Jordan Westburg homered in his return, but the Orioles' rally fell short in a 5-3 loss to the Tigers on June 11. See how Cade Povich fared in the loss.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
It was a classic 'one step forward, two steps back' kind of night at Camden Yards. The good news? Jordan Westburg is back, and he immediately announced his presence with a ninth-inning home run. The bad news? It was too little, too late, as the Orioles' late rally fizzled out in a 5-3 loss to the visiting Detroit Tigers, continuing a frustrating season for the Birds.
Jordan Westburg, activated from the injured list just hours before the game, blasted a solo home run in his first game back.
The game largely slipped away in the middle innings. Starter Cade Povich battled but couldn't keep the Tigers off the board, surrendering five earned runs over five innings. The big blow was a two-run homer by Spencer Torkelson in the fifth that seemed to break the game open. The Orioles' offense showed signs of life, with Gunnar Henderson collecting two hits and an RBI and Adley Rutschman driving in a run with a sacrifice fly, but they couldn't string together the big inning they needed against Detroit starter Sawyer Gipson-Long, who fanned seven over six strong frames.
The undisputed highlight of the evening was the return of Jordan Westburg. After a stint on the injured list with a minor injury, the infielder was immediately plugged back into the lineup and provided a jolt of energy. His solo shot in the bottom of the ninth gave the home crowd something to cheer about and served as a reminder of the pop he brings to the lineup. With the infield in flux, having a healthy and productive Westburg is crucial for the O's as they navigate the season.
With Ryan Mountcastle shelved for at least two more months, the Coby Mayo experiment at first base is in full swing. The top prospect is getting an extended look and learning on the job, with interim manager Tony Mansolino and advisor John Mabry providing hands-on defensive instruction. While his overall numbers are still developing, Mayo recently notched his first MLB extra-base hit and stolen base, showing flashes of the tools that make him such an exciting player for the future. It's a trial by fire, but a necessary one for a team looking for answers.
Unfortunately, immediate help doesn't appear to be on the way. The Orioles' minor league affiliates are struggling across the board, with the system ranking near the bottom in most hitting and pitching categories. Heston Kjerstad's first real taste of the majors has been a sour one, as he's struggled to find his power stroke and has looked shaky defensively. It's not all doom and gloom, however. Right-handed pitcher Trey Gibson is turning heads with his swing-and-miss stuff, and outfielder Stiven Martinez is generating buzz in the Florida Complex League.
So, where do the Orioles go from here? The loss stings, dropping Tony Mansolino's managerial record to 11-10 and the team to a dismal 26-38 overall. While Westburg's return provides a much-needed spark, the starting pitching and lack of reinforcements from the minors remain significant hurdles. The Birds will look to salvage a win against the Tigers, hoping to build on the late-game fight and find a way to string together a complete performance.
