SAN FRANCISCO -- Orioles players and coaches can spend at least a few minutes chatting with a pair of former teammates when they visit San Diego to start a three-game series Monday night.
Reminiscing with Ryan O’Hearn and Ramón Laureano will feel a lot better than ruminating over Sunday afternoon’s 13-2 loss to the Giants, which featured more shaky defense and Baltimore’s second blowout loss in the three games at Oracle Park, sandwiched around a dominant victory.
Rookie third baseman Jeremiah Jackson committed two of the three Orioles errors. Shortstop Luis Vázquez had the other, and left fielder Daniel Johnson committed the most impactful defensive mistake without being charged with an error.
With two runs in and nobody out in the fourth, Johnson trotted to his right to reach a catchable line drive by Drew Gilbert but slipped, allowing the ball to fall. As he chased the ball to the wall, two more runs scored on the triple to give the Giants a 6-0 lead.
Johnson is usually a good fielder, one of several Orioles who have played left field since Laureano was sent to San Diego.
The 2025 Trade Deadline was busier than most. Even so, general manager Mike Elias’ decision to send two experienced players to the Padres for six prospects stood out for its boldness on San Diego’s part and emotional impact on the Orioles’ side.
Interim manager Tony Mansolino spoke about O’Hearn and Laureano before Baltimore’s ninth defeat in the past 11 games.
“Start with Ryan because we had him so much longer,” Mansolino said. “A guy who came to Baltimore and rejuvenated his career. A lot of coaches are tied to him. Because of that, we loved the man.
“He helped this team get into the playoffs and was a leader in the clubhouse, a guy so loved and well-liked among the Americans, the Latins, the old guys, the young guys.”
Mansolino called it “the same kind of deal” with Laureano, who made an impact in just four months with the Orioles.
“He's a little different,” Mansolino said. “He’s a little quirky in a lot of ways. He was just so different in his leadership and how he did things, but guys gravitated toward him. Then, obviously, he put up All-Star-caliber numbers while he was with us for the short time that we had him.
“We’re going to miss him dearly, excited that he’s in the situation that he’s in, and I’m definitely excited to see both guys.”
Losing popular players is the price of falling out of contention early. Both have contributed for the Padres, who are contending for the National League West title.
The Orioles could have used another veteran perspective on Sunday as 42-year-old Justin Verlander attacked Baltimore’s cadre of young hitters in a five-inning, 10-strikeout outing. Verlander feasted on their aggressiveness and had them chasing offspeed pitches when they wanted to drive fastballs.
Verlander twice struck out rookie catcher Samuel Basallo, who at 21 is half Verlander’s age.
The Orioles had 10 hits but did not score until the ninth inning, long after starter Tomoyuki Sugano departed amid a hail of mistakes behind him.
“There are a lot of days when the team has my back,” Sugano said through a translator. “Today was different.”