Bassitt’s back tightens in Orioles’ 8-1 loss to Red Sox

BOSTON–What happened? After two weeks of solid baseball that enabled the Orioles to climb within a game of the American League wild card, they fell hard on Wednesday night.

Starting pitcher Chris Bassitt allowed three runs in three innings, and Albert Suárez gave up five runs in the fifth as the Orioles suffered an 8-1 loss to the Boston Red Sox before 36,872 at Fenway Park.

Manager Craig Albernaz said that Bassitt felt some lower back tightness in the second.

“He was grinding through it, through that third inning, and we ultimately had to move on to Suárez,” Albernaz said. “It was kind of late in the second and then noticeable in the third. Just kind of how he wasn’t moving the way he usually moves down the mound. That inning was long, as well. That’s why I went out there and talked to him, and he obviously wanted to push through it, the competitor he is. We made the decision after that inning to go to Suárez.”

Bassitt declined to specify what was bothering him.

“Yeah, I’m not going to get into that,” he said. “Yeah, I was dealing with my back … I felt fine. I couldn’t really execute, but overall. I was fine.”

He also didn’t want to speculate if he was going to be able to make his next start.

“Yeah, I’m not going to get into it,” he said. “I understand you guys got a job to do. I understand you want answers out of me. I’m just not willing to talk about it right now.”

In the bottom of the first, Willyer Abreu’s single drove home Jarren Duran from second with one out. Willson Contreras doubled to left, and Taylor Ward’s throw home to catcher Adley Rutschman wasn’t originally ruled an out, but after a lengthy review, Abreu was ruled out at the plate.

Red Sox third base coach Chad Epperson was in fair territory during the play, but no action was taken against him by the umpires.

Abreu hit a two-run home run against Bassitt in the third to put Boston ahead 3-0. After a mound visit from Albernaz, Bassitt loaded the bases before Isiah Kiner-Falefa grounded into a force. Suárez replaced Bassitt (4-4) in the fourth. Bassitt allowed three runs on six hits in his second shortest start of the season.

Suárez gave up five runs in the fifth on a two-run triple to Mickey Gasper that centerfielder Blaze Alexander misjudged, RBI doubles by Kiner-Falefa and Chad Durbin and an infield single by Ceddanne Rafaela.

Payton Tolle (2-3) gave up seven hits in six scoreless innings.

The Orioles (29-33) prevented their first shutout loss of the season when Rutschman’s triple scored Ward against Ryan Watson in the seventh. Watson worked three innings for his first save.

The Orioles left 11 on base as they failed to capitalize on multiple scoring chances.

How weird was the game? For a lopsided game, there were strange plays. Alexander lost the ball in the lights.

“I hope he did,” Albernaz said. “He ran the complete opposite direction. We talked to him in the dugout and he said it looked like the ball was going to right-center field, and when he looked back up, he couldn’t find it. Yeah, it’s a tough play.”

Alexander played center for the sixth time this season, and he acknowledged he couldn’t find the ball.

“Right off the bat for a split second, kind of past the green or whatever, and then as soon as it got up in the sky it blended into the sky, that’s really it,” he said.

Epperson, who was promoted from Double-A Portland’s manager when Chad Tracy became Boston’s interim manager in April, couldn’t see Ward make the play on Contreras’ double.

Albernaz spoke to third base umpire Tripp Gibson about the play.

“He’s never seen that before either,” Albernaz said. “He said he gets on the field of play [again], he has to throw him out of the game. I’m not sure if he can or not, but you can’t be on the field and impede a position player from making a play.”

In the sixth, Tolle was called for a balk, and Coby Mayo advanced to third on what Albernaz thought was a wild pitch. Mayo was sent back to second.

“Obviously, with the balk, you continue the play,” Albernaz said. “The first base umpire said that he called time because [Tolle] stopped his motion, and I had a different viewpoint of that. He paused his motion and still threw home. There was some back and forth there that didn’t really make sense as far as everything going together, and that’s why I was out there for an extended period of time.”

What does it mean? It will be interesting to see if Bassitt is able to make his next start. Reliever Grant Wolfram spent 15 days on the injured list when his back tightened up.

What’s the stat of the day? 0. The Orioles are the only team in the majors that hasn’t been shut out this season.

What’s the word?  “Any time your starter goes three innings and gives up three runs, that’s probably a recipe for a loss, so chalk this up on me.’-Bassitt on his night.

What’s going on in the minor leagues? Anderson De Los Santos and Ethan Anderson homered in Double-A Chesapeake’s 4-3 loss to Akron. Joseph Dzierwa gave up a run on three hits in 6 2/3 innings.

Wehiwa Aloy drove in three runs and Twine Palmer pitched five scoreless innings in relief in High-A Frederick’s 10-3 win over Hudson Valley.

Jordan Sánchez and Jaiden Lo Re each drove in three runs as Single-A Delmarva beat Augusta, 10-5.

What’s next? Trevor Rogers (2-6, 6.84) will start against Brayan Bello (2-5. 5/63) on Thursday 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