Bassitt struggles in first Oriole start, offense quiet in 5-2 loss to Rangers

BALTIMORE—What happened? Chris Bassitt started for the first time as an Oriole, and it didn’t go well. The 37-year-old right-hander labored through 4 1/3 innings, allowing four runs on six hits, with four walks and three strikeouts in a 5-2 loss to the Texas Rangers before 11,209 on Monday night.

Bassitt threw 100 pitches and was behind 4-1 by the second inning.

Texas scored in the first when Brandon Nimmo scored from third on a ball hit back to Bassitt, whose throw home was off-line.

In the second, Nimmo and Jake Burger had RBI singles, and Joc Pederson had a sacrifice fly. Bassitt didn’t give up any more runs after that.

“Mix pitches up better, but I mean, execution-wise today, I was awful,” he said. “So, I mean, we mixed it up a little bit more, but overall it was just, execution was really bad.”

Manager Craig Albernaz agreed with Bassitt.

“Command wasn’t sharp early,” Albernaz said. “The first inning they did a good job of getting the ball forward. Some soft contact that found holes. I think Bassitt would like to have that … throw home, but other than that … The walks hurt, but he battled and pitched us into the fifth, which was big for us, especially with the bullpen the way it was.”

In the Orioles’ first four games, they’ve received short starts from Kyle Bradish and Bassitt, who failed to finish five innings.

When asked if that was a concern, Albernaz replied: “No.”

The Orioles have split their first four games.

Gunnar Henderson, who committed his second error of the season in the sixth inning, hit his first home run in the bottom of the first.

The Rangers’ Jack Leiter threw six innings, allowing two runs on five hits, striking out eight and walking one.

Henderson’s RBI single in the fifth cut the Rangers’ lead to 4-2.

Jakob Junis pitched a spotless seventh in relief of Bassitt.

Taylor Ward and Pete Alonso singled with one out in the eighth against Jalen Beeks, but Adley Rutschman flied to center and Tyler O’Neill hit in a force play.

“I think when our top of the order is up, it’s always a pivotal moment,” Albernaz said. “Especially with those four at the top but, yeah, we did a good job battling.

“Got good pitches to hit but then we just couldn’t cash in when we needed to. But our guys, the at-bats are still there. It’s just, we’re just a click off right now. And that’s something where, when our offense gets going, I think that, once everyone kind of starts clicking and stays with himself and passes the baton, I think that’s where our offense is really going to take off.”

Texas added a run against Tyler Wells, who’s pitched in three of the first four games, in the ninth. Josh Smith’s bloop single to left scored Burger to make it 5-2.

Tyler Alexander recorded his second save by retiring the Orioles in order in the ninth.

How have the Orioles’ bats looked? Excluding Sunday’s game, when the Orioles scored eight runs, they’ve scored five runs on 17 hits.

“I think early in the year, it’s tough,” third baseman Coby Mayo said. “It’s a new season, everyone’s excited and antsy, everyone wants to get on the board. Obviously, we’ve had some knocks. I think we’ve swung it fine.

“I think last series vs. the Twins, we swung it good, and I think we just had some not-so-great luck. I think we took some walks. Like I said, Leiter was on tonight, and we just flip the page, turn to tomorrow and get ready to play tomorrow.”

Mayo, who was hitless in four at-bats, looked as if he had a hit in the seventh when he dribbled to Junis, whose threw to first appeared late. Mayo was called out by first base umpire Scott Barry, and the call stood after a replay review.

“I saw the same thing you guys did,” Albernaz said. “I thought that what we had, it was going to be definitely challengeable. Obviously, it stands, but I guess it wasn’t conclusive evidence.”

Neither Ward nor Alonso has homered in the first four games. Last season, they combined to hit 74.

“It’s a great one through nine, plus the four on the bench,” Mayo said. “Any given night, this team is capable of putting up 10-plus. Sometimes, the pitcher just has a good night and you’ve got to credit him and you’ve got to just turn the page, can’t dwell on it too much.

“Tomorrow’s a new day. We have a lot of games left to play. Just got to stay in a good headspace and just look forward to the next day.” 

What does it mean? The highlight for the Orioles was the efficient performance of Rico Garcia, who retired each of the six batters he faced. 

What’s the stat of the day? 181. The Orioles threw 181 pitches. Last year, Rangers’ opponents threw more than that only four times in a nine-inning game.

What’s the word? “Definitely not happy just eating as many innings as I did, but the pitch count, it’s whatever. It’s only going 4 1/3 or whatever, that’s not great.”-Bassitt on his outing. 

What’s going on in the minor leagues? Andrew Kittredge who’s on the 15-day injured list with right shoulder inflammation, will begin a rehab assignment at Triple-A Norfolk on Wednesday.

What’s next? Zach Eflin will make his season debut on Tuesday night at 6:35. Jacob deGrom is expected to start for Texas, but the Rangers haven’t announced a starter.

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