After difficult loss, Orioles need strong start from Morton

Oriole fans are distraught over Wednesday night’s shocking loss. The Orioles had an 8-0 lead over the Tampa Bay Rays in the second inning, and the Rays scored 12 unanswered runs while holding the Orioles hitless.

In a season of shocking losses, this was another.

Of course, it’s only one loss, but games like this can have lasting effects. Oriole starter Trevor Rogers worked only 2 1/3 innings, leaving the bullpen to pitch 5 2/3. It would have been 6 2/3 had they not lost the lead.

Charlie Morton is Thursday night’s starter. If the Orioles get the version of Morton they’ve seen in three of the last four starts, that would be good.

In Morton’s last start on Friday night, he pitched five scoreless innings, allowing five hits in a rain-delayed 2-0 win over the Los Angeles Angels. But in his previous start, he gave up four runs on six hits in 2 1/3 innings in Sacramento against the Athletics.

The Orioles can’t afford another short start. If Morton can work six innings, that would be ideal. Another two- or three-inning start would put the Orioles’ bullpen in trouble.

Yennier Cano and Andrew Kittredge, who each allowed four runs in the 12-8 loss, threw a combined 53 pitches (28 for Kittredge, 25 for Cano), so they may not be available. Long reliever Scott Blewett threw 32, so he’s probably out, too.

Though Bryan Baker threw only nine pitches, he did pitch the night before in a 5-1 Orioles win. Interim manager Tony Mansolino probably wants to keep away from Baker, who’s been one of the happy surprises this season.

The Orioles do have Gregory Soto, who threw only four pitches on Tuesday night, Seranthony Domínguez (13 pitches on Wednesday), and Félix Bautista, 14 on Tuesday.

Keegan Akin was needed for 29 pitches on Tuesday, so he might be available, too.

With a six-inning start, Akin, Bautista, Domínguez and Soto should be able to cover the remaining innings. Even if Morton can get an out or two in the fifth, those four might be sufficient.

The old adage that momentum is the next day’s starting pitcher may or not be true, but the Orioles need a strong start from Morton in the final game of their series against Tampa Bay. Then, Mansolino can start worrying about the New York Yankees.

Call for questions: I answer Orioles questions most weekdays. Please send yours to: Rich@BaltimoreBaseball.com.