There will be no playoff run this September for the Baltimore Orioles, not after a disastrous start that cost manager Brandon Hyde his job in mid-May.
But Baltimore can still finish the season strong with games like it played Monday, recording a 4-3 victory over the homestanding San Diego Padres for just its third win in 12 games. The Orioles will try to clinch a series win on Tuesday night.
When both teams dipped into the bullpen after their starter ran up high pitch counts over four innings, it figured to be an advantage for San Diego. But instead, it was Baltimore (62-76) that came up with the big outs and a couple of big hits to boot.
Jeremiah Jackson drilled a solo homer off All-Star Adrian Morejon in the fifth inning for a 3-2 lead. Dylan Beavers touched All-Star Robert Suarez for a two-out RBI single in the seventh that put the Orioles ahead to stay.
Interim manager Tony Mansolino also pushed the right buttons in his bullpen, with Dietrich Enns and Rico Garcia bridging the gap to Keegan Akin.
“We hung in there,” Mansolino said. “We’re just trying to piece it together and today, it worked out. Enns did a wonderful job … we were due for a good one, so I’m happy for them. It worked out for us.”
Just as Baltimore welcomed back Kyle Bradish last week from Tommy John surgery, it will see the return of Tyler Wells to its six-man rotation. Wells has been out since May 2024 following Tommy John surgery.
Wells pitched in only three games last year before hitting the shelf, going 0-2 with a 5.87 ERA. The right-hander will face the Padres for the first time.
San Diego (76-62) will call on right-hander Yu Darvish (3-4, 5.66) to correct a skid that’s seen the team lose six of eight and fall 2 1/2 games behind the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL West. Darvish last pitched Wednesday, suffering a 4-3 loss in Seattle and lasting only four innings.
Darvish has worked against the Orioles only twice in his career, losing both starts and posting a 4.73 ERA. His recent trend has been to follow a short start with a quality one, something the Padres need badly.
They have gotten a starter to five innings just once in the last seven games — Nick Pivetta on Saturday night in a 12-3 win in Minnesota. And after a bullpen game Sunday during a 7-2 defeat to the Twins, San Diego was hoping for more length from Dylan Cease than the four innings he offered up Monday before leaving after throwing 91 pitches.
“We have to get more out of our starters,” Padres manager Mike Shildt said. “I’m confident we’ll figure it out.”
San Diego also is getting bitten by the injury bug at an inopportune time. Shortstop Xander Bogaerts (foot) is out for the regular season’s remainder and All-Star reliever Jason Adam might have suffered a serious left leg injury in the seventh inning Monday.
Right fielder Fernando Tatis Jr. (hamstring) was scratched just before Monday’s game to boot. One bit of good news: Jackson Merrill (ankle) was activated Monday and Shildt said he would be in Tuesday night’s lineup.