against McClanahan. He lined McClanahan’s first pitch of the game to left field for a 103 mph out, and he struck out in the third.

The ball that fell in front of right fielder Jose Lowe traveled 218 feet at 69.9 mph.  

“I just think he’s had a couple games where he’s just kind of coming across balls a little bit,” Hyde said earlier. “The second half, he’s getting a hit most games. Just right now, not barreling up everything.”

Today marked only the second time that Rodriguez has recorded an out in the sixth. His ceiling is much higher than a backend starter, but if that’s his role in 2023, the Orioles will take the three hits allowed and shutout bid.  

“He’s got front of the rotation stuff,” Hyde said. “He’s just a young player and it’s not that easy here. If he can keep us in the game, like all of our starters … to the middle part of the game, you feel great about that. Love to see guys go deep as they can some nights, but I think all of our guys have done a really good job.

“I love the steps Kyle Bradish is making. He threw extremely well last night. Dean (Kremer) has been really solid, Tyler Wells has been unbelievably consistent for us. Gibby (Kyle Gibson) goes into the seventh two nights ago for us. If Grayson can kind of just continue to do that, then we’re in good shape.”

His team is in an excellent spot, atop the AL East again without references to percentage points. With a chance Sunday to claim their 19th series before heading to Philadelphia. With their eyes on a division title and much more.

"I do think this team has what it takes," McCann said. "I think it's a very good mix of young players with a lot of energy, and veteran players who have been in that situation before. It's a team that doesn't quit, it's guys that go about their business in a professional way. And anytime you put all that together, you're going to end up with a lot of success on the field, and that's what we're seeing right now."

* Jordan Westburg pinch-ran for O’Hearn and stole his first career base.

* Austin Voth will pitch for Double-A Bowie Sunday on his injury rehab assignment. He retired all three batters he faced in a start in the Florida Complex League.

* The Orioles signed left-hander T.J. McFarland to a minor league contract and assigned him to Triple-A Norfolk. Darwinzon Hernández went on the development list.

McFarland was the Orioles’ Rule 5 pick in 2012. He went 12-7 with a 4.27 ERA and 1.548 WHIP in 123 games over four seasons.

The Orioles released McFarland in February 2017 and he’s pitched for five other organizations. The Mets designated him for assignment earlier this month, and he cleared outright waivers last week and elected free agency.

The veteran reliever made three appearances with the Mets and allowed one earned run (two total) and four hits in 1 2/3 innings. He had a 2.76 ERA and 1.439 WHIP in 23 games with Triple-A Syracuse.