The Orioles find themselves atop the American League East largely because they are masters of the nail-biter. Games such as Tuesday night’s blowout loss to the San Diego Padres have been uncommon, including those that end with them on the winning side.
Baltimore’s 10-3 loss, which featured backup catcher James McCann’s first major league pitching appearance, left the Orioles at 74 victories. Exactly half have come in games decided by two or fewer runs. Despite a record 17 games above their opponent’s, Baltimore’s run differential is only seven better than San Diego’s.
The Padres (57-63) cut into that deficit early Tuesday by quickly creating one for the Orioles. Making his third start for Baltimore after being acquired in a trade deadline deal with the St. Louis Cardinals, right-hander Jack Flaherty issued a bases-loaded walk before surrendering a grand slam to Gary Sánchez in a first inning in which he threw 18 strikes and 16 balls. The inning’s five runs were scored with two outs, as were San Diego’s other five on the night.
“His command just wasn’t there from the start,” manager Brandon Hyde said. “Tough time landing his breaking balls. All the breaking balls were down out of the zone, and everything was just kind of to extension side. They got enough of the bat on the ball. A lot of the damage was with two outs. But just a tough time commanding his pitches tonight.”
Despite getting two quick outs, Flaherty’s second frame was perhaps more laborious, with one of his 39 pitches within it resulting in a two-run double by former Orioles infielder Manny Machado. He struck out three of his next four batters, but with 83 pitches and seven runs allowed, Flaherty’s night ended after three innings. He has a 7.07 ERA for the Orioles (74-46), only once pitching past the fifth inning.
“Just a bad night,” Flaherty said. “Just didn’t execute.
“It wasn’t just one thing. [Catcher Adley Rutschman] did a good job back there. I just didn’t do a good job on the mound.”
The outing marked the second time in five games one of Baltimore’s veteran starters put the club in an insurmountable early hole. Kyle Gibson, who joins Flaherty as the only members of the Orioles’ rotation to pitch in the postseason, allowed nine runs in 5 1/3 innings Friday in Seattle.
Most of the team’s other starters are early in their careers and either have surpassed or are approaching their career highs for innings, prompting the use of a six-man rotation. Because of that, the Orioles’ bullpen is operating a man short. Nick Vespi allowed three runs over two innings before Shintaro Fujinami and Mike Baumann worked a scoreless inning each. McCann, a 10-year veteran, took the mound for the first time for the bottom of the eighth, stranding two runners in scoring position while throwing only one of his 14 pitches above 50 mph.
“He had a smile on his face coming off the mound, so that was nice,” Hyde said. “It was the best part of the game.”
Before Austin Hays’ solo home run and Gunnar Henderson’s RBI single plated runs in the ninth, Baltimore’s offense came on Cedric Mullins’ single in the sixth. San Diego starter Michael Wacha pitched five scoreless innings in his first start since July 1.
Perhaps the only good news for the Orioles was the Tampa Bay Rays also losing by seven, leaving Baltimore’s lead in the AL East at three games.
Around the horn
- Outfielder Aaron Hicks exited Monday’s game, his first off the injured list for a left hamstring strain, with a sore back and was not in Tuesday’s lineup. Hyde said pregame that Hicks was available to play, but he did not appear in the loss.
- Continuing his progression after Tommy John elbow reconstruction, left-hander John Means made his second rehabilitation start with Double-A Bowie on Tuesday, allowing four runs in 1 1/3 innings. Means threw 45 pitches, up from 28 in his first start.
- Left-hander Drew Rom, one of the three prospects Baltimore sent to St. Louis for Flaherty, pitched six scoreless innings against Triple-A Norfolk on Tuesday, striking out eight and allowing two hits. Infielder César Prieto, also part of the package, went 2-for-5 with a double in Memphis’ 5-0 win.
Orioles at Padres
Wednesday, 8:40 p.m.
TV: MASN2
Radio: 97.9 FM, 101.5 FM, 1090 AM
Orioles at Athletics
Friday, 9:40 p.m.
TV: MASN2, MLB Network (out of market only)
Radio: 97.9 FM, 101.5 FM, 1090 AM
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