Orioles’ 9th-inning comeback is undone in the 10th in 6-5 loss to Brewers

Sal Frelick’s single off Grant Wolfram (6-4) scored automatic runner Joey Ortiz.

Trevor Megill (3-3) allowed two ninth-inning runs when Gunnar Henderson singled, Coby Mayo doubled and both runners scored on sacrifice flies by Samuel Basallo and Christian Encarnacion-Strand.

Chad Patrick recorded his sixth save, striking out Jeremiah Jackson, retiring Leody Taveras on a fly ball to center and Dylan Beavers on a  popup to short.

The Orioles, who swept a three-game series with the New York Mets, are 75-79 with eight games remaining. They trail the Chicago White Sox for the third wild-card spot by three games. The White Sox lost to Detroit, 11-8.

“Our guys have shown the resiliency all year and coming back,” manager Craig Albernaz said. “We have numerous comebacks and keep on clawing, fighting back.

“But also we know where we’re at right now. We’ve got to win as many games as we can is an understatement. But, yeah, I’m always proud of our guys. Proud of our guys down 3-0, Pete [Alonso] with the big swing. Just great at-bats that inning. And obviously against their closer, against Megill down two, coming back and tying it. Yeah, always proud of our guys’ fight, but, yeah, a loss still hurts.”

The Orioles were 2-for-13 with runners in scoring position and left 12 runners on base.

For five innings, the Orioles and Brewers couldn’t score. Each team hit a three-run home run early in the game — Jackson Churio for the Brewers in the second, and Alonso for the Orioles in the third.

Neither starter, Cade Povich nor Dustin May, completed four innings. The bullpens were effective until Rico Garcia allowed two ninth-inning runs

Garcia, the Orioles’ fifth reliever of the game, preserved Josh Walker’s scoreless games streak at 20 in the eighth by retiring Cooper Pratt on a fly ball to right.

In the ninth, Brice Turang singled with one out and scored on William Contreras’ double, and Wolfram allowed an inherited run to score on Christian Yelich’s single.

Henderson, who had three hits, singled to start the ninth and Mayo doubled, his third of the game, a career high. Henderson scored on Basallo’s sacrifice fly to right with Mayo taking third. Mayo scored on Encarnacion-Strand’s sacrifice fly to center, tying it at 5-5.

The Orioles called up Povich to make the start in place of Kyle Bradish, whose season was ended by a sports hernia. Churio hit a three-run homer, his 25^th, to give Milwaukee (96-58) a 3-0 lead in the second. Povich pitched 3 2/3 innings, allowing the three runs on five hits.

“I thought it was OK,” Povich said. “Definitely probably not where I wanted it to be at the start of the game. But I think as it went on, I was able to find it a little bit more, execute pitches a little bit better.”

Albernaz said that Povich, who threw 71 pitches, wasn’t on a pitch count.

“He wasn’t himself, falling behind hitters a lot,” Albernaz said.

Alonso’s 38^th home run, also a three-run homer, tied it at 3 in the third against May, who was pulled after 2 1/3 innings.

Anthony Nunez, Luis De León, Yennier Cano and Walker threw four scoreless innings.

Milwaukee used Shane Drohan, Antonio Senzetala, former Oriole DL Hall and Abner Uribe, who combined for 5 1/3 scoreless innings.

“You’re going to lose games. You’re going to win games, obviously,” Mayo said. “Losing right now is tough. Obviously, we did a great job rallying back and you’re going to have those games where you rally back and lose. You’re going to have the games where you rally back and win. I think if you look at the little things we did well with that ninth inning and scoring runs and two sac flies down two runs, that’s a win for us. But obviously, would have loved to win this game.”

What about Basallo’s bunt? In the bottom of the seventh with Henderson at second and Mayo at first, Basallo tried to bunt. After two unsuccessful attempts and a foul, he struck out.

“He came up to me when Coby was on second base, and he was like, ‘Hey, if it’s first and second, can I bunt?,’” Albernaz said. “I said, ‘Absolutely.’ It was a tough lefty matchup. I get where he was coming from, and Sammy had a great team at-bat earlier in the game, getting a runner over to third. And against that matchup, you know, he wanted to bunt, and I was all for it.”

Basallo has never sacrificed in the major leagues.

In the 10^th inning with automatic runner Heston Kjerstad at second, Albernaz decided not to bunt with leadoff batter Jackson, who has one sacrifice in his two-season major league career.

“Playing for the tie, that’s always the decision as the home team,” Albernaz said. “You kind of always have the advantage when you’re the road team in that situation. We felt more comfortable with J.J. swinging than getting the bunt down, and we all talked, and we liked the matchup and taking our shot to win the game.”

Is the bullpen getting winded? In the last four games, Oriole starters have worked five innings or fewer three times, forcing the bullpen to work overtime.

Walker has worked in all four games. Nunez and Cano have worked in three.

This was the second time in four games that Albernaz used seven relievers. The only relievers not to pitch were Alex Hoppe and Cam Sanders.

What’s the stat of the day? 21. Mayo stretched his on-base streak to 21.

What’s the word?  “I just saw it tonight, they have a bunch of guys in their bullpen that throw super hard. They’re a good team. We were right there tonight, and I think that shows how good of a team we are. We didn’t play our best baseball and we still came up just a little bit short. So, just got to come out tomorrow and compete, and that’s all you can do.”–Mayo on the the loss.

What’s going on in the minor leagues? Aron Estrada hit a two-run home run, his first for Triple-A Norfolk, Creed Willems hit his 19 as Triple-A Norfolk beat Charlotte, 3-1.

Trey Gibson pitched five innings, giving up one run on two hits, striking out nine.

What’s next? Trevor Rogers (10-10, 4.22) will start against Robert Gasser (4-5, 4.30) on Saturday at 4:05 p.m. The Trey Mancini retirement ceremony will begin at 3:30 p.m.

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