CLEVELAND — The Orioles’ acquisition of two underperforming outfielders, one of whom has barely played in the field this year, puzzled some.
What were they going to do with guys who were hitting .192 and .239 when they already were struggling to find spots for their own prospects to play?
But Baltimore has struggled against left-handed pitching, winning just two of its last 10 against a left-handed starter, so the Orioles stood behind their decision. Austin Slater, acquired from the Reds, and Eloy Jiménez, from the White Sox, were there to improve that stat. They viewed Slater as someone who can play every outfield spot and Jiménez as a designated hitter, the team hopeful he can overcome his ailing hamstring and get onto the field this season.
On Saturday, after dropping the first two games against the American League-leading Guardians, the Orioles got their first real look at what Slater and Jiménez can do. Against left-handed starter Joey Cantillo, the Orioles changed up their lineup.
Colton Cowser was taken out of the leadoff spot and replaced with Slater, who played left field. Jiménez batted fifth as the designated hitter, with No. 3 prospect Coby Mayo hitting sixth and No. 1 prospect Jackson Holliday rounding out the lineup in the ninth spot.
On paper, it seemed an odd construction. In actuality, it led to a 7-4 win for the Orioles, giving them a chance to even the series Sunday.
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“Austin is going to give you a good at-bat against a left-hander,” manager Brandon Hyde said. “Eloy is just a professional hitter, against left and right. Eloy won a Silver Slugger, so he can flat-out hit. But the other guys, to see Jackson go left on left and do what he did, it was a really good win for us.”
Slater knew what his job was when he walked into the Orioles’ clubhouse on Thursday after making the short drive from Cincinnati. He was there to hit lefties, run the bases and play defense. The Orioles added one more duty: leading off, a spot he has occupied 200 previous times in his career. It didn’t take long for him to show his worth, Slater hitting a double to open the game. He was, though, left stranded on second. The Orioles have already had him adjust his swing, and it paid off right away.
“I know the results really haven’t been there, at least so far this season, but really excited to work with this new hitting staff and getting my swing going,” Slater said. “I’ve already seen the early results from some swing changes, and hopefully the confidence keeps growing and I can keep contributing like that tonight.”
In the third, Gunnar Henderson and Anthony Santander hit back-to-back singles. Jiménez brought them in with a single for his first hit with the Orioles. Cowser tied the game at 2 later that inning with an RBI single.
Slater added another hit in the fifth. Holliday opened the inning with a double, and Slater hit a single to advance Holliday to third. Holliday scored later that inning on a Henderson single to give the Orioles a 3-2 lead.
Jiménez got another hit in the sixth, but both his and Slater’s day would end shortly after that as right-handed relievers came. Hyde has a tendency to be very matchup focused — no matter how good a day the player is having. Cedric Mullins pinch hit for Slater in the seventh, and Adley Rutschman did so for Jiménez in the eighth. It paid off — Rutschman hit a triple to bring in two runs to extend the Orioles’ lead to 5-2.
The Orioles added two more runs that inning, and Holliday completed his second consecutive multihit game. After going 2-for-34 in his first stint in the majors, Holliday is 5-for-14 with two extra-base hits in his four games since being recalled Wednesday.
“Just trusting myself and my approach and just trying to have fun,” he said. “Even when I’m getting out, I feel like I’m hitting the ball hard and putting together good at-bats, which is important. Just glad to help the team win.”
Zach Eflin, another trade acquisition, did his job in his second start with the team, allowing two runs in 6 1/3 innings.
