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Hardy’s blast makes winner of Britton
MINNEAPOLIS — Had it not been for a fan wearing a Joe Mauer jersey, J.J. Hardy likely would have been out, and Twins starter Carl Pavano could have gotten out of the inning with the game still tied.
Hardy got a second chance, instead, and he took advantage of it, crushing a 2-2 fastball from Pavano to left for a go-ahead homer in the fifth inning of a 4-1 Orioles win over the Twins on Monday night at Target Field.
“Was it a Mauer fan?” Hardy asked. “Somebody was saying he was wearing a Hardy jersey.”
Hardy’s solo home run, his 24th of the season, made for a happy homecoming for the former Twins shortstop and helped lefty Zach Britton and the Orioles pick up the much-needed victory.
Baltimore snapped a five-game losing streak and Britton snapped a five-decision skid of his own, earning his first win since June 8 against Oakland.
“I think it was bigger for the team, more so than me,” Britton said. “Obviously it’s good to get the win, but I think we needed it. The way we played in Anaheim, to be able to come out and get the first win, the first day here, I think it sets the tone for the next three games.”
Britton had some long innings — he allowed at least one baserunner in each of his five frames — and saw his pitch count rise to 98, but he was otherwise solid in his first start since Aug. 4.
After going on the disabled list Aug. 5 with a left shoulder strain, Britton was activated before the game and went five innings, allowing one run on six hits and four walks with four strikeouts.
“It’s just one of those days, I’m so excited to be back and I’m overthrowing everything,” Britton said. “I didn’t really have great command, so my mindset was like, ‘Here it is.’ I’m going to make them beat me with my stuff. I’m going to throw it over the plate because I know I can’t hit corners right now.”
Britton got big outs to end the third and fifth innings, both of which came with Jim Thome at the plate and runners in scoring position.
In the third, with a run already having scored, Britton walked consecutive batters to load the bases for Thome. Britton threw a 1-1 fastball and Thome ripped it to left, but it stayed in the park and was caught for the final out.
“It was big,” Britton said. “Any time you can get out of those situations — especially with a close game, and especially coming back my first day, having some bad outings recently — to be able to get out of there where I haven’t been able to in the past was pretty big.”
Britton then struck Thome out looking, stranding a pair of runners in the fifth.
“He was right at the limit there and he was going to be real mad at having to come out at 4 2/3 if he walked Thome there,” Orioles manager Buck Showalter said. “But he made a big pitch there to get out of it, and I’m proud of him.”
Orioles catcher Matt Wieters added another solo blast in the sixth, his 13th of the year, and Nick Markakis drove in Hardy from first with a one-out double in the seventh for a final insurance run.
The Twins scored their only run off Britton in the third when Ben Revere singled with one out and later came around on a Mauer groundout.
Revere made a highlight-reel grab to end the seventh when he raced back to make a leaping, over-the-shoulder catch at the wall in center field, robbing Vladimir Guerrero of an extra-base hit and keeping a run off the board.
“It was unbelievable,” Hardy said. “That was as good as Adam Jones’ catch in Seattle.”
Right-hander Chris Jakubauskas relieved Britton to start the sixth, and retired the first five Twins he faced. Jakubauskas combined with lefty Michael Gonzalez and Kevin Gregg to hold the Twins scoreless with just two hits over the final four innings.
“The kid threw the ball very well against us,” said Twins manager Ron Gardenhire, who was ejected in the eighth for arguing balls and strikes. “Their bullpen came in and changed speeds and threw some curveballs. I think at one point I looked up and saw we had eight guys left on base, and that tells you the whole story.”
Jordan Schelling is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
Orioles notebook, 8/22
Showalter outlines upcoming rotation
By Jordan Schelling / MLB.com
MINNEAPOLIS — Buck Showalter confirmed his club’s pitching rotation before Monday’s game at Target Field, but the O’s skipper said it could change based on the status of lefty Jo-Jo Reyes.
Right-hander Alfredo Simon is scheduled to start the second game of the series on Tuesday against the Twins, and Jeremy Guthrie is slated to start Wednesday.
Reyes is then expected to take the hill in the series finale Thursday afternoon, and Tommy Hunter will pitch Friday when the Orioles return home to host the Yankees.
“The only thing that may change there is if Reyes comes in tomorrow — that’s why I haven’t fully committed to it — and the [back] spasms come back up,” Showalter said. “But that’s what the plan is.”
Davis optioned to Triple-A Norfolk
MINNEAPOLIS — Following Monday’s 4-1 victory over the Twins, the Orioles announced they had optioned infielder Blake Davis to Triple-A Norfolk.
In 25 games (16 starts) for the Orioles over the last two months, Davis batted .254 with one home run, six RBIs and three doubles. Davis primarily played second base, but he also saw time at third and shortstop.
The Orioles will announce a corresponding roster move at a later time.
Recalled Adams ready to contribute
MINNEAPOLIS — When the Orioles sent Ryan Adams back down to Triple-A Norfolk two months ago, they wanted him to have a chance to play every day while continuing to work and develop as a player.
In particular, defense was an issue with Adams, who committed two errors in seven games at second base for the O’s.
“I just needed to get better at everything,” Adams said. “But they’ve been on me about defense, so I went down there and tried to really work on it.”
“He’s improved, he’s getting better,” Orioles manager Buck Showalter said. “If he swings the bat better, I think he’ll be more comfortable. I hope so.”
In his first stint with the Orioles, Adams went 5-for-23 with an RBI. In 93 games at Norfolk, Adams batted .283 with 10 home runs, 28 doubles and 37 RBIs.
The 24-year-old was recalled to take the place of struggling third baseman Josh Bell, who was optioned to Triple-A after hitting just .174 with 18 strikeouts in 17 games. Bell also struggled in the field, highlighted by a pair of costly plays in the 12th inning of Saturday’s 9-8 loss to the Angels.
With Adams moving into an everyday role at second base, Robert Andino will likely see the majority of time at third base for the Orioles. Andino made his third start at third base on Monday against the Twins.
“Robert likes seeing his name in that lineup, and I like writing it,” Showalter said. “I talked to him a little bit on the plane last night. He’s in a good spot offensively, and he just looks at it as an opportunity to bring another skill that he can bring, and continue to make himself valuable to our club and organization. I’m real proud of the year Robert has had.”
Berken to DL; Britton returns to action
MINNEAPOLIS — Right-hander Zach Britton was activated from the 15-day disabled list Monday, as he made his first start since Aug. 4 at Kansas City.
To make room for Britton on the roster, right-hander Jason Berken was placed on the DL with a right forearm strain.
Britton went on the DL on Aug. 5 with a right shoulder strain after a series of tough starts. Over his last six outings before being sidelined, Britton was 0-5 with a 10.57 ERA, allowing 27 earned runs on 45 hits in just 23 innings of work.
Up until that point, Britton had been 6-4 with a 3.10 ERA, and enjoying an impressive rookie season.
“He went through a period where it looked like it was going to come real easy to him,” Orioles manager Buck Showalter said. “I from experience knew there was going to be some bumps and challenges along the way. That which doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.”
Showalter said he’s seen a lot of the best development for young pitchers come in the offseason, when they get a chance to step back and look at what they’ve been doing.
It’s at that point, Showalter said, that things really start to sink in and the pitchers realize they “can do it” and that mistakes really get magnified by the talent at the Major League level.
“Zach’s a guy that, I’m hoping he’ll finish strong and he’ll go in the offseason and realize the things that he has to do to be successful,” Showalter said. “Today’s another step for him.”
Jordan Schelling is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
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