Orioles right-hander Jorge López was an out away from a perfect fifth inning against the top third of the Washington Nationals’ order. Then, history repeated itself.
As it has been throughout this season, the fifth inning remained López’s greatest weakness Friday night, with the Nationals striking for four straight two-out hits to propel them to a 4-2 victory in the series opener at their home park. López has pitched effectively into the fifth inning in eight of his nine starts but has recorded only 13 outs while allowing 13 earned runs in that frame, posting a 27.00 ERA. Otherwise, he has a 2.60 mark.
Orioles manager Brandon Hyde had the opportunity to keep López from facing his nemesis. With the game played under National League rules, López came to bat with two outs and two on in the top of the fifth in a scoreless game, chasing consecutive pitches to strike out in Baltimore’s best scoring opportunity against Nationals starter Stephen Strasburg. But Hyde has said repeatedly in recent days that the club’s starting pitchers failing to work deep into games has led to a “beaten up” bullpen, leaving him unable to afford pulling a starter who had pitched four scoreless innings on 66 pitches.
López needed only eight more pitches to retire Trea Turner and Juan Soto, two of NL’s top hitters, but by 10, he was down 1-0 thanks to doubles on back-to-back pitches by Josh Bell and Kyle Schwarber. After Starlin Castro’s infield single, Josh Harrison found outfield grass to make it 2-0.
Soto added an RBI single against rookie Tyler Wells in the sixth, while Bell had one off the Shawn Armstrong in the eighth as the Orioles (17-27) lost for the 11th time in 13 games.
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In a matchup of two players freshly off the injured list, Orioles outfielder Anthony Santander got the best of Strasburg in the second inning, singling in his first at-bat since spraining his left ankle April 20.
But it was the only hit the Orioles managed against Strasburg in his 5 1/3 innings as the right-hander made his first start since April 13 after going on the IL with right shoulder inflammation.
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Strasburg exited to a large ovation from the 14,369 in attendance after walking Austin Hays with one out in the sixth. The Orioles almost immediately took advantage, then just as quickly had that hope evaporate.
Trey Mancini continued his May tear with a double into right field off Kyle Finnegan. With one out, Hays initially slowed rounding third, but when Soto’s throw into the infield went over second baseman Josh Harrison, Hays headed home. Bell, the first baseman, fielded the ball behind Harrison and quickly tossed it to catcher Yan Gomes to get Hays at the plate.
Santander struck out to end the inning with Mancini at second in what was one of Baltimore’s two at-bats with a runner in scoring position through eight innings. López had the other.
Mancini doubled again in the ninth to prevent the Orioles from being held to two hits for the second straight night, then Freddy Galvis homered him home for their lone runs of the night.
