In pitchers' duel, Povich steps up to answer the call for Orioles

WASHINGTON -- The left-hander expected to steal the show Thursday at Nationals Park was Washington southpaw MacKenzie Gore, who has been electric this year and had a favorable matchup against a Baltimore offense struggling to hit lefties.

Instead, it was Cade Povich's night in the spotlight.

Povich outdueled Gore in the Battle of the Beltways finale, tossing 6 2/3 dominant innings to help lift the Orioles to a 2-1 win over the Nationals. The 25-year-old allowed only one run and struck out five during an 87-pitch outing featuring 60 strikes and a career-high-tying 21 first-pitch strikes among his 25 batters faced.

“That’s the best start I’ve seen him make. Just the command, how he got ahead of hitters, that was the key for me. 0-1 on so many guys, and it allowed him to expand the strike zone a little bit,” manager Brandon Hyde said. “He just threw the ball so well.”

Baltimore (10-14) entered with an MLB-high 6.08 rotation ERA, and Povich (a 6.38 ERA through four starts after allowing seven runs in 3 1/3 innings in a loss to Cincinnati last Friday) had been part of the struggles. The O’s depth has deteriorated due to having seven starters on the injured list, so they need guys to step up.

Povich answered the call, ending the Orioles’ season-long-tying three-game losing streak and lifting them to their second win in six games.

"For me to be the one, great, I guess. I’m not looking to be the sole guy or to be the hero,” Povich said. “Obviously, we’ve heard a lot about injuries in the past -- last year, this year -- it’s all about the next guy stepping up. This was my turn."

Much of the talk surrounding Povich’s arsenal early in his second big league season has been about the “kick-changeup” he’s incorporated in his mix. However, it was his sweeper that guided him to his best showing so far this year (and one of the better performances of his career).

Povich threw his sweeper more than any other pitch -- 27 times for a 31% usage rate, both career highs. The breaking offering induced five of his eight whiffs, with his curveball (two) and changeup (one) used on the others.

“When you get four lefties in [the Nats’ lineup], the sweeper’s going to come into play a lot more. A lot of these games in the past, teams usually stack righties. I think that’s part of it a little bit,” Povich said. “I think part of it was just how it was playing today, too, even to righties. We were just really able to mix and match everything to both sides.”

It was the second-longest appearance of Povich’s 21-start MLB tenure behind only his 7 1/3-inning scoreless gem vs. the White Sox last Sept. 3. He’s the second Orioles starter to pitch into the seventh this year, joining Tomoyuki Sugano (who has completed seven frames in each of his past two outings).

“A ton of strikes, all of his pitches for strikes. He was great,” designated hitter Ryan O’Hearn said of Povich. “That’s exactly what we needed.”

Baltimore rallied for both of its runs in the fifth off Gore, who went six innings. Ramón Laureano hit a one-out double -- improving to 6-for-8 in his career against the left-hander -- then O’Hearn and Cedric Mullins each knocked left-on-left RBI singles later in the frame.

Entering Thursday, the O’s were 0-12 in games in which they scored three or fewer runs, one of three MLB teams winless in such contests, along with the Twins (0-12) and Braves (0-11). Their fewest number of runs scored in a victory had been five, leaving little margin for error with Baltimore’s scuffling starters.

“The games aren’t going the way we want to. We’ve had a tough time rotation-wise,” Hyde said. “We get good starts, we’ve got a good shot. And these guys are going to start swinging the bat better. But just really happy -- Povich tonight, that won us the game tonight.”

The Orioles may need more outings like that this weekend in Detroit. Brandon Young (the team’s No. 19 prospect per MLB Pipeline) will be making his second big league start on Friday, followed by Charlie Morton (10.89 ERA) and Dean Kremer (6.84), each struggling.

Run support could be challenging to come by, considering the Tigers will be countering with the trio of Casey Mize (2.22 ERA), Jackson Jobe (2.70) and reigning American League Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal (2.83).

“We’re facing some premier arms and a really good bullpen in Detroit,” Hyde said. “I’m going to enjoy this one first, if you don’t mind. These have been few and far between. I’m going to have a little something, a Diet Coke and enjoy the flight to Detroit.”