What they’re saying about Orioles’ 4-1 loss to Royals in miserable conditions

BALTIMORE—What happened: On an awful night to play ball, the Orioles had just three hits in a 4-1 loss to the Kansas City Royals. Game-time temperature was 52, but wind and drizzle made it feel much colder.

The announced crowd was 9,404, but there weren’t close to that many in the ballpark.

“You don’t ever want to play in 40-whatever, sleet and the wet and all that,” rightfielder Ryan O’Hearn said. “But it’s our job to go out there and try and win a ballgame no matter what the conditions are.”

Oriole starter Cole Irvin allowed four runs on seven hits in five innings, walking two and striking out three.

“Not the conditions you want, right, but they’re the conditions that were the setting for the game, so you just have to deal with them,” Irvin said.

Irvin gave up three runs in the second. Nick Loftin had an RBI single and Maikel Garcia doubled for two runs.

“I thought he was OK,” manager Brandon Hyde said. “In that second inning, a few too many balls in the heart of the plate.”

Garcia’s triple scored the fourth Kansas City run in the fourth.

“Stuff was really good. That second inning, I kind of got away from doing things aggressively and stayed away from my changeup for whatever reason,” Irvin said. “That’s just me. I need to shake to it and get to it. That’s just the tale of the game. When I wanted to throw my changeup, I was really good. With everything else, the mix was there. Got a lot more swings and misses on spin, so that’s a good sign.”

Irvin’s two walks were to Garrett Hampson in the second and Loftin in the fourth, and both scored.

“The two walks were kind of the tale of how that outing went,” Irvin said. “Those led to runs. It might have been a 2-1 ballgame there going into the ninth.”

The Orioles couldn’t touch Kansas City starter Alec Marsh, who allowed one run on two hits in seven innings, his longest major league start.

“Good fastball, curveball had a lot of depth on it,” O’Hearn said. “It was one of those nights. I feel like we had a lot of balls hit right at guys. Sometimes it happens that way.”

The Orioles’ only run came on back-to-back doubles by Jordan Westburg and Colton Cowser in the third.

“We didn’t do anything offensively,” Hyde said. “Not our best night … I thought we had a lot of early-in-the-count outs … We had a lot of soft outs early in the count.”

Cowser played left field and had two hits in his first start of the season.

“It’s nice to see him stay on the ball and drive the baseball the way that he did,” Hyde said.

Each of the five starters — Corbin Burnes, Grayson Rodriguez, Tyler Wells, Dean Kremer and Irvin — has appeared, and each pitched at least five innings. Two starters the Orioles were hoping would start the season, Kyle Bradish and John Means, are on the injured list.

“We’ve got a great staff. We’re definitely ready to hit the gauntlet, face some more opponents and be ready to go,” Irvin said. “I think that the turn in the rotation was really good. It’s been nine days since I last started. I know Dean [Kremer] was probably seven days. I’m just glad that he and I both started, and we got this game in.”

Dillon Tate, Jacob Webb and Jonathan Heasley combined for four scoreless innings, allowing one hit, striking out six and walking one. Heasley threw two innings in his Orioles’ debut.

“One good thing about this game. Our bullpen threw the ball great,” Hyde said. “

The Orioles have gone 93 regular-season series without being swept, the fourth-longest streak in major league history.

What’s up with Norfolk?: The Triple-A Norfolk Tides hit six home runs in a 10-6 win over Charlotte. The Tides (3-1) began the game with back-to-back home runs by second baseman Jackson Holliday, his second, and leftfielder Connor Norby, his second. First baseman Heston Kjerstad hit two homers and drove in four runs, rightfielder Kyle Stowers hit his second home run and shortstop Errol Robinson hit his first.

Holliday, the game’s top prospect, appeared to have played well enough in spring training to make the Orioles’ Opening Day roster, but the 20-year-old was sent to Norfolk to get more at-bats against left-handers, in particular. He continues to impress.

Left-hander Cade Povich (1-0) pitched six scoreless innings, allowing one hit, striking out five without walking a batter. Bryan Baker allowed five runs in the ninth.

What’s the word? “It’s not easy. It’s wet. It’s cold. It’s kind of in-your-face. Both teams had to play through it.”-Hyde on the brutal conditions for a baseball game.

What does it mean? In their two losses, the Orioles had just three hits in each game. Hyde continues to emphasize quality at-bats and was disappointed  by the “soft outs” on early counts.

What’s next? The Orioles will play the final game of their three-game series against the Royals at 1:05 p.m., although the forecast is calling for rain. Corbin Burnes (1-0, 1.50), who retired 18 of the 19 batters he faced on Opening Day, while striking out 11, is scheduled to face Cole Ragans (0-1, 3.00)

Call for questions: I’ll be answering at least one question, sometimes more, every weekday, beginning Monday. Send yours to: Rich@BaltimoreBaseball.com