Jul 26, 2024; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Baltimore Orioles pitcher Grayson Rodriguez (30) throws a second inning pitch against the San Diego Padres at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
BALTIMORE—The Orioles made two trades on Friday, then played a sloppy game against the San Diego Padres and lost for the ninth time in 13 games.
They acquired a much-needed starting pitcher, Zach Eflin from Tampa Bay, for three prospects and sent outfielder Austin Hays to Philadelphia for reliever Seranthony Dominguez and outfielder Cristian Pache. But Jurickson Profar hit two home runs and his second broke a 4-4 tie in the ninth and gave San Diego a 6-4 win over the Orioles before a sellout crowd of 43,692 at Camden Yards.
Since June 21, the Orioles (61-42) are 12-17.
Craig Kimbrel (6-3), who blew his sixth save Thursday against the Marlins, allowed a one-out single to Luis Campusano and, after Luis Arraez grounded out to first, Profar homered to center for the two-run lead.
Grayson Rodriguez pitched five scoreless innings and carried a 2-0 lead into the sixth.
Profar hit his 10th home run to center, tying the score at 2-2. With one out, and Burch Smith pitching, Manny Machado grounded to short, but Gunnar Henderson made his second error in two games, bouncing a throw to first.
Xander Bogaerts was credited with a double to left, a ball that Heston Kjerstad should have caught, but the ball caromed off his glove before he hit the left-field wall. The drop allowed Machado to score. Severna Park’s Jackson Merrill doubled to left, scoring Bogaerts, and San Diego led, 4-2.
Jordan Westburg hit his 17th home run in the second inning, and the Orioles took a 2-0 lead when Ryan Mountcastle’s forceout scored Westburg, who had walked and reached third on an error by reliever Austin Davis.
The Padres (56-50) used Andy Mazur to start, but he was removed after 2 2/3 innings. Davis, former Oriole Logan Gillaspie, Yuki Matsui, Jeremiah Estrada, Adrian Morejon and Robert Suárez, the brother of the Orioles’ Albert, all pitched in relief.
Anthony Santander hit his 29th home run — which traveled 442 feet, passing Gunnar Henderson for the club lead — to begin the eighth against Morejon. After Ryan O’Hearn doubled, and Westburg struck out, Kjerstad hit a high chopper for an infield single to send O’Hearn to third.
With Suárez (5-1) pitching, Mountcastle hit a sacrifice fly to score O’Hearn and tie the game, 4-4.
Colton Cowser singled, and Pache, running for Kjerstad, raced to third. But Cedric Mullins struck out to end the eighth.
Suárez retired the Orioles in order in the ninth, relying on a 100-mph fastball.
Dominguez pitched a scoreless eighth inning, allowing two hits.
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