Povich allows 5 runs in 3rd, Orioles strike out 17 times in 9-1 loss to Twins

What happened? Cade Povich allowed five runs in the third inning as the Orioles lost to the Minnesota Twins 9-1 on Tuesday night at Target Field.

The Orioles (13-21) have their fourth three-game losing streak of the season. They’re eight games under .500 for the first time since July 3^rd, 2022.

Povich (1-3) allowed five runs on six hits in six innings.

Byron Buxton drove in four runs. Carlos Correa had three RBIs, and Ryan Jeffers drove in two more.

Buxton had an RBI double, Jeffers a two-run single and Correa had a two-run home run in the third.

In the seventh, Buxton hit a three-run home run and Correa a run-scoring single.

The Orioles had just three hits and struck out a season-high 17 times.

“We got nothing going offensively. Cade just had one bad inning, misfiring on a couple of pitches,” manager Brandon Hyde told reporters in Minneapolis. “Gave us six innings, just a little empty offensively.”

Ryan Mountcastle had an RBI double in the fourth against Pablo López (3-2). López struck out 11.

“He’s got a few plus pitches. It’s a really good fastball, a really good changeup,” Hyde said. “We had a tough time scoring runs. We’ve seen him be like that before. We hung in there on some at-bats, but way too many strikeouts.”

Former Oriole Danny Coulombe, whose $4 million option was not picked up after last season, pitched a spotless sixth.

Coulombe hasn’t allowed a run since May 24, 2024.

Third baseman Coby Mayo struck out in each of his three at-bats and committed two errors.

Zach Eflin, who pitched for High-A Aberdeen on Sunday, is traveling with the team and could pitch this weekend against the Los Angeles Angels.

How did Povich pitch? Povich was able to save the bullpen, which only had to throw two innings.

“I pitched six innings, and I had five really good innings,” Povich told reporters in Minneapolis.

“I’m not easy on myself. I’m going to look at that inning. To have five innings that were really good and to have one inning like that where it essentially makes it a different game, something that I’ve got to look at and get consistent with what those other five innings looked like.”

Povich says the key to keep big innings from happening is to focus on individual hitters.

“Understanding what pitches have worked, have gotten me out of situations, what I can rely on,” he said. “I think if you look at it, and you see what has helped you get out of stuff like that the majority of the time and you lean on that. Is it going to get you out of it? Is it going work every single time. No, but I think knowing what it is, and using that and attacking with it gives you the best chance, and that’s something I’ve got to look back on.”

How did Henderson see the game? Gunnar Henderson had a nine-game hitting streak, but was 0-for-3 with two strikeouts.

“He’s able to command the bottom of the zone,” Henderson told reporters in Minneapolis about López. “He’s got pretty good changeups, and his heater plays up pretty well, so he was able to command that pretty well today.”

The Orioles scored six runs on Sunday, the most they’d scored since April 19^th. As a team, they’re hitting only .223.

“I thought we were swinging pretty well [on Sunday],” Henderson said. “Just go back out there tomorrow and try to get back rolling.”

The offense continues to struggle.

“I feel like the big thing is you can’t go out there and force it to happen and try to string it together each and every night,” Henderson said. “Go out there and try to progress in the right way and not force it to happen because if you try to force it, obviously, it doesn’t turn out to well.”

What does it mean? The Orioles needed to play well to begin the road trip, but they didn’t pitch well nor hit at all.

What’s the word? “We’re having a tough time coming back. We’re giving up a lot of runs early. We’re not handling that real well.”-Hyde on the Orioles’ falling behind and failing to catch up.

What’s the stat of the day? Dylan Carlson started in left field and was hitless in three at-bats. He’s 0-for-15 in two stints with the team.

What’s going on in the minor leagues? Tyler O’Neill went 1-for-3 with a walk in the first game of his rehab assignment in Triple-A Norfolk’s 5-3 loss to Nashville.

O’Neill has been on the 10-day injured list with neck inflammation.

Kyle Brnovich allowed a run on two hits in five innings. He walked four and struck out six.

Samuel Basallo homered against Brandon Woodruff, the two-time All Star who threw 5 innings for Nashville on a rehab assignment.

Right-hander Brandon Young was placed on Norfolk’s injured list with a shoulder injury. An MRI wasn’t deemed necessary and Young will rest before starting any rehab.

Infielder Jordan Westburg, who has a left hamstring strain, should begin a rehab assignment with Norfolk later in the week. Hyde said that reliever Andrew Kittredge, who pitched for the first time this season with High-A Aberdeen, is also with the Tides and will pitch Thursday. Kittredge had left knee surgery in March.

Rightfielder Aron Estrada had three hits and drove in two runs in High-A Aberdeen’s 7-4 loss to Jersey Shore.

Single-A Delmarva had just three hits in their 3-1 loss to Myrtle Beach.

Double-A Chesapeake’s game at Portland was rained out. The teams will play a doubleheader on Wednesday.

Aberdeen catcher/first baseman Ethan Anderson and IronBirds’ right-hander Michael Forret were named the Orioles’ minor league player and pitcher of the month for May. Forret is on the injured list with a back injury.

What’s next? Charlie Morton (0-6, 9.76) starts for the Orioles against Simeon Woods Richardson (2-2, 4.03) on Wednesday night at 7:40 p.m.

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