Perhaps before the final out was recorded in the middle contest of a three-game series between the San Diego Padres and host Baltimore Orioles, there was a little spice added in advance of Sunday afternoon’s finale.
The Padres won 9-3 on Saturday to split the first two games of the series, but there was ninth-inning drama. That came after San Diego reliever Ron Marinaccio hit Gunnar Henderson with a two-out pitch.
Marinaccio was ejected and moments later Padres manager Craig Stammen was tossed as well.
“It would have been fine if they just warned everybody,” Stammen said, “and we’d have been fine, and move on from there.”
Earlier in the game, San Diego shortstop Xavier Bogaerts was hit on the helmet by a pitch from starter Trey Gibson. Bogaerts left the game a couple of innings later.
“I get there why they’re mad — ball hit (Bogaerts) in the head, had to come out of the game,” Orioles manager Craig Albernaz said.
The Orioles were calm for a reason, Albernaz said, after Henderson was struck in the ninth inning.
“It was done the right way, and that’s why there was no gripes from us,” Albernaz said.
San Diego also lost catcher Freddy Fermin to a strange injury during Saturday’s game. He was hit on what appeared to be the side of his head on a warm-up pitch that went into the dirt prior to the bottom of the sixth inning.
The Padres made a move earlier Saturday by calling up utility player Nick Solak from Triple-A El Paso when infielder Miguel Andujar went on the injured list. Solak provided a sacrifice fly Saturday and he’s bound to be in Sunday’s lineup.
“He’s kind of a lefty crusher, so he will get some opportunities against left-handed pitching and see where he fits on defense on the ballclub,” Stammen said.
Left-hander Trevor Rogers (3-6, 6.15 ERA) will start Sunday’s game for the Orioles. He has had two 5 2/3-inning outings this month, allowing a total of four runs in those games. Sunday will mark the sixth home appearance in Rogers’ last eight games.
This will be the third time that Rogers faces the Padres in his career. He has yet to record a decision against San Diego, while his ERA is 0.87 in 10 1/3 innings.
Right-hander Walker Buehler (3-3, 4.33) is listed as the starter for the Padres. He has gone nearly a month without a victory, though he has been solid in June with two starts registering a total of 10 2/3 innings while allowing two runs.
Buehler is 1-1 with a 2.61 ERA in four career starts covering 20 2/3 innings vs. the Orioles.
Despite the margin Saturday, the Orioles managed to save their bullpen, largely because Albert Suarez ate up the final four innings despite surrendering three solo home runs.
Sunday marks Baltimore’s final contest prior to a nine-game road swing to the West Coast. The Orioles had won three in a row prior to Saturday’s result.
The Padres belted five home runs Saturday, including one from ex-Oriole Manny Machado.
Orioles first baseman Pete Alonso also went deep Saturday, giving him five of his 16 home runs in 11 games this month.
–Field Level Media
