MILWAUKEE -- Brandon Hyde doesn’t get ejected often. But the Orioles’ manager emerged from the dugout during the fifth inning on Wednesday to argue a called third strike with home-plate umpire Hunter Wendelstedt, who then ended Hyde’s night early.
Hyde was quickly tossed for only the second time this season. Perhaps he was trying to jumpstart a scuffling offense. But he did not.
Baltimore didn’t score until the ninth, when it rallied for two runs. It would have taken a lot more to make a difference, though, as Milwaukee handed the O’s a 10-2 loss at American Family Field for their second-most lopsided defeat of the season.
The Orioles’ lineup has been lacking some punch of late. If that wasn’t the case, and they had mustered some early momentum against Brewers right-hander Corbin Burnes -- who tossed eight masterful innings -- maybe the game could have taken a different route.
But Burnes racked up nine strikeouts and allowed only two hits -- singles to Aaron Hicks (in the second) and Gunnar Henderson (in the fifth). Baltimore had three baserunners over the first eight frames, and none advanced past first base.
“He was throwing in really good spots, attacking hitters, down-and-away, down-and-in,” outfielder Anthony Santander said of Burnes. “That’s a big key as a pitcher.”
Over the first five of its six-game National League road trip, the Orioles scored more than three runs only once. That happened during an 8-3 win in San Francisco on Sunday, with six runs coming during a rally in the third inning.
Several Baltimore hitters are slumping. Two of them -- Ryan Mountcastle and Ramón Urías -- were out of Wednesday’s starting lineup to get what Hyde called a “mental night off.”
Mountcastle, the team’s leader in home runs (11) and RBIs (39), hasn’t recorded a multi-hit game since May 16. The first baseman is 4-for-26 (.154) over his past seven games.
Urías, who missed a little more than two weeks last month with a left hamstring strain, went 2-for-25 in his first nine games after coming off the injured list. He delivered a pinch-hit single in Wednesday’s ninth -- a rally that also featured an RBI knock from Austin Hays -- which could be a positive sign that Urías may get going soon.
“I’ve been having a bad time at the plate, but I’m working on it,” said Urías, who noted he felt his timing’s been a bit off since returning on May 26.
Mountcastle and Urías have both been putting in work in the batting cage to try to reinvigorate their swings. It would provide a great boost to Baltimore’s lineup if they can do so.
“We need both of these guys to be big parts of our lineup, and I’m hoping that they get a little reset,” Hyde said. “It’s a long season. A lot of season left.”
In addition to the recent struggles for Mountcastle and Urías, Jorge Mateo (one of the club’s hottest hitters in April) is batting .141 (11-for-78) since May 9.
Santander, who slashed .337/.422/.634 in May, is 0-for-20 since the beginning of June. Cedric Mullins (on the injured list due to a right groin strain) is at least multiple weeks away from returning.
At some point soon, the Orioles may need to tap into their stacked farm system for an offensive boost. Jordan Westburg and Colton Cowser are both waiting in the wings.
Neither will be in Milwaukee on Thursday afternoon, though, when Baltimore will try to avoid getting swept for the first time this season.
The hitters who are here will attempt to end the road swing on a high note by looking more like the lineup that ranks sixth in the American League in OPS (.731) and less like the one that has totaled five runs and 25 strikeouts over the first two games vs. the Brewers.
“You have to come back the next day, go out there and compete and stay positive,” Santander said. “That’s part of the game, and you just have to stay strong and stay together, and go back the next day.”