Hyde on Wynns starting again and Villar's strong season (game update)

TORONTO - He was behind the plate last night for Dylan Bundy's strong seven-inning, two-run outing, so Austin Wynns is back catching again tonight as the Orioles wrap up the series in Toronto.

"I liked the way he caught last night and he hit a homer," manager Brandon Hyde said. "So give him another chance to get back there. I like the fingers he threw last night (calling the pitches). I thought he and Bundy worked really well together and I thought he's done a nice job defensively with the limited time he's been back there. I feel like he's earned another start and hopefully it goes like it did last night."

Jonathan Villar is also starting tonight and he's played in every game this year. So with just three to go after tonight in Boston, he's - knock on wood - on his way to playing in all 162 this year.

"Maybe," Hyde said. "I tried to get him out of the game last night and he didn't want to come out. That guy loves to play. Finally took him out in the bottom of the ninth. He doesn't want to come off the field. I'll keep checking in with him and if he's good to go, he'll probably be in there."

Villar-Throws-Gray-sidebar.jpgVillar is one of five players in the majors to appear in each of their team's games this season. The last Orioles player to appear in every game in a season was second baseman Jonathan Schoop, who played all 162 in 2016. Since 2015, Orioles players have appeared in at least 160 games four times and that list includes Schoop (160 games in 2017 and 162 in 2016), Manny Machado (162 games in 2015) and Chris Davis (160 games in 2015).

The skipper appreciates Villar for being on the field so much.

"That, for sure, is undervalued as a guy that is able to play every day," Hyde said. "In this grind that we go through for six months, keeps his body in great shape and he's had a really good year. That is pretty rare to have a guy play every day for six months. He's made it to 159 and I'm sure he's going to want to be in there the last three, so we'll see."

Villar is batting .274/.340/.457 with 32 doubles, five triples, 24 homers and 71 RBIs. Villar has scored a team-high 109 runs, the most by an Oriole since Brian Roberts scored 110 in 2009. He ranks seventh in the American League in runs. He's hitting .292 (83-for-284) with 54 runs and 34 RBIs in 69 games since the All-Star break.

"I've always seen his tools," Hyde said. "I saw him for a few years in Milwaukee. He's always shown tools, but the consistency of his game has improved. He's still got a lot of improving to do and can still get better. But he's got a nice game and you know he's really played shortstop well, especially in the second half. A guy that switch-hits that can play the middle with 20 homers and close to 40 bags. And he can improve. There are some discipline on the bases things he can improve on and some strike zone discipline he could improve on. But he's given us everything he's got and I really appreciate it."

Most hits by a switch-hitter since the All-Star break:

84 - Ozzie Albies, Atlanta and Francisco Lindor, Cleveland
83 - Villar, Orioles
78 - Bryan Reynolds, Pittsburgh

Jays score first: Right fielder Billy McKinney led off the home first with a home run and Toronto took a 1-0 lead. He hit No. 12, which was his first career leadoff homer.

And second: A Rowdy Tellez homer, his 20th, leading off the fourth gave Toronto a 2-0 edge.

Ynoa out: O's starter Gabriel Ynoa went four innings tonight allowing four hits and two runs on 83 pitches. Paul Fry came on in the fifth. The O's have been blanked through the top of the fifth by right-hander Jacob Waguespack on three hits.

Tellez again: Tellez homered again, this time off Fry and Toronto's lead grew to 3-0 in the sixth as he produced his third career multi-homer game. Waguespack threw six scoreless on four hits and was replaced by Jason Adam in the seventh.




Harper nets extra-base hit early off Sánchez (Nat...
Martinez on rest for Turner and Rendon; how lineup...
 

By accepting you will be accessing a service provided by a third-party external to https://www.masnsports.com/