Ynoa's quality start wasted in Game 2 loss (updated)

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Orioles manager Brandon Hyde arrived at Tropicana Field yesterday still plotting how he was going to get through the next day's doubleheader. He needed two starters and had none on regular rest. Left-hander John Means was pushed back to Thursday in Baltimore.

The minor league system provided one answer, with left-hander Ty Blach included among the call-ups and working the opener.

The bullpen held the Game 2 starter, with Hyde choosing Gabriel Ynoa in an attempt to complete the sweep.

What Hyde couldn't do was prepare last night for the craziness of a third inning that should have provided Ynoa with a lead. A runner interference call, a misread fly ball, a late stop sign and a waste of two Rays errors.

Otherwise, the Ynoa part looked like a stroke of genius.

Ynoa was a model of efficiency, working a season-high 6 1/3 innings and holding the Rays to two runs, but the Orioles couldn't get their offense in gear and lost 2-0 at Tropicana Field.

The Orioles settled for a split and fell to 46-93, staying one win shy of last year's total. They went 3-5 on the road trip.

A sweep would have been the first for the Orioles since June 25, 2016 against the Rays and the first on the road since Aug. 8, 2003 in Boston.

Plate umpire Lance Barrett ejected Hyde after the top of the eighth inning for arguing a third strike on pinch-hitter Trey Mancini. Hyde pulled Mancini back toward the dugout, was tossed and came hard after Barrett, pointing a finger in his face and kicking dirt on the plate.

A check swing didn't go in the Orioles' favor, much like the game itself, and the dugout finally was making loud noises.

Hyde has been ejected four times in his career and three this season.

The Orioles have been shut out eight times.

Ynoa put together back-to-back eight-pitch innings to begin the game and threw 21 of 27 for strikes heading into the fourth. He retired Tommy Pham on a ground ball, but Austin Meadows drove a slider into the right field seats for a 1-0 lead.

Eleven ground balls were induced by Ynoa through the fifth inning, with a 3-6 double play ending the first. He moved past his season high of six innings and was poised to reach his career high of eight set on Sept. 21, 2017 versus the Rays.

The seventh inning began with Ynoa at 58 pitches after he threw only six in the previous frame. Travis d'Arnaud grounded out, but Ji-Man Choi tripled on a ball that bounced over Anthony Santander's head and Avisaíl García singled for a 2-0 lead.

Ynoa came out after throwing 51 of 67 pitches for strikes. Paul Fry got a double play after replacing him.

The Orioles appeared to take a 1-0 lead in the third inning after Chris Davis lined a single into left field and Meadows overran the ball. Richie Martin laid down a bunt and was called out for runner interference after third baseman Joey Wendle sailed a throw past Choi.

Davis crossed the plate and headed for the dugout, only to be sent back to second base. Martin stood at third base as Hyde argued with umpires and finally went to the bench.

Then it got weird.

Jonathan Villar doubled off the center field fence, with Kevin Kiermaier unable to make a leaping catch. Davis retreated toward second as if to tag up, ran to third, made a wide turn and coach José Flores held him as Villar kept motoring.

Villar was slow out of the box, perhaps thinking he hit a home run, turned on the jets and didn't shut them down until it was too late.

Davis stayed at third base while Villar was tagged out, and Jalen Beeks struck out Mason Williams to somehow get away unscathed.

Martin singled off Colin Poche to lead off the sixth inning, stole second base with one out and held as Meadows made a sliding catch to rob Williams. Santander struck out.

Poche was the fourth pitcher used by the Rays and the Orioles got the same results. Manager Kevin Cash flaunted his expanded roster by calling upon seven of them.

September baseball at its finest, played before an announced crowd of 6,844.

Nick Anderson struck out the side in the eighth. The Orioles erupted, but only by voice and gesturing. Nothing with the bats.

Hyde on whether that's the best he's seen Ynoa: "No doubt. You go into a spot start and do what he did, I thought it was really impressive. I saw the pitch count where he was throwing a ton of strikes and they were swinging the bat, they were aggressive early in the count. He had slider and changeup working and 95-96 mph fastball, so he did a great job."

Hyde on what he saw in third inning: "We got a couple unfortunate breaks. On the bunt with the errant throw that they called Richie in the line on. The play at third base. But, yeah, I was not pleased with the judgment on the bunt."

Hyde on whether frustration carried over to eighth: "I might have brought it up. Yeah."

Hyde on what got him fired up: "I didn't think Trey went on a check swing and I'm protecting my player. And Trey, obviously I want to get him out of there. And when Trey gets heated, it's usually for a good reason, so, yeah, I didn't like that and I might have mentioned the play earlier in the game that cost us a few runs."

Hyde on what happened in third: "With one out, the priority is to score there on any ball that's possibly catchable. You want to be able to score from second base. That's the priority. With nobody out, you want to be able to get to third base. That's your priority. With one out, we're looking to score.

"I just think Chris got too close to second base there and Villar assumed that he was going to score on that play."

Hyde on Martin call: "Looking back at it, Richie was in the line a little bit. But almost every single batter-runner is inside the line. I just thought we could use better judgment when the throw was that far off line, but they didn't see it that way."

Ynoa on whether this is best he's felt and why: "Yes. I think it's the best I felt this season. I felt really good out there. I think the key was that I've been working a lot on my pitching mechanics every single day and I got a good result today."

Ynoa on how he was so efficient: "I think first-pitch strikes and trying to slow as less pitches as possible."

Ynoa on whether he thought could go further with low pitch count: "Yeah, that was a possibility I was hoping for. Unfortunately, it didn't happen."

Ynoa on defense behind him: "Great play, great defense. They saved some hits and they just played really well today."

Martin on whether surprised to be called out: "I was really surprised. I didn't know what was going on, to be honest, but I went in and checked the video, and supposedly I ran inside the line, but nobody saw it, so it was a little unfortunate."

Martin on whether third inning was frustrating with no runs: "You can look at it that way. C.D. would've advanced to third even if it was clean throw. Runner on third with one out, which is a situation you want to be in, so it's disappointing but there's nothing we can do about it. It's just unfortunate, just missed that call, but they're people, too, so there's nothing we can do about it."

Martin on defense: "Just playing the game the right way. In order for us to compete and play well, we have to play good defense, we have to pitch and play good D, and that's two of the most important facets of the game."

Martin on Ynoa: "He's got electric stuff. He made one mistake to Meadows, but other than that, he was lights out all game, but that's just the guy is. He's got really, really good stuff."

Martin on Hyde getting fired up: "You know he has our backs. We love playing behind him because you know he's always going to be on your side. He's going to support you no matter what, through ups and downs, and I think that's the qualities of a good manager. We all love him, so it was nice to see the support."