Sugano allows 4 runs in 3 innings, offense falters in Orioles’ 6-1 loss to Yankees

BALTIMORE–What happened? In Tomoyuki Sugano’s final start in Baltimore this season, he lasted just three innings and threw 87 pitches, nearly 30 pitches per laborious inning.

Sugano equaled his season low with the three innings pitched and allowed four runs on six hits in the Orioles’ 6-1 loss to the New York Yankees before 37,675 at Camden Yards on Saturday night.

During his first season in the United States, the 35-year-old Sugano (10-9) has been a useful starter for the Orioles. Along with Dean Kremer, the former Japanese standout has been in the starting rotation for the entire season and pitched well for much of it.

He probably has one more start remaining next weekend at Yankee Stadium and then he’ll become a free agent.

With the loss the Orioles (73-82) have secured their first losing season since 2021.

The Orioles got only a run on four hits against New York left-hander Carlos Rðdon (17-9) in seven innings.

“I thought it was the perfect storm of a good left-hander that threw nothing in the middle part of the plate,” interim manager Tony Mansolino said. “Very few mistakes, lived on the edges to off, and then a young group of hitters that was over aggressive tonight.”

The Orioles struck out 11 times.

New York (87-68) moved to within two games of first place Toronto in the American League East. The Blue Jays lost to Kansas City.

Giancarlo Stanton hit a three-run home run, the 450^th of his career, in the  first, and Aaron Judge hit his 49^th of the season in the third for a 4-0 Yankees lead.

“I was feeling pretty good overall,” Sugano said through his translator. “A couple of soft contacts. And that home run to Stanton, the location was actually pretty good. Just didn’t have luck.”

“I thought there was some soft contact in the first,” Mansolino said. “The two singles right there by Judge and then [Cody] Bellinger, and then really a pitch was in a good location to Stanton. It’s a great swing by probably a future Hall of Famer right there to take the sweeper kind of down and way off the plate at the bottom of the zone and poke it over the right-field fence here.

“Then I thought after that he kind of just didn’t attack the zone and got himself in a lot of trouble and threw a lot of pitches, got himself tired. So I just thought it looked good the first couple batters, some soft contact, one really good swing by a future Hall of Famer and then stopped attacking the zone in some ways.”

José Castillo pitched a scoreless fourth. Yennier Cano allowed two runs in two innings, and Jose Espada, who became the 70^th player used by the Orioles this season to tie a major league record held by the Miami Marlins, pitched three scoreless innings, allowing one hit.

Coby Mayo’s RBI double down the left-field line drove in Tyler O’Neill in the seventh.

How has Sugano felt about his time here? At 35, Sugano is older than most rookies and he said he’s enjoyed his first year in the majors and his time in Baltimore.

“The fans are very passionate over here,” Sugano said. “I wanted to give out my best on my last start, but, yeah, that’s all I can say about starting over here. The fans are very passionate.”

He said he’ll consider a return to the Orioles.

“If I have the opportunity to play here again, I’ll be really happy to,” he said.

What does it mean? The Orioles have known for weeks that they wouldn’t have a winning season, but it’s still disappointing for them to endure a losing one after three successful years.

What’s the stat of the day? Sugano has allowed 30 home runs. He’s given up 26 in the first three innings, which leads the majors.

What’s the word?  “Sounds like it was more of a communication thing. I think our rightfielder was trying to be aggressive, sounds like he called for it. Trying to be aggressive, which is what we want our outfielders to do, and unfortunately, just fell between.”-Mansolino on the eighth-inning popup by Paul Goldschmidt that Jeremiah Jackson failed to catch.

What’s going on in the minor leagues? Adley Rutschman homered and drew three walks as Triple-A Norfolk lost to Jacksonville, 9-6. Rutschman caught the entire game as part of his rehab assignment for a strained right oblique. Sunday is the final game of Norfolk’s season. 

What’s next? Kyle Bradish (1-1, 2.45) will face Cam Schlitter (3-3, 3.41) on Sunday at 1:35 p.m.

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