DENVER — Emmanuel Rivera’s arrival to the Orioles came at the perfect time.
After partaking in the Diamondbacks’ World Series run a year ago, he was designated for assignment by Arizona due to a roster crunch ahead of opening day. He was traded to Miami for cash considerations, but the same fate awaited him there, the Marlins opting to let in the next wave of prospects after Rivera hit .214 in 96 games.
But the Orioles, dealing with injuries all over the field, picked him up on waivers on Aug. 21. Two days later, Ryan Mountcastle sprained his wrist. Rivera, who can play first base and third, was thrown into action.
He played parts of three games, at both corner infield positions, but had yet to contribute on offense. Until Friday, that is. In the first of a three-game series against the Rockies, Rivera was responsible for three runs as the Orioles won 5-3.
“It’s really important to me because in doing so I was able to help the team win, and you know that’s what I expect out of myself,” Rivera said through Brandon Quinones, who translated the interview. “To be able to do that tonight was great.”
This has been the way of the 2024 Orioles. As one guy goes down, another has to step up. It’s not always for injuries either — the Orioles played a night game Thursday in Los Angeles and didn’t arrive at their hotel in Denver until 4:30 a.m. They were tired and beat down, but they had a game to play. Someone had to get them over the hump.
Read More
In this case, it was Rivera, with a major boost from Albert Suárez.
After Colton Cowser doubled in the second, Rivera hit a single to drive him in, Rivera’s first hit with the Orioles. In the fourth, with the Orioles down 2-1, he hit a two-run home run to center field. It was his second of the season, his only other coming July 30 when he was with the Marlins.
It’s unclear how long he’ll stick with the Orioles, because Mountcastle’s injury is not thought to be season ending and they have newly crowned No. 1 prospect Coby Mayo waiting in the wings. But, if his time is short-lived, he at least contributed at a time when the rest of the lineup wasn’t able.
“We know it’s a business. We have to be prepared for absolutely anything that can happen,” Rivera said. “For now, I’m just really happy to be here with these guys right now.”
In the ninth, in need of a security run with the Orioles ahead only 3-2, Jackson Holliday hit a triple to drive in Ryan O’Hearn. It was the second triple of Holliday’s career and his first hit at Coors Field, the stadium he spent the first years of his life trailing after his father, Matt Holliday. Jackson Holliday scored later in the ninth on a throwing error after Cedric Mullins put the ball into play.
“That’s something we’ve been talking a lot about,” manager Brandon Hyde said. “We’ve got to put more pressure on defenses and, when you put the ball in play, anything can happen.”
Suárez, meanwhile, continued to only get better with each outing. He pitched a career-high seven innings, allowing two runs, both of which came in the third. Since coming back to the rotation Aug. 6 in place of the injured Grayson Rodriguez, Suárez has allowed four runs in 30 1/3 innings. He’s been the Orioles’ most consistent starter, with a 3.14 ERA that is lower than ace Corbin Burnes’.
Suárez has improved by mixing his pitches more, establishing his fastball before adding in his breaking balls.
“He’s relying on more pitches than just his four-seam, and you saw that tonight,” Hyde said. “You saw him really change speeds well. That was a start we needed, seven great innings.”
Seranthony Domínguez allowed a solo home run in the ninth but rebounded to get the last two hitters out to end the game.
