Orioles maneuver through the bizarre in 6-5 win (Tate optioned)

Jimmy Yacabonis lasted one inning today as the opener, loading the bases with no outs and somehow escaping without a run scoring. Sean Reid-Foley walked three of the first four batters he faced, allowed a run and was spared the possibility of more damage when the final out was made on an RBI single.

A combined five walks in the first. One double play. One apparent sacrifice fly that turned into an inning-ending out. And a gift run-scoring single that turned into an inning-ending out after Jace Peterson tried for a double.

Both teams wanted a win today. By the end of the first they were just looking for anything normal.

Tom Eshelman came out of the bullpen to restore order, contributing again in a bulk role, and a lead claimed in the second inning had the appropriate shelf life in a 6-5 victory over the Blue Jays before an announced crowd of 18,837 at Camden Yards.

The Orioles split the four-game series and improved to 38-73 at home and 17-38 at home. Their 38th win last year came on Aug. 27 - in a 7-0 win over the Blue Jays - and was attached to 94 losses.

Eshelman earned his first major league win in his sixth game, but he also allowed back-to-back home runs to Bo Bichette and Cavan Biggio in the seventh inning to reduce the lead to 6-4. The Orioles tied three other teams, most recently the 2016 Astros, for most consecutive games allowing multiple homers with nine.

Dillon Tate replaced Eshelman, who was charged with four runs and eight hits in five innings. Tate struck out two in the seventh, but also allowed a single to Vladimir Guerrero Jr., threw two wild pitches, walked Justin Smoak and surrendered Randal Grichuk's RBI double.

Branden Kline struck out both batters he faced in the eighth, including Bichette, and Richard Bleier retired Biggio on a ground ball. Shawn Armstrong registered his fourth save by stranding runners on the corners.

Yacabonis tossed a scoreless first inning on 19 pitches. Bichette doubled on the first ball thrown to him and Biggio and Lourdes Gurriel Jr. walked to fill the bases. Gurriel saw nine pitches in his at-bat.

Guerrero saw one, bouncing into a 3-2 force at home. Chris Davis went for the out instead of conceding the run and he got it.

Smoak followed with a fly ball to deep left field and an apparent sacrifice fly. Except that Anthony Santander threw out Gurriel at third base before Biggio crossed the plate.

(You can read more about it in this month's edition of "Bad Baserunning Magazine")

Trey Mancini grounded into a 6-4-3 double play after Jonathan Villar's leadoff walk. Santander and Renato Núñez also walked and the Blue Jays couldn't corral Peterson's blooper down the left field line.

Peterson was thrown out going to second base, but at least the run counted.

Mancini delivered two more in the second with a double on a ground ball past third base, the hit coming after Bichette butchered Villar's bouncer up the middle that should have ended the inning. Chance Sisco crossed the plate and looked back to see what happened.

Sisco learned that he scored the go-ahead run after his one-out single and Davis' walk.

Three unearned runs off Reid-Foley and a 4-1 lead for the Orioles.

The Jays had tied the game just two batters into Eshelman's relief outing. Grichuk doubled and scored on Teoscar Hernández's single. Brandon Drury followed with a single on a high chopper over the right side of the infield, with Davis trying to run it down as the ball cleared his head. Just another weird play in a game already filled with them.

Eshelman retired the next three batters, retired the side in order in the third and stranded two in the fourth after back-to-back singles to open the inning. He allowed a run in the fifth on Smoak's grounder that scored Guerrero, who doubled to right field.

The Orioles answered with two runs in the bottom of the fifth, and of course it had to be odd. Yennsy Diaz, making his major league debut, loaded the bases with two outs and walked Sisco and Davis for a 6-2 lead.

Diaz walked Núñez and Hanser Alberto earlier in the inning.

A major league record was tied that the Orioles didn't want, but a game was won. They didn't care how it looked.

Update: The Orioles optioned Tate to Triple-A Norfolk after the game and will announce a corresponding move on Monday.

Hyde on win: "I think you saw a bunch of guys without a whole lot of experience pitch for us today and to be able to hold on and get a series split. It didn't look good in the first inning. (Santander) made a great throw to get the runner at third base. We pieced it together and found a way."

Hyde on Tate: "I put him in a tough spot, facing the meat of their order in the seventh inning. He did a nice job pitching out of it, minimizing damage and getting a big punchout with a runner on third base with one out and leaving them stranded. Good experience for him."

Hyde on 10 wins last 17 games: "We sure have played a lot of close games. I would love to have a 10-2 game one time. I think we stick together in the dugout real well. I don't think guys give away at-bats. Our bullpen has done a nice job for the most part holding onto a lead, which is really important, obviously. And we've been scoring some more runs. We're getting some more experience and some guys are improving."

Yacabonis on first inning: "It was good to get out of there with a zero. Didn't have my best stuff today, but I've been working on some mechanical stuff. So I've been thinking about that when I get out there. Just try to find that rhythm and more composure just so I can have that rhythm and be more accurate with my command. But for the most part, yeah, I'm just happy I got out of it.

"Huge play by Tony in left field to throw that guy out at third base, so that saved a run for me, so that was huge."

Yacabonis on whether anticipated out at third: "No, not at all. I was backing up home plate because I just figured he'd throw to the cut and then I saw him take off and they waved off the run at home, so I was pretty stoked about that."

Eshelman on what will remember about first win: "Giving up those two homers. But no, everything was working for me throughout the first couple innings and some bleeders came in and they capitalized on that. But to be able to do that with this group of guys, it's pretty special. And although the record doesn't show it, it's a great clubhouse to be a part of."

Eshelman on whether eager to get first win: "Yeah, I think the last time I won was back when I was in Norfolk (June 13). Yeah, just being able to do it with this group of guys, it's a great group and I'm happy to be a part of it."

Santander (via Ramón Alarcón) on throw to third: "I tried to anticipate the play. I had it in my mind before it happened. First and second, a deep fly ball to left field. There's a good chance that the runner from second is going to advance. I was thinking of making the throw, making an accurate throw, and thankfully I did and we got the out."

Santander on his cheering section in left field: "Very good, very happy. I tried to respond back with balls and just clapping and smiling. It was an unbelievable experience."