CHICAGO — Brandon Hyde has many fond memories of Wrigley Field. As a member of the Chicago Cubs’ front office and coaching staff, he watched the organization endure a rebuild and end a championship drought of more than a century.
The Orioles’ manager chuckled before Saturday’s game as he noted that during batting practice the day before, fans in the bleachers yelled out to his son, Colton, remembering that the boy had tossed balls out to them years before.
But this weekend’s series likely won’t be recalled in a similar fashion. With a 3-2 defeat, Baltimore heads into Sunday’s finale of the three-game set looking to avoid getting swept by a Cubs team that entered the meeting in fourth place in the National League Central.
The Orioles (43-27) have now dropped four of their past seven series, though they will at worst end the day tied for the majors’ third-best record. Although their pitching improved from Friday’s 10-3 defeat, their offense failed to score beyond Adley Rutschman’s fifth-inning home run, a two-run shot off Justin Steele that marked the switch-hitter’s second game-tying home run against a left-hander in three games. Rutschman had one home run hitting right-handed as a rookie in 2022.
Baltimore’s bats were otherwise quiet behind right-hander Kyle Gibson, stranding multiple runners in the second, fourth, sixth and seventh innings as they went 0 for 5 with runners in scoring position. The Cubs (33-37) got limited opportunities in those situations against Gibson but capitalized.
The 35-year-old retired Chicago’s first seven batters before his fifth strikeout pitch of the afternoon got past catcher James McCann. After a two-out walk, Gibson’s first hit surrendered was Nico Hoerner’s two-run double. After Rutschman’s 10th home run evened the game, Yan Gomes opened the fifth’s bottom half with a two-base hit, advancing a base each on a sacrifice bunt and fly as Gibson failed to manage a shutdown inning.
Gibson finished that frame and the next to earn his eighth quality start in 15 outings. His ERA is 3.94 in 89 innings, one shy of an average of six innings per start.
Seeking offense in the sixth’s top half, Hyde got creative with his lineup. With Steele out of the game and right-hander Julian Merryweather on the mound, Hyde pinch-hit Ryan O’Hearn, a left-handed hitter, for the right-handed hitting McCann. O’Hearn singled, but the next batter, shortstop Jorge Mateo, flew out to left to strand two runners.
With McCann out, Rutschman moved from designated hitter to catch as Hyde shuffled his infield, removing Mateo from the game to keep the pitcher’s spot as far down the lineup as he could. O’Hearn, who stayed in at first base, ended the eighth with a deep drive to center field, a ball that Statcast gave a 95% chance of being a hit and tracked as being a home run in 14 other parks. But it was caught at Wrigley’s iconic ivy.
Adam Frazier pinch-hit in the pitcher’s spot to open the ninth, but struck out to open a scoreless final frame.
Around the horn
— Before the game, the Orioles recalled right-hander Spenser Watkins and optioned right-hander Reed Garrett to Triple-A Norfolk. Watkins spent much of last year in Baltimore’s rotation but has yet to pitch for the Orioles this year, missing a month after cutting his right ring finger on a porcelain sink during a start for Norfolk. Watkins said the injury, which required a couple of stitches, was more an issue of location than severity. He then needed to get built back up, reaching four innings and 74 pitches in his most recent outing June 10. He’ll provide long relief out of the Orioles’ bullpen.
— The Orioles are sending left-hander DL Hall, their No. 2 pitching prospect, to their complex in Sarasota, Fla., where he’ll undergo a physical training program while throwing on backfields and live games. An offseason back injury prevented Hall from weightlifting as he typically would and has hampered his velocity this season. His fastball averaged 96.2 mph in 11 outings for Baltimore last season but has been about 3 mph slower this year. In 11 starts for Norfolk, Hall has averaged under four innings per outing with a 4.57 ERA, working to regain stretch between starts.
— Center fielder Cedric Mullins remains without a timeline to return from his right groin strain, but Hyde said he’s “running well” as he continues his rehabilitation progression in Sarasota.
— First baseman Ryan Mountcastle put on an impressive showing in batting practice Friday and has been regularly taking ground balls on the field pregame, but Hyde said Mountcastle is still day to day to return from the injured list with his bout of vertigo.
— Right-hander Dillon Tate (right elbow flexor strain) had his second rehabilitation appearance for Norfolk pushed back a day to Sunday. The Tides were rained out Friday.
