Kimbrel’s struggles cost Orioles again in 7-6 loss to Athletics

BALTIMORE—For the second time in three games, closer Craig Kimbrel blew a save chance for the Orioles.

On Friday night, Kimbrel walked three batters in the ninth and didn’t retire any of the five batters he faced, losing a lead in a game the Orioles lost, 3-2, in 10 innings.

On Sunday afternoon, Kimbrel entered the game in the ninth inning, trying to protect a 6-5 Orioles lead. He walked Darrel Hernaiz on four pitches and gave up a two-run home run to Kyle McCann before leaving the game after he threw a ball to Lawrence Butler.

Kimbrel threw 14 pitches. All were fastballs and just six were strikes.

Manager Brandon Hyde and head athletic trainer Brian Ebel made two visits to the mound to check on Kimbrel and removed him from the game during the second visit.

“He’s in the training room now,” Hyde said. “He’s just got some upper-back tightness. He’s being evaluated right now.”

The Orioles were retired in order in the ninth by Lucas Erceg, concluding a disappointing 7-6 loss to Oakland before 40,887 at Camden Yards.

Oriole starter Albert Suárez’s streak of 12 1/3 scoreless innings came to an end in the second inning when Seth Brown homered for Oakland (12-17)

The Orioles (17-10) took a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the second when Anthony Santander scored on Cedric Mullins’ infield out. Colton Cowser’s double scored Mullins.

Suárez gave up three runs in the third on a run-scoring double by JJ Bleday and a two-run single by Brent Rooker.

The Orioles snatched the lead back in the bottom of the third when Adley Rutschman and Ryan Mountcastle homered. On Saturday, they hit back-to-back homers. Mountcastle’s two-run homer off Paul Blackburn gave the Orioles a 5-4 lead.

Ramón Urías hit his first home run since July 9^th, 2023 with one out in the fourth.

Suárez allowed four runs on seven hits in four innings, walking one and striking out six. His start equaled the shortest of the Orioles’ season.

Keegan Akin pitched two perfect innings. Danny Coulombe got two quick outs in the seventh before Tyler Nevin homered. Jacob Webb retired Esteury Ruiz on a liner to Henderson at short. Yennier Cano pitched a scoreless eighth before Kimbrel took over in the ninth.