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Yennier Cano left his seat in the Orioles’ dugout after the bottom of the third inning and began his stroll to the home bullpen. He’s already said his goodbyes to Bryan Baker, Gregory Soto and Seranthony Domínguez. Just part of the business. And it creates major complications for those left standing, and walking, who want to keep winning.
Rookie Brandon Young, recalled today as the 27th man in Game 2, hadn’t completed the fifth inning in six of his seven starts. Interim manager Tony Mansolino probably spent part of his afternoon introducing himself to his new relievers and wondering how he’d piece together nine frames. And whether everyone in the room was ready for the possibility of high-leverage work.
Young retired the side in order in the fifth and earned the chance to keep going, getting through the sixth and leaving with the score tied and a quality start on his resume. That was one worry put to bed.
Gunnar Henderson and Adley Rutschman hit back-to-back doubles off Jeff Hoffman in the eighth and Corbin Martin earned his first career save in the Orioles’ 3-2 victory over the Blue Jays before an announced crowd of 14,929 at Camden Yards. The bullpen logged three scoreless innings, and the Orioles won their fifth game in a row and sixth out of seven.
Oh, these silly sellers.
The Orioles (50-58) swept consecutive doubleheaders in the same season for the first time since 2004. They also swept a doubleheader from the Dodgers in April 2013 and the Pirates in May 2014.
Martin, who picked up his first major league win last night since his debut in 2019, hit Ernie Clement and walked Tyler Heineman with no outs. Pitching coach Drew French brought a towel to the mound so Martin could wipe the sweat from his arms. A bunt moved up the runners, but Nathan Lukes struck out looking and Bo Bichette went down swinging at a high fastball that wasn't close to the zone.
"It means everything," Martin said. "It’s what you work for, big moments like that in the game: 3-2, runners on second and third. They always say bases loaded, but any moment like that, that’s a huge situation to be in. The trust to keep me out there, too. To get through that inning was a huge step forward for me, too. Getting out of that situation, getting that save and helping this team win."
Nervous? Maybe not the right word.
"I don’t want to say nervous, it’s just a position I haven’t been in, so a little different territory," he said. "I think I got a little trying to overdo it a little early on, and then that mound visit was huge, just calming me down. All the guys calmed me down. And then being able to get back in the zone and get those two big outs was huge."
Martin, with four saves in seven minor league seasons, wasn't going to be the automatic choice to close.
“Oh, we had no idea," Mansolino said with a grin.
"Been around Corbin for a while," Young said. "Actually grew up watching him in college when I was in high school. I’m a Texas guy, went to A&M, watched him several times. Watched him for years. Getting to talk to him, knowing him as a person, I had full confidence in him. I know he’s probably a little amped up. Trying to breathe a little bit. Soon as I saw him go after Lukes, I knew he had it in the bag, for sure. I knew he was on the attack and it kind of changed up his mojo a little bit.”
"It was kind of like an all-hands-on-deck situation," Martin said. "I was ready for any inning they gave me, and it just so happened to fall into the ninth inning and then took advantage of it, which was huge rolling forward. It’s not something I’m going to sit on for a long time. I’ve got to wake up and play the game tomorrow, too. So I’m going to take advantage of every opportunity, and this team is playing really well right now, so I’m going to be, hopefully, a big part of that moving forward."
Martin was designated for assignment earlier this month. Now, at 29, he's closing out games for the first time.
“He did great," Mansolino said. "He’s been through a lot in his career. You guys should dig in and write a story about what he’s been through and where’s he’s been and how he’s gotten to this point. It’s a grown man out there. It’s not a young kid standing on that mound for the first time. It’s a grown man who’s been through a lot. As a coach, you have a weird trust in that type of maturity.”
The past few weeks have been a wild ride. Martin is hanging on and loving it.
"Kind of like that inning today, up and down," he said. "This is where I want to be. This clubhouse is freaking awesome. They open their arms to anyone that comes in. They don’t make you feel like you’re a nobody. Everyone’s a somebody here. To me, that’s huge. You can see it, too. It gives the young guys confidence, and anybody new that comes in here, just getting any opportunity to showcase his stuff. Whether it’s a 20-run game or it’s a one-run game, I think every inning here is important."
Keegan Akin replaced Young, his first appearance since June 30, and the Orioles turned a 4-6-3 double play after two batters reached. Addison Barger doubled off Andrew Kittredge with one out in the eighth, pinch-hitter Joey Loperfido walked and Will Wagner grounded into a 4-6-3 double play.
"It worked out, thank goodness," Mansolino said.
Henderson’s double off the out-of-town scoreboard in right was clocked at 113.9 mph. He scored when Rutschman’s fly ball eluded Lukes, who made a leaping attempt.
The Orioles had two Triple-A relievers nearby at Double-A Chesapeake, right-handers Elvin Rodríguez and Houston Roth. Rodríguez was recalled and Roth had his contract selected. Yaramil Hiraldo was optioned to the Baysox.
Roth, a 29th-round draft pick in 2019 out of the University of Mississippi, registered a combined 2.21 ERA in 24 appearances with Norfolk and Chesapeake. Rodríguez, selected on waivers from the Brewers July 16, brought 14 games of major league experience over parts of three seasons and allowed one run in 2 2/3 innings with the Tides.
Other players were sent to Bowie just in case more moves are coming – outfielder Jordyn Adams, infielders Terrin Vavra and TT Bowens, and catcher David Bañuelos. Right-hander Ryan Long, infielder Carter Young and outfielder Reed Trimble moved up to Norfolk. It’s sheer bedlam.
Traffic was heavy for Young, who retired the first two batters in the first inning and loaded the bases on a walk, infield hit and walk. He struck out Wagner on a 95.8 mph fastball to conclude a seven-pitch at-bat after falling behind 3-1.
The Blue Jays opened the second inning with singles by Clement and Heineman. They advanced on a sacrifice and Clement scored on Lukes’ broken-bat ground ball, with third baseman Ramón Urías making an impressive play to charge it and get the out. Young struck out Bo Bichette on a 96.7 mph fastball to limit damage.
Back-to-back one-out singles in the fourth and Myles Straw’s fielder’s choice grounder gave Toronto a 2-0 lead in the fourth, but Young retired seven of his last eight batters. Davis Schneider led off the sixth with an infield single but Wagner lined to Coby Mayo for a double play. Mayo had just received a visit from Mansolino and an athletic trainer after stretching for Gunnar Henderson’s throw and twisting his leg.
Colton Cowser pinch-hit for Mayo in the seventh with Domínguez making his Blue Jays debut. Domínguez hit Dylan Carlson with one out, and a stolen base put the go-ahead run in scoring position, but Carlson broke too soon for third base and was tagged going back to second. Domínguez struck out two batters.
Mansolino said Mayo is "fine."
Young allowed two runs and six hits in six innings, with two walks and six strikeouts. He threw 86 pitches, 61 for strikes, and his timing couldn’t have been much better.
“I think I was just consistent with several pitches," he said. "I felt like early on, I had trouble getting ahead and attacking them. And then settled down and was able to breathe a little bit and go after and attack them, get ahead with my good stuff.”
“He threw the ball great," Mansolino said. "I think we’ve seen signs of that here through a few of the starts. We were in a situation in the past where we were kind of loaded up in the bullpen and we were probably quick to kind of pull him out once trouble hit. Obviously with the trades and the bullpen status right now, we don’t have that luxury.
"I don’t feel like they hit him that hard. I thought he handled himself incredibly well today against a good lineup.”
Ryan O’Hearn’s first triple of the season, on a ball that took a wicked bounce off the angled portion of the left field wall near the foul pole and rolled toward the other angle at the splash zone, scored Ramón Laureano in the fourth inning. Laureano reached on his second single against left-hander Eric Lauer. O’Hearn scored the tying run on Urías’ ground ball.
"I was hoping Buck (Britton) waved me around third," O'Hearn said. "I haven't had a major league in-the-parker in my career, so I thought it was maybe a shot when I saw it kick off that wall like that. But I'll take a triple. Those are rare, too."
The Orioles showed Domínguez on the video board before the top of the sixth inning and he saluted fans as they applauded him. He hesitated at first, as if unsure how to react.
Imagine how his former teammates feel with each trade.
“Obviously, the performance stands out for itself, and we think he got better here, too," Mansolino said. "We think our pitching group helped him. That’s important to point out. I think what people don’t know about Seranthony, he’s an incredible dude. It’s a leader amongst the Latin players, the American players. It’s a really, really smart, intelligent baseball person. He watches baseball all night, every night. That’s all he does.
"He’s fair. He’s reasonable. He’s here for the team. Toronto, they struck gold on him. We’re going to really miss him. We’d love to see him back here in 2026 if he’d want to come back. He’s a guy we’re really fond of.”
The Blue Jays arrived at Camden Yards with baseball's best record and they're getting smacked around by a last-place club that's shedding major league talent.
"For me, still a rookie, still a new guy on this team, I just take it day-by-day," Young said. "I’m very fortunate to be here. I think we’re trying to win every game. That’s the goal.”
"Really proud," O'Hearn said. "Today was a long day, but an awesome day for the boys. Corbin coming in, getting his first save, B.Y. pitched great. Coby's been playing great. It's fun to see the young guys ball out, score a ton of runs, three wins against a really good team in the Blue Jays. Yeah, it's really fun to be a part of."
* Ryan Mountcastle hit a three-run homer off Zach Plesac on his rehab assignment with Norfolk and should return to the Orioles next week, perhaps in Philadelphia. He’s eligible for reinstatement from the 60-day injured list on Sunday.
Cade Povich went 4 2/3 innings and allowed seven hits and five runs (four earned) with no walks, three strikeouts and a home run. He threw 86 pitches, 54 for strikes.
Kyle Bradish made his second rehab start and first with Chesapeake, and he allowed one hit in 3 2/3 scoreless innings. He walked none, struck out two and threw 24 of 38 pitches for strikes.
Cameron Foster made his first appearance since coming to the organization in the Soto trade and tossed 1 1/3 scoreless innings with a hit and walk.
