Baltimore Orioles: Tyler Wilson struggles in Seattle

Tyler Wilson struggled mightily against Seattle as the Baltimore Orioles fell 12-6.

Tyler Wilson struggled from the beginning last night at Safeco Field. I think Jim Hunter on the Orioles’ radio network put it best when he said that Wilson wasn’t fooling anyone with anything he’s throwing out there. Wilson’s line: 3.0 IP, 9 H, 8 R, 2 BB, 2 K.

Keep in mind that Wilson’s a pitch-to-contact type of pitcher. So in pitching-to-contact, if he’s just a bit off he’s going to be hit hard. We saw this a bit also in his previous start last Sunday at home when he at times looked uncomfortable on the mound. That was the case even moreso last night.

The O’s found themselves in an immediate 3-0 hole when Cruz sent a three-run homer over the wall in the first inning. Zunino would add a second home run in the second inning, this one of the two-run variety. Before you could say BOO!, the Birds trailed 5-0.

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The O’s would crack the scorecard in the fourth inning on Chris Davis‘ RBI-single, however Seattle’s Smith would crank another three-run home run in the last of the inning which chased Wilson from the game. If there’s a silver lining in this game, it would be that the Orioles seemingly found their bats just a bit in Seattle. After the teams exchanged runs in the fifth, J.J. Hardy cranked an RBI-single and Nolan Reimold an RBI-double in the sixth.

Of course the last of the sixth brought three additional Seattle runs as well, including another Zunino homer. That pretty much capped the night as the O’s fell. However Davis would put one out of the park for the Birds in the seventh, a two-run shot. At the end of the day, the Orioles fell 12-6 in Seattle.

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After the game Showalter was asked about Wilson’s struggles, and in his view it’s something that happens with a lot of pitchers (quote courtesy of Steve Melewski, MASNsports):

"He’s just not quite as crisp as he was. He’s in the 80-plus inning mark, and he’s just not carrying the same crispness that he had earlier in the season. It happens with a lot of pitchers that are pitching every fifth day up here."

I’m not sure if burnout is the proper term to use there, however that might be along the lines of which Showalter is referring. In theory Wilson should have one more turn in the rotation left before the all-star break. So in other words that respite might be coming at just the right time for him. We should also keep in mind that he’s still a rookie. 

Next: Baltimore Orioles winless in Seattle thus far

The O’s will try to salvage one game in Seattle this afternoon before they head to Dodger Stadium. Ubaldo Jimenez will get the start for the Orioles, and he’ll be opposed by Seattle’s Hisashi Iwakuma – who no-hit the O’s last season. Game time is set for just after 4 PM.