There have been times this season when the Orioles have looked like a team with potential, one that, if they hadn’t had all the injuries, would probably be preparing for a playoff run right now.
Then there are times like Wednesday when, despite having a lineup that will largely resemble the one they are expected to use next year, it’s evident that this team’s problems go beyond staying healthy.
While they avoided being no-hit by the Rays’ pitching staff, their offense still faltered in a 6-2 loss. And to make matters even worse, Samuel Basallo, their No. 1 prospect, left the game in the ninth inning after being hit by a pitch in the right wrist.
The Orioles have been adamant that they are still fighting every day, regardless of what the standings say. But on Wednesday, for the first seven innings, they played the opposite way: They performed like a team with nothing left to play for.
Rays starter Shane Baz cruised through his four innings on 49 pitches, striking out three while allowing no hits. Edwin Uceta and Garrett Cleavinger took the fifth and sixth, neither allowing a hit.
It wasn’t until the seventh, with Griffin Jax on the mound, that the Orioles finally broke through. Tyler O’Neill hit a line drive over the jumping Tristan Gray at shortstop, making it safely to first for the Orioles’ first hit of the day. Adley Rutschman followed with a walk, but Ryan Mountcastle grounded into a double play to end the inning.
In the eighth, against former Oriole Bryan Baker, who was traded to the Rays in July, Baltimore’s offense showed more signs of life. Colton Cowser opened the inning with a walk, and Dylan Beavers followed with the Orioles’ second hit of the day. Jordan Westburg then hit a single to score Cowser and Beavers and make it 6-2.
It wasn’t enough to catch the Rays, but at least it was enough not to embarrass themselves by being no-hit.
The Orioles still managed just three hits. It’s not unexpected for this team — the Orioles do not have a hitter with over 20 home runs, and they only have four currently on the roster with more than 10. Last year, the Orioles were second only to the Yankees in homers. They no longer have Anthony Santander, who hit 44 last season and is now on the Blue Jays, but Gunnar Henderson only has 16, compared to 37 a year ago.
Tyler Wells, in his fourth and final start of the season after missing 18 months recovering from elbow surgery, pitched four innings, allowing three runs. It was not as efficient as his other three starts, when he made it a minimum of five innings, but that was partly aided by poor defense, including a fly ball from Junior Caminero in the third that landed in between Cowser and O’Neill.
Dietrich Enns followed Wells with two innings, while José Castillo, claimed off waivers earlier this month from the Mariners, pitched 1 2/3, allowing two runs. Yennier Cano pitched the rest of the eighth and the ninth.