What happened? Albert Suárez allowed six runs on eight hits in two-plus innings as the Orioles lost to the Miami Marlins, 6-3, on Tuesday night.
The defeat was a painful one because second baseman Jorge Mateo left the game in the third inning with an injury to his left elbow after colliding with shortstop Gunnar Henderson attempting to field Jesús Sánchez’s ground ball.
Manager Brandon Hyde told reporters in Miami that X-rays on Mateo’s elbow were negative, but he would have further tests. For the moment, he’s day-to-day, and Connor Norby was headed to Miami, according to a report from the Baltimore Banner,
Suárez (5-4) left the game after the next batter, Otto Lopez, hit a ball off his right shin. He suffered a bruise, but he should be fine.
“It hurts more now than when I got hit,” Suárez told reporters in Miami. “The adrenaline is down right now. It hurts. The X-ray came out negative, so it’s just swollen and painful, nothing else.”
Manager Brandon Hyde, who appeared frustrated by his team’s poor play, announced after the game that Chayce McDermott would start against Miami on Wednesday night.
The Orioles will have to drop a pitcher and make a 40-man roster move to add the 25-year-old McDermott, who’s 3-5 with a 3.96 earned-run average at Norfolk.
“We have to figure a lot of things out at this point,” Hyde said.
The Orioles (60-40) scored on Jordan Westburg’s run-scoring single in the first. Miami had a four-run second inning against Suárez. Sánchez homered, Nick Gordon had an RBI single, and Jazz Chisholm’s double scored two runs for a 4-1 lead.
The Orioles got to within 4-3 on Ryan O’Hearn’s RBI single and an infield single by Colton Cowser, allowing Anthony Santander to score.
Cowser was thrown out trying for third on Ryan Mountcastle’s single. Cedric Mullins was thrown out attempting to steal second in the second.
“We didn’t score after that, so not much offense,” Hyde said.
After Suárez left with the bases loaded and none out, Keegan Akin allowed two inherited runs on Xavier Edwards’ sacrifice fly and Gordon’s infield out.
“They’re a very aggressive team,” Suárez said. “I think I was just putting the ball over the plate. Because they were aggressive, they were taking advantage of that.”
It was 6-3 after three, and neither bullpen allowed a run.
The Orioles recorded an improbable win over the Yankees to end a five-game losing streak before the All-Star break, defeated Texas twice after the break, but have dropped two in a row and are playing more like the team that lost five in a row.
“We’re pretty consistent. That’s where that confidence comes from,” Mullins told reporters in Miami. “You continue to maintain that confidence and approach, and you’ll get out of iit.”
How strong were the bullpens? Miami starter Kyle Tyler allowed three runs on nine hits in 4 2/3 innings.
Bryan Hoeing, Andrew Nardi, A.J. Puk (4-8) and former Oriole Tanner Scott combined for 4 1/3 hitless innings. Scott, who has been mentioned prominently in trade talks, earned his 17th save.
“We saw Tanner have some really good moments with us,” Hyde said. “He made the All-Star team. A lot of people in that clubhouse know him very well.”
Akin, Burch Smith, Vinny Nittoli and Bryan Baker allowed just two hits in six shutout innings.
“All those guys did a great job,” Hyde said. “We just didn’t do anything off their bullpen at all. We couldn’t get any sort of rally going. We took some pretty good at-bats the first few innings and then kind of went stale after that.”
What would the Orioles do without Mateo? If the Orioles have to put Jorge Mateo on the 10-day injured list, Norby would likely be the choice.
Hyde wouldn’t speculate after the game.
“I don’t have any results at this point, so we’ll wait those out and see how it is,” he said. “Jorgie brings a lot to the table for us, so we’re hoping for the best.”
What’s the word? “We haven’t played our best baseball for a while.”–Hyde on the Orioles’ recent play.
What does it mean? The Orioles continue to disappoint Hyde. After going 9-13 before the All-Star break, the Orioles won their first two to start the second half and now have lost two straight.
“We need to play better,” Hyde said.
What’s the stat of the day? 12. Miami has won 12 games since June 11th, but that was the last start a Marlins starter won a game.
What’s going on in the minor leagues? Third baseman Ryan Higgins and centerfielder Jud Fabian homered as Double-A Bowie beat Akron, 6-5. Ryan Long allowed three runs on four hits in six innings. Fabian’s home run was his 15th.
Jersey Shore beat High-A Aberdeen, 2-1, in 10 innings. Shortstop Jalen Vasquez homered and Edgar Portes pitched 4 2/3 scoreless innings in relief, allowing three hits.
Left-hander Cooper McKeehan was promoted from Single-A Delmarva to Aberdeen.
Delmarva was held to two hits in a 2-0 loss to Fredericksburg in a game shortened to six innings.
Triple-A Norfolk and Jacksonville were rained out. They’ll play a doubleheader on Wednesday.
What’s next? Chayce McDermott will make his major league debut on Wednesday night against Miami’s Edward Cabrera (1-3, 7.36) at 6:40 p.m.
Call for questions: Most weekdays, I’ll be answering at least one Orioles question. Please send yours to: Rich@BaltimoreBaseball.com