Eflin leaves with elbow injury in Orioles’ 8-5 loss to Rangers

BALTIMORE—What happened? The Orioles had hoped that Zach Eflin’s injury woes were behind him. Eflin, who had back surgery last August and was re-signed in December, said he was pain-free during spring training.

During his first start of the season on Tuesday night, Eflin had to leave the game with right elbow discomfort in the fourth inning.

Eflin will get imaging on Wednesday, and manager Craig Albernaz said he was likely headed for the injured list.

Because Eflin left the game in the fourth inning, the Orioles needed the bullpen to cover 5 1/3 innings, the third time in five games they’ve gotten a start shorter than five innings.

After Eflin left, Grant Wolfram gave up two runs, Yennier Cano another and Yaramil Hiraldo allowed a three-run home run to Danny Jansen in the Orioles’ 8-5 loss to the Texas Rangers before 13,542 at Camden Yards.

Rookie Anthony Nunez, who retired all six batters he faced on Tuesday, pitched a perfect eight before Corey Seager homered in the ninth.

The Orioles, who lost for the second straight time to the Rangers, will make a roster move for Eflin on Wednesday. According to the Baltimore Sun, Albert Suárez’s contract will be purchased to provide immediate help to the bullpen.

Dean Kremer, who was optioned to Triple-A Norfolk, was scheduled to pitch on Friday for the Tides.

Albernaz and head athletic trainer Scott Barringer went to the mound to check on Eflin in the fourth, and he was immediately removed from the game.

“He said he felt it a few pitches before that,” Albernaz said.

Right before Albernaz and Barringer’s visit, pitching coach Drew French visited the mound, and Wolfram began to warm up

“He said he felt something, and that’s why we got Wolfie going,” Albernaz said. “And then you saw the next pitch and I was like, ‘No, we’re gonna make a move here.’”

Eflin, who allowed a home run to Texas’ Ezequiel Duran in the third inning, had thrown 77 pitches, striking out seven and walking two in 3 2/3 innings.

He was replaced by Wolfram, who allowed two runs in the fifth on Wyatt Langford’s triple and Seager’s single.

Pete Alonso hit his first home run with the Orioles in the fourth against Jacob deGrom. The Orioles tied it at 3 in the fifth on a two-run double by Gunnar Henderson.

Texas took a 4-3 lead against Cano in the sixth on an RBI single by Brandon Nimmo.

Jansen, who had singled and doubled, hit a three-run home run against Hiraldo in the seventh for a 7-3 Rangers lead.

deGrom left after 4 2/3 innings and Cole Winn, Jakob Junis, Robert Garcia and combined to allow the Orioles one hit in 3 1/3 scoreless innings before Taylor Ward’s two-run single in the ninth.

Ward had a career-high four hits. In his first four games with the Orioles, he had just two hits in 15 at-bats.

How did Alonso’s home run feel? Alonso’s home run came just after Eflin left the game.

“Felt really good today,” Alonso said. “I’m glad to get the first one out of the way and the swing felt really good today, and I’m glad to connect with one, especially in that spot in the ballgame, tie it back up and get us back in there.”

Alonso was upset that Eflin had elbow pain.

“That’s tough. Any time you see any one of your guys feel something barking, it’s always you’re hoping for the best and that, it straight up stinks,” Alonso said. “Ef’s a good dude and a really, really hard worker. I mean, he’s a guy who I hope everything is OK. Hopefully, ’cause we need him, for sure.”

What does it mean? Eflin’s injury likely means that Kremer will return in the coming days. We’ll see if the Orioles make two moves on Wednesday.

 What’s the stat of the day? .133/.300 Ward was batting .133 before the game and .300 after the four-hit game.

What’s the word? “We want the best for Zach, whatever that is, whatever it looks like, and we know that he’ll be here for us. Hopefully, we’ll see what happens tomorrow with the imaging. I think when you see one of your guys, and what he’s been through, the person he is, yeah, it’s tough but our guys [will] respond tomorrow.”-Albernaz on the Orioles’ reaction to Eflin’s injury. 

What’s going on in the minor leagues? Cade Povich allowed five runs on six hits in Norfolk’s 10-5 loss to Memphis. Povich struck out eight without walking a batter.

In his third game of his rehab assignment, Jackson Holliday had two hits, a run-scoring single and a double. José Barrero and Jhonkensy Noel homered. 

What’s next? Trevor Rogers (1-0, 0.00) will startsfor the Orioles on Wednesday at 12:35 p.m. Nate Eovaldi will start for the Rangers.

Call for questions: I answer Orioles questions most weekdays. Please send yours to: Rich@BaltimoreBaseball.com