DENVER — The Orioles needed Zach Eflin on Sunday.
They finished August with a losing record — their second one in a row — and watched as not one but two key players suffered injuries. One, Ramon Urías, went on the injured list Sunday with a sprained ankle. The other, Dean Kremer, is still being evaluated after being hit in the wrist by a line drive during Saturday’s game.
But on Sunday, the calendar turned to September. There are no fresh starts this late in the season, but a new month of the regular season — and the most important one as the playoffs approach — can bring a renewed energy. And they got just that thanks to Eflin, who pitched seven innings in his return from the injured list as the Orioles beat the Rockies 6-1 to win the three-game series.
“We’re just looking for some spark to kind of get it going to get on a little bit of a run,” manager Brandon Hyde said. “Nice to win this series. Finished the road trip .500. That’s not what we went out to do, but winning a series is a start.”
With the Yankees losing to the Cardinals on Sunday, the Orioles are now just half a game behind New York in the American League East race.
“This is what you train for all offseason, this is what you plan for all season long is this month, the last 30 days of the season competition for a division title and competition for a playoff spot,” catcher James McCann said. “And then, obviously hopefully a long October run.”
When the Orioles acquired Eflin from the Rays four days ahead of the trade deadline, they were bringing in a clear playoff starter to aid a rotation that has been devastated by injuries. Kyle Bradish, John Means and Tyler Wells were already ruled out for the rest of the season. Grayson Rodriguez would join them on the injured list Aug. 7. His timeline is still murky, making Eflin’s presence even more noteworthy.
Eflin quickly showed his value, pitching a 2.13 ERA in his first four starts. But then he, too, landed on the injured list on Aug. 20 with right shoulder inflammation. The Orioles hoped — and anticipated — it would be a short stint, and their initial inclination was correct. The veteran righty returned Sunday, the earliest he was eligible, and picked up right where he left off.
The altitude, in combination with the large outfield, make Coors Field one of the toughest places to pitch in the majors. Some aces have gone as far to say that it feels like pitching on the moon. Eflin had no such problems.
“Pitchers struggle here and that was an awesome performance,” Hyde said.
The 30-year-old starter was efficient and lethal, striking out six in five perfect innings to start the game. He relied on his curveball and sweeper more than he anticipated — and more than the scouting report told him to. Breaking balls often play funky at Coors Field, but he was able to get some depth on both offerings.
“I’m such a command guy and a feel-based pitcher, I got to live on the corners,” Eflin said. “So, that’s what I’ve been focusing on the entire time I’ve been on the IL when I’ve been throwing and feeling better. So, it was just nice to go back and compete again and to be able to live on the corners and keep them guessing.”
In the sixth, he finally let up his first base runner when Jake Cave hit a dribbler down the third-base line for a single. Eflin then walked Jordan Beck, his first and only free pass, before getting the next three batters out to end the inning. He ran into his only trouble of the day in the seventh, allowing three consecutive two-out singles as the Rockies managed their only run of the day.
“I wasn’t expecting him to go seven innings,” Hyde said. “But five perfect innings and just [a] really good breaking ball. He’s got such good command of all of his stuff. But you never really know, guy hasn’t pitched in two weeks. Just throwing a side and that’s it, and goes out and does that.”
The Orioles offense, lackluster at times over the last month, also turned a new leaf. They scored six runs, highlighted by McCann’s two-run homer in the fourth. Top prospect Coby Mayo, in his first game back in the majors, had a base hit.
