The swing of emotions: The O's celebrate Holliday while showing concern after Westburg's injury

For the Orioles, the high they felt of winning 10-4 today at Camden Yards as Jackson Holliday hit a grand slam to lead the O's past the Blue Jays lasted briefly. The attention immediately turned to Jordan Westburg, who was hit in the hand with a fastball.

A team that has lost pitchers Tyler Wells, John Means and Kyle Bradish for the year and hopes to get Danny Coulombe back late in the year, and recently saw Jorge Mateo also get hurt, lost infielder Westburg. He will miss significant time after getting hit in the right-hand today by a 95 mph fastball in the fifth inning from righty reliever Yerry Rodríguez. He fractured his right hand.

Westburg, who has made starts at second and third, has batted .269 with 25 doubles, five triples, 18 homers, 58 RBIs and a .815 OPS in 101 games.

“All-Star player,” said manager Brandon Hyde, who hopes Westburg can make it back before the end of the regular season. “So, injuries are a part of the game. We have to pick up the pieces for him. We’ve got to play well. He is a huge part of our lineup, our culture, really everything. He’s right in the middle of everything and so we have to have other guys kind of step up in his place and fill the void.”

During the same series when catcher James McCann was hit in the face by a pitch Monday suffering multiple nasal fractures, now the O’s lose Westburg.

“We’ve had our share of guys getting hit,” said Hyde. “He’s not trying to hit him there, trying to run a ball in. Or a two-seamer and it gets away from him. Not trying to load the bases there with Jackson (Holliday next). It’s unfortunate and we are not the only team that’s getting hit. People are getting hit around the league. Lack of command is pretty apparent with pitchers right now.”

Hyde was asked if it’s asking a lot for Westburg to return before the end of the regular season or if that’s a reasonable timetable.

“I have no idea. They just X-rayed it and how it heals and those type of things is way beyond my expertise,” he said.

Winning pitcher Grayson Rodriguez, who gave up three earned runs over six innings, added this: “It’s tough seeing Westburg get hit in the hand. Really thinking about him right now. Prayers for him. Hope everything will be okay. You know, you never want to see that happen. Hit by pitches or anything like that, especially getting hit in the hand. That’s tough.”

Holliday’s first homer was a slam: Quite a contrast to the Westburg postgame news was the Holliday slam in the fifth that gave the O’s an 8-3 lead on their way to the six-run win.

He went 2-for-34 in 10 games in April then today, in his first game back, and third time to bat, hit an 0-2 pitch onto Eutaw Street that went 439 feet. It was mashed for his first career homer.

“It’s pretty surreal,” said Holliday postgame. “Couldn’t have dreamt it up any better for the first home run. So, it’s just exciting to be able to help the team win. When I was struggling I felt like I couldn’t really do that. But to come through in a big spot is more important to me than anything else.

“Just tried to keep simple. The last time I was up here caught myself trying to do a little bit too much and overswing. I had some practice with it in Triple-A in big spots, to just simplify things and try to hit a line drive right at the shortstop. Got a slider. I’ve hit some homers off sliders in the past and was able to put a good swing on it.”

After Holliday hit it, he took a brief moment to admire his work. He was sure that was gone.

“Yeah. Yeah. That is about as best I can hit a ball, so that’s about all I’ve got,” said Holliday.

Holliday became the third Oriole to hit a grand slam as his first MLB homer. He joins Fritz Connally on April 19, 1985 at Toronto and Frank Baker on Sept. 28, 1973 versus Cleveland. 

At 20 years and 240 days old, Holliday is the youngest Oriole to hit a grand slam. 

“That was a great swing. They are celebrating right now in the clubhouse for him," said Hyde. "We have a bittersweet attitude going right now with Westy. But Jackson with a huge hit for us today. I thought his at-bats were much better. Even the outs to left field, the almost home run down the left-field line. Even the fly out to left field was a better swing with two strikes. Swing is a little bit short and I liked the swings today."

Holliday's homer is the seventh ball this year hit onto Eutaw Street and the fifth by an Oriole. The dugout reaction and a curtain call from the fans was the icing on that cake. 

“It’s special. To be able to have them behind me and it’s always good to have teammates that are rooting for you. They’re special to me and to have the fans rooting you on, it’s very special," said Holliday.

Now with Westburg's injury, the Orioles could turn to Triple-A's Coby Mayo to join the roster. He has 23 homers with a .987 OPS this year over 79 games. He is ranked as the No. 12 prospect in the top 100 by Baseball America and No. 15 by MLBPipeline.com.

Holliday has played with him most of this year at Norfolk.

“It’s unbelievable," Holliday said of Mayo's season. "Everyone is so astonished by his power but he’s a good hitter (for average too). Just a good hitter. Hitting like .300 in Triple-A. It’s a big-time bat. He’s got a helluva arm and I know how hard he works. If they need to call on him to play third he’ll be able to do it."

During his interview, Holliday told us he didn't get his home run ball but was hoping to. And he did. Check out this from the Orioles.

Here is the game story from earlier as the O's won the homestand finale to get to 65-44 and stay a 1/2 game ahead of the Yankees, who beat Philadelphia 6-5.