Orioles lose 5th straight, shut out again by Red Sox, 5-0

BALTIMORE—Chris Bassitt had just walked Jarren Duran to load the bases with two outs in the sixth inning of a scoreless game. Manager Craig Albernaz walked out to the mound, and everyone expected he’d remove his starting pitcher.

With the infield gathered on the mound, Albernaz liked what he heard from Bassitt, and he was allowed to remain in the game.

It didn’t work out well as Eli White singled to left, scoring Trevor Story and Nick Sogard. Rico Garcia came in and allowed an RBI single to Connor Wong, and the Boston Red Sox had a 3-0 lead.

“I just want to see where Bassitt was physically,” Albernaz said. “Just to make sure he was in the best spot because the way he was throwing the ball, he was throwing the ball really well all night.

“Bases loaded, 0-0 game, two outs, we like the matchup of him against Eli White. I just want to make sure like empty the tank on this guy. Then also making sure we have the plan right. And Bassitt was up for it and stuff, and he made a really good pitch, jammed him, broken bat, and line drive over the third baseman’s head.”

That lead held up as the Orioles lost their fifth straight, making a playoff appearance even more unlikely, 5-0. before 32,207 at Camden Yards on Saturday night.

It was the second straight time they’ve been shut out, and the sixth time this season.

Albernaz knows his decision to keep Bassitt in the game will be debated.

“Those decisions keep you up at night,” Albernaz said. “I’m not going to sleep tonight. That’s part of it. You make your decision, and you go with it.

“You try to make the best decision at hand with all the information at hand. Bassitt, throwing a shutout in the sixth, throwing the ball well, pitch count was low. Bullpen is taxed still, not saying that Rico couldn’t come in and get the outs, but in that situation, we trusted Bassitt.”

The Orioles (69-74) trail both Cleveland, which lost to Detroit 6-0, and Toronto, a winner over Kansas City, 4-3, by three games for the final wild-card spot.

Sonny Gray (17-4) held the Orioles to three hits in seven scoreless innings. He walked three and struck out seven.

Bassitt (6-5) allowed three runs on five hits in 5 2/3 innings, striking out two.

“Obviously, I want to finish the inning,” Bassitt said. “You know how much the bullpen’s run down. So, yeah, I want to finish that inning.

“I made my pitch. He made a good swing. I mean, that’s literally it.”

Gunnar Henderson had a two-out double in the first. Colton Cowser had a leadoff double in the fourth, and Heston Kjerstad a two-out single in the fourth. Cowser was out at home plate when he tried to score from third on Blaze Alexander’s grounder to third.

Samuel Basallo was certain he’d broken the Orioles’ scoreless streak when he led off the seventh and admired his long fly ball to right, which he mistakenly thought was a home run. Instead, it was a long out.

Isiah Kiner-Falefa’s two-run double against Albert Suárez gave Boston (77-65) a 5-0 lead in the seventh.

Jovani Morán and Greg Weissert combined on a scoreless eighth. The Orioles loaded the bases with two outs, but Pete Alonso struck out to end the inning.

Christian Encarnacion-Strand doubled against Wyatt Olds with two outs in the ninth before Dylan Beavers struck out, ending the game.

Can the Orioles get back in the race? After the final game with Boston on Sunday, Cleveland comes in for three games, and then the Orioles go to Toronto for three games.

According to Alonso, the Orioles still have a chance.

“Win tomorrow. Win tomorrow,” he said. “Got to turn the page. Obviously, losing the series, it’s a big series. Tough. But we have to win tomorrow, and I know Cleveland, obviously that’s a big series as well. They’re just as much in the hunt as we are, and I think, again, the only way to kind of regroup and move forward is to win.”

What does it mean? The Orioles have tied their longest losing streak of the season, and it will take a long winning streak for them to get back into the postseason conversation.

What’s the stat of the day? 25. The last time the Orioles went more than 18 innings without scoring was from July 9^th-12^th, 2025 when they were shut out for 25 consecutive innings.

What’s the word? “You still have to go out there and compete, make sure you’re prepared to go out there, which our guys are, and right now, we’re just falling on our faces right now. I know it’s tough for the fans to hear, but we’ve been in this spot multiple times this year and our guys continue to find a way to keep on going and that’s all we can do.”-Albernaz on the Orioles’ losing streak.

What’s going on in the minor leagues? Félix Bautista pitched a scoreless inning, allowing one hit, walking one and striking out one in Triple-A Norfolk’s 11-7 loss to Jacksonville. Bautista, who is rehabbing from August 2025 rotator cuff and labrum surgery, threw 22 pitches, 13 strikes.

Cade Povich allowed eight runs on seven hits and four walks in five innings.

Jeremiah Jackson hit a two-run homer; Sam Huff a three-run homer.

Luis Vázquez was removed from the game with right hamstring discomfort.

Patrick Reilly allowed two runs on four hits in seven innings, striking out eight and walking one in Double-A Chesapeake’s 6-4 loss to Portland.

Wehiwa Aloy homered.

DJ Layton went 5-for-5 with two RBIs to lead High-A Frederick to a 7-3 win over Brooklyn.

Carson Dorsey pitched 3 1/3 scoreless innings in relief, allowing just one hit.

With the win, the Keys secured the second-half South Atlantic League North Division championship. They’ll play Greensboro in a best-of-3 series in the first round of the playoffs beginning Tuesday. The second game will be in Frederick on Thursday, and a third game on Friday, if necessary.

Stiven Martinez hit a grand slam, and Eric Booth Jr. had three hits as Single-A Delmarva beat Kannapolis 8-5.

What’s next? The Orioles conclude their four-game series with the Red Sox on Sunday at 1:35 p.m. Kyle Bradish (7-12, 4.01) will start against Payton Tolle (8-6, 3.23).

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