Trying to size up Burnes' outing, plus Holliday's battle vs. high-octane heat

LOS ANGELES – Orioles right-hander Corbin Burnes, who had an ERA of 8.71 his previous four starts, gave up six runs last night as the Orioles lost to the Los Angeles Dodgers. But just one run was earned over five innings.

Does that make it challenging to evaluate how Burnes pitched?

In the Dodgers third, with the O’s leading 3-1 and one out, an error was charged to third baseman Ramon Urias. They could have had two outs and none on, but the Dodgers went on to score four unearned runs – three on Teoscar Hernández’s 431-foot home run.

The fault of the pitching or the defense? Both to blame?

Said manager Brandon Hyde: “He only gave up that one earned run, the (Shohei) Ohtani homer. Pitched much better than the line. Like I said we didn’t play our cleanest defensively. We had some chances to get out of innings. But we’re not scoring a ton of runs either and helping our guys out.”

And from Burnes: “Yeah, I think it was a step in the right direction. We threw the ball pretty well. Cutter command was better again today and got it down in the zone. Think we took a positive step there with some swing and miss and some weak contact. Yeah, that inning, obviously stuff got away from us a little bit.”

Three errors on the night – matching an O’s season high – led to five unearned runs.

With a chance to tie the Yankees for first place, the O’s lost and remain one game back. They had a chance to win this series and still can, if they win tonight’s series finale.

But while Burnes had 19 whiffs – one off his season high – he also allowed five runs or more for the fourth time in his last five games. He didn’t do that once in his first 22 starts of the season.

Something has changed or is different or more challenging for Burnes. 

Over his past three starts he's allowed 20 runs (14 earned) in 14 2/3 innings with four homers for an ERA of 8.59 and opponent OPS of .942. Over his last five starts Burnes has allowed 28 runs (21 earned) in 25 2/3 for a 7.36 ERA and .827 OPS against. 

“Burnes, you’re not going to be really good for six months straight,” said Hyde. “You’re going to go through ups and downs individually. I thought he threw the ball well tonight, gave up one earned run. Had a couple of tough starts before that that kind of unraveled on him.

"Offensively, we’re kind of up and down offensively. It would be nice to kind of get going offensively to help some things out. Urías picked us up with a big double, another big hit for us early. We’ve got to [wrap] some more consistent at-bats together throughout the game.”

Holliday battles 100 mph heat: For a 20-year-old youngster trying to find his way in the big leagues, it was a challenging situation. But one that Jackson Holliday would not back down from.

It was the ninth inning on Tuesday night, the O’s were trying to hang on to their 3-2 lead in the series opener. Holliday faced Dodgers closer Michael Kopech who was throwing triple digits heat.

He eventually fanned Holliday on the seventh pitch. His fastballs during the at-bat were at 100.0 mph (for a ball), 100.6 (fouled off), 100.1 (for a ball) and 100.4 (a swinging strike on a 3-2 count).

Holliday fouled off the one pitch he thought he could really handle. But it was quite the battle as he faced a premier reliever. 

“I missed the pitch to hit. I got the one to hit and missed it,” Holliday said in the clubhouse pregame yesterday. “Then he kind of got in on me and I wasn’t looking there. When a guy throws that hard and doesn’t throw where you are looking, it’s a bit of a challenge.”

But Holliday will file that at-bat away as experience gained.

“It’s good to be able to face guys like that in important games in high leverage spots to help for the future. I don’t love the result, but great experience.

“Just the next time I’m up or maybe the next time facing him, I kind of understand his plan and how everything moves. Maybe the next time in an important situation, remember to stay calm and keep it simple.”

Holliday is just 2-for-30 his past 10 games but one of the two was that pinch-hit, three-run double as the O's beat Houston 3-2 on Saturday.

Kopech has a strikeout rate per nine of over 12.00 this year with both the Chicago White Sox and the Dodgers. He got the save last night.

"The most of those experiences he is going to get – playing at Dodger Stadium, ninth inning, Kopech on the mound – all those will make him better going forward," said Hyde. "He is seeing stuff right now he has never seen before. That is why you can’t simulate major league baseball at any level. You have to be up here to really know how fast the game is, how good these pitchers are.

“Look at their bullpen. It’s eight guys that have pitched in big games, big moments, with really good stuff. So every experience like that will help going forward.”

Holliday is sure having his ups and downs over his first 124 big league at-bats. But he is embracing every challenge and trying to soak up knowledge and experience.

“Even when he has gone through struggles, there is a calmness to him. You don’t see any panic. You see him try to slow the game down. Even at 20, that is a mature attitude to have, especially on this stage," said Hyde.