Orioles rally in 9th but lose in 10th, 6-5 to Mariners

BALTIMORE–What happened? Four games ago, the Orioles had played their best stretch of 2026, winning 10 of 14 games and climbing to within two games of .500.

Then came two discouraging losses in Toronto and two more to Seattle.

Now, after a 6-5 loss to the Mariners before 14,728 at Camden Yards on Tuesday night, the Orioles are six games below .500 and trying to convince their fanbase they’re a credible contender.

In the four-game losing streak, the Orioles (31-37) are 4-for-31 with runners in scoring position.

Right-handers were batting just 1-for-38 against Rico Garcia (3-1) until Randy Arozarena hit a two-run home run in the 10^th inning to give the Mariners their margin of victory.

The Orioles had so many paths to victory, but they were just 1-for-11 with runners in scoring position and they left 10 on base.

It began with Logan Gilbert, Seattle’s starter, who allowed just one run on three hits in six innings. The Orioles had the bases loaded with one out in the first and Leody Taveras’ sacrifice fly was all they got out of it.

In the second, there were runners on second and third with one out, and none scored.

Gilbert retired 14 straight after that.

“Logan Gilbert’s a really good pitcher,” manager Craig Albernaz said. “Made him work. We had him on the ropes. We just couldn’t get the big hit. A couple really good swings.”

Oriole starter Trevor Rogers gave up a three-run homer to Mitch Garver in the fourth, and Seattle (36-32) scored a run on three singles in the seventh against reliever Andrew Kittredge.

The Orioles scored an unearned run on a wild pitch by Alex Hoppe in the seventh and tied it in the ninth on Coby Mayo’s ninth home run and Samuel Basallo’s fielder’s choice that scored Jeremiah Jackson.

They could have won the game, but Gunnar Henderson and Pete Alonso hit into fielder’s choices that extended the game.

With a two-run deficit, Taveras’ single scored Alonso, but Mayo popped to second, Jackson grounded to third and Blaze Alexander was out at the plate, and Tyler O’Neill, whose ground-rule double in the ninth sent Jackson to third, struck out to end the game.

“It’s just one of those games where every 90 feet, everything matters, and ultimately it just ended up in a one-run loss,” Albernaz said. “But I’m proud of our boys, how they fought. Never doubting, never give up. Still in it. The crowd was awesome. Like, we felt it in the dugout during the rally. It just sucks that we just couldn’t pull it out.”

Catcher Adley Rutschman didn’t play for the second straight game due to left hamstring tightness.

“Day-to-day,” Albernaz said. “It’s one of those things where, reassessing, he went through the workout today. So, we just want to make sure that we stay on top of that.”

What can be done about RISP? The Orioles had chances early in the game against Gilbert, who threw 105 pitches, his most since July 4^th, 2023.

“I mean, our at-bat quality was great,” Albernaz said. “We forced him to throw a lot of pitches. We were laying off tough pitches and it’s just the ability just to find grass. It’s really tough to — on the hitting side — to pinpoint, in that situation, in that swing, to get better. I think our guys did a great job of making him work.

“Our approach was awesome. Tried to force him in the strike zone. He has a devastating split and slider. He has a high-velo fastball and our guys did a great job of forcing him into the strike zone. We just couldn’t find open space on the field.”

Mayo scored on a wild pitch and homered, but felt he could have done more.

“Definitely had shots in the ninth and the 10th to end the game,” he said. “I’m guilty of that in the 10th. Wanted to come through there, obviously, and just didn’t do a good enough job getting the run home, which is frustrating, of course.

“I think there’s not a guy in here that doesn’t want to come through in those spots. So you’ve just got to keep going. It doesn’t matter what just happened. You’ve got to turn the page, and tomorrow’s a new day. Can still get two wins out of this series.”

What’s going on with Gunnar? Henderson was hitless in five at-bats, and came up with runners on base three times and none scored. In the ninth, he came up with the bases loaded and one out with the score tied, 4-4, swung at the first pitch and hit a one-hop grounder to third baseman Patrick Wisdom, who threw home for a forceout.

In 31 at-bats this month, Henderson hasn’t driven in a run.

“This game is really hard, and Gunnar is working through a lot,” Albernaz said. “And he’s one of those players where, he’s such a dynamic impact player where, it’s gonna click for him. He’s had good at-bats and just hasn’t gotten the results that he wanted. And he’s a main piece in what we do. And I know everyone’s enamored with results, and rightfully so, and so is Gunnar, but he will get those results.”

How did Rogers pitch? In 5 2/3 innings, Rogers allowed three runs on six hits.

“It was one of those days where I was getting to 0-2,” Rogers said. “It seemed like a lot today. They kept putting up good at-bats. That fastball [Garver’s thee-run homer], it was a good pitch. You know he was sitting on it, so tip your cap there. I’ve just got to find a way to get over this two-strike hump. I feel like I’m getting to two strikes really well, commanded the zone, pounded the zone, continuing to work and getting over this two-strike deal.”

What does it mean? Had the Orioles scored more often earlier in the game, it would have made a huge difference.

What’s the stat of the day? 17. Arozarena’s home run was his 17^th against the Orioles.

What’s the word? “I like the fight in the ninth, I feel like we’ve had a lot of fight in the ninth inning this year, which is good. But also, you want to score some runs earlier than that, try to make it less stressful on our team.”-Mayo on the team’s determination.

What’s going on in the minor leagues? Riley Cooper allowed six runs in two innings as Triple-A Norfolk lost to Memphis, 11-4. Christian Encarnacion-Strand homered.

Joseph Dzierwa threw five scoreless innings, allowing four hits and striking out six in Double-A Chesapeake’s 11-4 win over Altoona.

Douglas Hodo had three hits and three RBIs.

Boston Bateman, who’d just been named organizational pitcher of the month, pitched five scoreless innings, allowing two hits and striking out seven in High-A Frederick’s 3-0 win over Brooklyn.

Twine Palmer gave up two hits in four shutout innings. Ike Irish hit a two-run home run.

DJ Layton homered and had three hits in Single-A Delmarva’s 7-6 loss to Columbia.

What’s next? Brandon Young (4-1, 3.47) will start against George Kirby (5-5, 4.04) on Wednesday at 6:35 p.m.

Call for questions: Most weekdays, I’ll be answering at least one Orioles question. Please send yours to: Rich@BaltimoreBaseball.com