BALTIMORE–What happened? The Orioles had scoring chance after scoring chance, failing to convert on most of them. They left 15 runners on base and scored just three runs on 14 hits. They also struck out 14 times.
Closer Félix Bautista (0-1) was beaten to first base on an infield hit by Nasim Nuñez, allowing Jose Tena to score the go-ahead run in the ninth, and the Orioles continued their freefall with a 4-3 loss to the Washington Nationals before 21,171 on Friday night.
The Orioles (15-28) had the bases loaded in the first, third, fourth and sixth innings, and scored just three runs. They were 4-for-15 with runners in scoring position.
Adley Rutschman had three hits for the first time since Opening Day. After he doubled in the third, he scored on Ramón Laureano’s double. Jackson Holliday’s infield single scored Laureano, who equaled a career high with four hits.
“I think, for us, I think everyone was really confident with how we were handling our at-bats,” Rutschman said. “Pitching pitched great. I thought, yeah, it definitely stings to come up short today. Just got to score when we have runners in scoring position. We put ourselves in a good position, just didn’t execute.”
Washington starter MacKenzie Gore struck out nine in 3 2/3 innings. He allowed two runs on 10 hits. The Orioles left 10 runners on base in the first four innings.
“Pretty much the biggest thing, yeah. I thought we took … kind of in disbelief, honestly,” manager Brandon Hyde said. “I thought we took really good at-bats until we had multiple runners on base against Gore. I think Gore’s got Cy Young stuff. To get him out of the game into the fourth, that’s really impressive.
“We just didn’t get enough hits or moving the baseball with runners in scoring position. That was the issue tonight. I felt like we were dominating the game with how many runners we were getting on base and the score was 2-1.”
Nathaniel Lowe hit his eighth home run against Oriole starter Cade Povich in the second. Nuñez walked, stole second and advanced to third on Rutschman’s passed ball before scoring on James Wood’s single.
Ramón Urías’ sacrifice fly with the bases loaded brought in Ryan Mountcastle in the sixth.
Wood’s 12th home run against Keegan Akin tied it at 3 in the top of the eighth.
Former Oriole Jorge López (6-0) pitched a scoreless eighth, and Kyle Finnegan recorded his 14th save.
How poorly are things going for the Orioles? The Orioles have lost 17 of 23 since April 19th. The next day they lost, 24-2, to Cincinnati. Players are at a loss to explain the collapse.
“That’s a great question,” Laureano said. “I mean, I think we need to figure it out individually, and we need to look ourselves in the mirror individually, and we need to come back stronger and actually perform.”
Hyde was polite and thoughtful after the game, attempting to explain what happened.
“This was such a winnable game, and we just did a few things differently,” he said. “That’s why it’s disappointing. A lot of guys swung the bat well, just didn’t get enough hits with runners on base.”
Rutschman remains optimistic.
“It’s about leaning on each other right now,” he said. “Like I said, we’ve got a great group of guys here, and it’s easy when stuff like this is going on to kind of just be on your own. I think leaning on each other is the most important thing right now, because we have every capability to be able to turn it around and go out and win a lot of ball games. But it really is on us, and it’s on us leaning on each other and really just buying into that. Doing what we can to scrape out victories.”
The Orioles snapped a streak of 33 games with 11 hits or fewer. Ryan Mountcastle extended his hitting streak to 11 games.
What about the play with Bautista? Hyde wasn’t sure what happened when Nuñez beat Bautista to the bag in the ninth and Tena scored. Bautista threw the ball wildly to the plate, allowing the run and for Nuñez to advance to third.
“I think it was a plus-runner, slowly hit, so Mounty has to go for it or Jackson [Holliday] calls it right away. One of those two things. And I haven’t seen the replay. But we screwed up another play that possibly cost us because [Bryan] Baker then had to come into the game at that point.
“So, yeah, just not many things went right tonight, besides the hits, nobody on base. But we did some good things. I thought Povich threw the ball well, did a great job getting into the sixth. Almost got out of it. Just center-cut pitch to Wood there.”
How did Povich throw? Povich allowed two runs on three hits in 5 2/3 innings, striking out nine and walking two. He worked on nine days’ rest.
“The season’s so far been tough, but we’re going to continue fighting,” he said. “You haven’t lost until you’re laying on the ground, not getting up. We’re going to keep getting up, we’re going to keep fighting until this thing is turned around.”
What does it mean? Hyde has talked about the club’s issues before and after each game, and he’ll continue to do so.
“We’ve addressed a lot of things this year, and so if you just continue to address, it’s going to fall silent at times,” he said. “So there’s been a lot of addressing. I’m sure we’re going to talk about some things. I don’t know if tonight’s the right time. Timing’s important. Or tomorrow. Because there are a lot of people who are upset in there right now.”
What’s the word? “I think we had great at-bats, but at this point, we don’t really need good at-bats, we need to bring them home, and that’s where we’re at right now.”-Laureano on the Orioles failing to drive in runners on base.
What’s the stat of the day? The Orioles left 15 on base.
“That tells you everything, that stat. So I’ll leave it right there,” Laureano said.
What’s going on in the minor leagues? Trevor Rogers allowed five runs, four earned, on five hits in 4 1/3 innings in Triple-A Norfolk’s 6-3 loss to Jacksonville. Andrew Kittredge threw a spotless inning in his rehab assignment.
Nestor German allowed four hits in 5 2/3 scoreless innings as Double-A Chesapeake beat Akron, 4-0.
Trey Gibson struck out 10 in 5 1/3 innings, allowing a run on three hits as High-A Aberdeen beat Hudson Valley, 4-3. Leftfielder Aron Estrada had a three-run triple.
Single-A Delmarva limited Fredericksburg to four hits in a 2-1 win in 10 innings.
Left-handed pitcher Jakob Hernandez was released by the Baysox. Outfielder Tavian Josenberger is on Chesapeake’s injured list.
What’s next? Kyle Gibson (0-2, 13.11) will face Jake Irvin (2-1, 4.00) on Saturday at 4:05 p.m.
Call for questions: Most weekdays, I’ll be answering at least one Orioles question. Please send yours to: Rich,@BaltimoreBaseball.com