TORONTO — The Orioles had their chances to come through with the big hit Sunday but stranded nine base runners and finished 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position in a 3-1 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays.
Baltimore starter Tomoyuki Sugano, making his first career MLB appearance, exited with cramps in both his hands after warming up for the bottom of the fifth inning. Outfielder Colton Cowser also left the contest with a left thumb injury he sustained sliding into first base in an attempt to leg out an infield single in the seventh.
“The pitching hand, obviously, was the concern,” manager Brandon Hyde said. “He feels much better now after getting some fluids and some food, so he should be on line to make his next start.”
Sugano allowed a pair of runs on a two-run single by Blue Jays right fielder George Springer but settled in to get through the next three frames without allowing another run.
“I was still throwing balls as opposed to strikes in the early counts, but in the dugout I was talking to the pitching coach and the catcher to strategize how to pitch the next innings,” Sugano said through team interpreter Yuto Sakurai. “It got better as they went.”
That was all the offense Toronto would need, however, as Chris Bassitt scattered eight hits over six innings while allowing one run. The Blue Jays’ bullpen shut the door in what was the only close game in the four-game series, which the teams split.
Ryan O’Hearn manufactured the Orioles’ lone run in the first. He reached on a two-out single and flashed some heads-up base running by going first to third on a base hit by Tyler O’Neill. The Orioles’ designated hitter, who is 6-for-15 (.400) at the plate to begin the season, scored on a wild pitch and went on to reach base three times, including a double off Bassitt.
The Blue Jays tacked on an insurance run in the seventh when catcher Tyler Heineman hit a line drive to left field off Cionel Pérez for a solo home run. It marked the first home run Pérez had given up since March 31, 2023, ending a streak of 104 consecutive appearances without allowing a long ball for the left-hander.
Toronto manager John Schneider turned to Brendon Little for the seventh and Yariel Rodríguez in the eighth, and the Orioles (2-2) managed only one hit between them — a single by Cedric Mullins off Rodríguez. Cowser tried to get the Orioles another when he hit a chopper to first base, racing to beat Little to bag. However, he jammed his thumb on the headfirst slide just as Little stepped on the base; the Orioles challenged the out call but it was upheld.
“It looks like it got bent back,” Hyde said of Cowser’s thumb. “He’s getting looked at right now. He stayed in there for defense, but he wasn’t able to hit there in the ninth inning.”
Right-hander Jeff Hoffman, who signed with the Blue Jays this offseason after a deal with the Orioles was nixed over concerns about his physical, earned the save facing the minimum. Cowser would’ve come to the plate representing the final out but Hyde pinch hit Gary Sánchez for him. Jordan Westburg, who was held out of the lineup, was available only in an emergency situation. Hyde didn’t specify whether the infielder was dealing with a specific injury.
Postgame analysis
Sugano wasn’t sharp to begin his outing, walking the first batter on four pitches and giving up three hard-hit balls in the first inning, including Springer’s two-run single. He settled in from there, however, with four straight groundball outs much more reminiscent of the pitcher who dominated Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball league for the past 12 years.
The Blue Jays managed only two hits, both singles, over his next three frames before he exited the game at 73 pitches. An injury is the last thing the Orioles need with Albert Suárez joining Grayson Rodriguez, Trevor Rogers and Chayce McDermott on the injured list Sunday. Late offseason addition Kyle Gibson isn’t expected to be ready to join the rotation until around May 1.
With the Orioles expressing optimism that the cramps aren’t serious, Sugano still had some positives to take away from his first outing. He’ll look to give the Orioles a longer look when he makes his next start, which is projected to be Saturday against the Kansas City Royals.
What they’re saying
Catcher Adley Rutschman on Sugano improving throughout the game: “I think as the innings went along, I thought his fastball looked really good, he was starting to move it kind of in and out. He’s got a lot of different ways to attack hitters, so if we see something’s working, we’re gonna continue to go with it, and that was one of those things that we just kind of went with as the game went along.”
By the numbers
Sugano threw all six of his pitches in the abbreviated outing, relying mostly on his splitter (22% of his pitches), but he used everything in his arsenal at least 10% of the time. Though he admitted to feeling nervous early, Sugano managed to stay in the strike zone after the first with only one walk over his final three frames. After posting a miniscule 1.7 walks per nine innings during his time in Japan, his command should be one of his biggest strengths once he gets more comfortable.
On deck
After opening the season on the road, the Orioles will head back to Baltimore for their home opener at Camden Yards on Monday. Their three-game series with the Boston Red Sox will begin at 2:35 p.m. when Cade Povich takes the mound for his first start of the season. Fellow left-hander Sean Newcomb is expected to get the ball for Boston.
Around the horn
• Before the game, the Orioles placed Suárez on the 15-day injured list with right elbow inflammation. The move came two days after Suárez had diminished velocity on his fastball during his season debut, in which he allowed two runs (one earned) in 2 2/3 innings. To fill his spot in the bullpen, the Orioles selected right-hander Matt Bowman’s contract.
• Orioles shortstop Gunnar Henderson (right intercostal strain) started at designated hitter for Triple-A Norfolk on Sunday as part of his rehabilitation assignment and went 2-for-5 with a three-run homer. Through three games with the Tides, Henderson is 4-for-12 with the home run and three singles.
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