Orioles overcome the absence of their catchers in 7-2 victory over Mariners

The Orioles entered Wednesday night’s game in the midst of a four-game losing streak. They’d lost some of the momentum they’d picked up at the end of May. Yet, in an attempt to break their streak, they trotted out a starting lineup with their two best hitters this season absent from it.

For the third straight game, Adley Rutschman and Samuel Basallo, Baltimore’s two hitters with the distinction of having an OPS above .800, were missing.

Yet the Orioles’ offense overcame their absence in a 7-2 win over the Mariners at Camden Yards.

“It’s just great guys staying with their approach, being relentless on the offensive side of the ball,” manager Craig Albernaz said. “And then obviously Jackson Holliday with the big blow, and it was great to see him get that swing off and do some damage.”

Pete Alonso broke the scoreless tie with an opposite-field solo homer in the sixth off George Kirby. Later that inning, Leody Taveras and Blaze Alexander tacked on RBI doubles.

That was more than enough for Brandon Young, who tossed seven scoreless innings as the Orioles (32-37) improved to 9-1 in his starts. Then Holliday hit a grand slam to blow the game open.

“Kirby’s a really good pitcher,” Young said. “It kind of lit a fire under me to keep it a low-scoring game for the team, just to keep the team in it knowing that we’re going to get a couple of runs here and there, and glad we did.”

One catcher’s absence from Wednesday’s lineup has a reasonable explanation. The other’s extended stay on the bench is a bit more questionable.

Rutschman has been sidelined with a left hamstring injury this entire homestand. He ran on the field Wednesday before it started to rain, then finished his workout indoors. Albernaz joked after the game that Rutschman wanted to pull a Kirk Gibson and play, adding the 28-year-old catcher felt good after his workout and that was an encouraging sign.

Basallo was a slightly different case, dealing with discomfort stemming from a growth in his left wrist. Despite not starting this homestand, he pinch hit in Monday’s and Tuesday’s games. On Wednesday, Albernaz said, Basallo was available to pinch hit again. Between innings, he caught Young’s warmup pitches.

The discourse around Basallo’s availability has been brewing since Monday, when Albernaz said part of his development is learning how his body operates and knowing what he can play through.

“It’s just one of those things where we have to learn on the fly, and I think with Sammy ... he’s shown the talent, the skill, the impact he can make with us, and it’s real,” Albernaz said. “This is another step in his development is knowing how to play through some pain and not being 100% all the time.”

Basallo pushed back against Albernaz’s sentiment on Tuesday in an interview with The Baltimore Sun.

“First of all, that’s not a learning experience,” Basallo said to The Sun. “Sometimes you can play with some things, and sometimes you say you can play with some things and it’s out of my control if they take me out or [not].”

Before Wednesday’s game, Albernaz attempted to squash any talk of disconnect between him and his 21-year-old catcher. Albernaz praised Basallo’s character, adding they’ve had conversations in which the player has voiced his opinion.

The decision to keep Basallo out of the starting lineup for three games was Albernaz’s. It revolved around Basallo’s long-term health.

“I love that Sammy is voicing what he’s feeling. He’s voiced it to me,” Albernaz said. “It’s one of those things where it’s like short-term pain for long-term gain. Sammy is doing great, great work days, and he’ll be available off the bench.”

Albernaz’s decision to keep Basallo available off the bench brought skepticism from Jim Palmer on the MASN broadcast.

“If you don’t play Adley Rutschman, you don’t play Basallo, and you’re trying to win games, I’m happy. If I’m one of the Mariners pitchers. I’m elated. I’m joyful,” Palmer said. “I would send ’em flowers saying, ‘Stay hurt.’

“If [Basallo] is able to play late in the ballgame, I’m surprised he’s not in there, that’s all. I don’t think this is the time when you’ve lost four in a row to teach a lesson. I don’t care how young you are.”

Fortunately, the Orioles didn’t need heroics from Basallo or Rutschman off the bench to snap their losing streak.

In the bottom of the third, Sam Huff, the team’s starting catcher, opened the inning with a single. The Orioles loaded the bases with no one out. Alonso struck out, Colton Cowser flied out and Taveras struck out to end the frame. Fans booed.

Yet they had Young, who put together his best performance of the season. He allowed a one-out single to Cole Young in the top of the third. Then he retired the next 12 batters until he surrendered a one-out walk in the seventh. The Mariners whiffed on 56% of his splitters.

By the seventh, the Orioles had found their groove. They loaded the bases again. This time, Holliday launched a two-out grand slam. The Mariners scored a pair of runs in the eighth, but it was too late. And, at least for a night, the absences of their catchers didn’t matter.

“We have a great lineup,” Holliday said. “Obviously, those guys are very helpful. But I think, when each guy’s committed to a plan and takes good at-bats, it shouldn’t matter. We should be able to go out there and compete each and every night and have a chance to win.”

This article has been updated.