Orioles repeat their mistakes, lose another ugly one to White Sox

Imagine it: the Orioles lost a game to the White Sox in which they pitched terribly and repeatedly failed to hit with runners in scoring position.

You should be able to imagine it, because it was almost a carbon copy of the previous night’s game. Although tonight’s contest had a smaller margin of defeat, 8-3 as opposed to 13-1, the game never felt particularly close, and followed nearly all the same beats as Friday’s drubbing.

It was so similar, in fact, that I could essentially just repost Stacey’s game recap from Friday with only minimal alterations. So that’s exactly what I’ll do. Don’t worry, I know her, it’s fine. And if she doesn’t like it, she knows where to find me: a few feet to her left, sitting in the recliner.

Here goes. Without further adieu, I’ll hand things off to Friday night Stacey, and make a few changes for tonight’s game.

The Orioles went out tonight and did Oriole things. They didn’t pitch well. Like, at all. It was just incredibly bad. ...

They barely hit. When they did hit, they couldn’t bring in the runners. It was a very Oriole-like performance all around. And the White Sox did what a first place team is supposed to do to a last place team. Just another ugly night at Camden Yards.

Taking the mound for the Orioles was Jorge López Thomas Eshelman, who was just as frustrating as we’ve all come to expect. He struggled a bit in the second inning ... López Eshelman only gave up a single run, but needed 32 20 pitches to get through it. ...

López Eshelman faced three four batters in the fifth third inning and didn’t retire a single one. He gave up three straight singles hits to Anderson, Yoán Moncada, and Abreu Jake Burger. The third single hit knocked in what was, at the time, the go ahead fourth run for the White Sox. Things could have gotten a lot worse, but Brandon Hyde pulled López Eshelman for Cole Sulser Keegan Akin, who got the next three batters without allowing another run. Well done, Cole Keegan! But wait, he screwed it up.

I’ll break in here and note that while Akin wasn’t exactly great tonight — giving up four runs and six hits — he did pitch better than any of the hapless relievers from Friday night’s contest. Akin managed to eat 4.1 innings while notching six strikeouts, giving the rest of the bullpen a much-needed break after a second consecutive short outing from a starter.

OK, now back to Stacey.

I haven’t mentioned the offense yet and that’s really because there is nothing to mention. ... They went 0-for-8 7 with runners in scoring position aside from Domingo Leyba’s two RBI singles.

The White Sox starter Dallas Keuchel Lucas Giolito got into trouble quite a bit but the Orioles just couldn’t capitalize. Because they are the Orioles. That’s what they do.

Breaking in again...it wasn’t until the eighth inning that the O’s offense made any real noise, loading the bases against Jose Ruiz and then scoring on a Austin Hays walk. But White Sox manager Tony La Russa, who is nothing if not subservient to the save rule, brought in closer Liam Hendriks the moment it became a save situation (tying run on deck) in a five-run game. Hendriks blew away pinch-hitter Ryan McKenna on three pitches and then shouted and pumped his fist as if it wasn’t a .175 hitter he struck out. He followed with a perfect ninth inning to end any possible drama.

Stacey, any final thoughts?

Orioles lose, 12-1 8-3. Just ugly baseball all around.

Couldn’t have said it better myself.