The Orioles are trying not to put too much emphasis on a one-run loss to the Tampa Bay Rays in a crucial four-game series that will go a long way in deciding the AL East.
Still, the players can lament lost opportunities in the 4-3 setback that allowed Tampa Bay to pull within one game of first place.
“I thought we played a really good baseball game,” Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said. “We’ve just got to do a little bit better job. The opportunity we had to score, we only got one across. That’s been something we’ve been good at this year is to push more runs across in those kinds of situations. We just didn’t do it tonight.”
The Orioles struck out 15 times and Rays pitchers retired 14 consecutive batters to end the ballgame. With the score tied 3-3 with runners on first and third, Adley Rutschman hit into a deflating double play that ended the threat.
Kyle Bradish (11-7) took the loss after allowing four runs and seven hits with five strikeouts and no walks in seven innings. He allowed the go-ahead home run to Luke Raley in his final inning.
“Just threw a bad pitch to Raley there,” Bradish said. “Just got to be better than that, and know who’s on deck. I hung a slider.”
Gunnar Henderson and Ryan O’Hearn homered for the Orioles, who managed just four hits.
The Orioles need to get back on track in the second game or the pressure will mount throughout the weekend to salvage something from one of the biggest regular-season series in the history of Camden Yards.
The team still has confidence.
“I have no doubt we’ll bounce back tomorrow and win tomorrow,” Bradish said.
Kjerstad Ready For MLB Debut
Heston Kjerstad finally reached the majors on Sept. 14 after an arduous climb through the minors.
Kjerstad’s development was stymied by the pandemic in 2020 and a case of myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle) that wiped out his 2021 season.
However, he never lost confidence, and once he was fully healthy, Kjerstad rewarded the Orioles for selecting him No. 2 overall in the 2020 draft.
This year, he hit a combined .303/.376/.528 with 29 doubles, 8 triples, 21 home runs and 55 RBIs in 122 games between Triple-A Norfolk and Double-A Bowie.
That performance was good enough for him to earn his promotion to Camden Yards.
“I was trying to show up and become a better player every day, whether that was in Bowie or Norfolk and everything like that,” he said. “Now that we’re here, definitely excited that it’s a part of my journey and excited to see what comes.”
Kjerstad was not in the starting lineup for the first game in the massive series against the Rays but did pinch-hit late in the game. He has friends and family in town to cheer him on.
“They’re pumped,” Kjerstad said of his supporters. “Mom cried, Dad was super excited. Me and my brothers, we were pumped, FaceTiming each other. It will be good to see everyone in person. Definitely a special moment and thankful to have my family. They’re a big part of getting me here.”
Orioles manager Brandon Hyde is excited to see what Kjerstad brings to the team.
“It’s been fun to watch him from afar and what he did in spring training,” Hyde said. “I was so impressed with how the ball came off his bat and the power that he showed and the ability to hit. He had a nice Triple-A year and earned a promotion up here. It’s nice to have him as an option right now to either pinch-hit or maybe get a start here or two.”
Means Back In The Mix
John Means made his much-anticipated 2023 debut against the St. Louis Cardinals on Sept. 13.
Means was supposed to return around the All-Star break after undergoing Tommy John surgery in April 2022. However, Means strained his left teres major — a muscle in the back — during non-throwing activation drills this May.
Means has made six rehab encouraging starts for Bowie and Norfolk in the past month, going 1-1 with a 3.74 ERA, 22 strikeouts and a 1.15 WHIP in 21.1 innings. That gave the Orioles the optimism that Means was ready to get back in the majors and he delivered a solid performance in his first start since April 13, 2022.
Means allowed three runs and five hits with one strikeout and no walks in five innings.
“I had a lot more nerves before the game than I usually do,” he said. “Kind of felt like a debut again. But once I got out there and started pitching again, it felt natural. I tried to just take it like any other start, try to stay in the moment and not worry about anything outside.”
While he didn’t get the win, Means has certainly put himself in position to potentially start a postseason game.
Means, however, is going to take it slow for now.
“I’m just trying to stay within, work on the breaths, and kind of be in the moment mentally,” he said. “I’ve had a lot of time to try to work on that over the past couple of seasons. Try to take that, take it day-by-day, and take what I’ve learned.”
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