The Baltimore Orioles ended an eight-game losing streak Wednesday and hope the weather will give them an opportunity to win a second consecutive game when they visit the Boston Red Sox on Thursday night for the start of a four-game series.
The Orioles and Red Sox could get Thursday off, however, since a nor’easter is expected to hit Massachusetts early in the day. Worcester, Boston’s Triple-A team, already postponed Thursday’s home game against Durham.
Baltimore ended its longest losing streak since August 2021 (19 straight losses) by scoring four runs in the 11th inning of an 8-4 victory against the Milwaukee Brewers on Wednesday. Adley Rutschman hit a three-run home run in the inning, his fifth homer of the season and first since April 20.
“I was super proud of our guys today,” Rutschman said. “Just to battle on the road, on a losing streak. To be able to stay in there, keep going, keep pushing runs across the board, pitchers able to keep us in the ballgame. And then to close it out, it’s big for us.”
It was Baltimore’s first win for interim manager Tony Mansolino, who took over when Brandon Hyde was fired Saturday.
“This whole thing isn’t about me managing,” Mansolino said. “You win the game and everybody is congratulating you for your first win. I don’t really feel that way about it. It’s more for the players and the organization than me.
“The players have been through a lot here. I think we lost six, seven, eight in a row — I have no idea — and then obviously the change in the organization. I just think for the organization and the players to win the game, I think that’s what’s important.”
Baltimore’s Felix Bautista, who was pitching on consecutive days for the first time this season after missing last season due to Tommy John surgery, walked two and gave up the tying run in the bottom of the ninth.
“He just didn’t have command of his fastball,” Mansolino said. “I think we’ve seen that here for a couple of outings. The velocity of the fastball looked pretty good.”
Boston, meanwhile, struck out a season-high 16 times during Wednesday’s 5-1 loss to the New York Mets. Boston ace Garrett Crochet was pulled from the mound with one out in the sixth inning and the score 1-1. He threw 85 pitches.
Red Sox manager Alex Cora said it was predetermined that Crochet would be on a short leash.
“Today was one of those days that we circled up that we’re gonna be short (with Crochet),” Cora said. “It’s not tough. It’s for the benefit of the player. We’re here for the long run, and we need that guy to make his starts. For us to go where we feel we can go we need him. … Regardless of the situation you have to put the player first.”
Left-hander Cade Povich (1-3, 5.23 ERA) is scheduled to start for Baltimore if the teams play Thursday. Povich is 0-2 with a 5.28 ERA in three career appearances against Boston. He has 19 strikeouts in 15 1/3 innings.
Right-hander Lucas Giolito (1-1, 7.08) is Boston’s probable starter. He’s faced Baltimore five times in his career (all starts) and is 3-2 with a 5.19 ERA.
–Field Level Media
