BALTIMORE—For the 11th straight start, Shane Baz wasn’t the winning pitcher. He’s delivered eight quality starts, where he’s allowed three or fewer earned runs over six or more innings.
On Tuesday night, Baz again was the losing pitcher after he allowed three runs on four hits in 6 1/3 innings. His 10 strikeouts were a season high, one short of his career high. He walked two.
He was let down by his offense, again, and by relief pitcher Josh Walker, who walked the first batter he faced and then gave up a two-run single — the runs being charged to Baz. The Orioles are scoring fewer than 3.36 runs per game when Baz pitches.
After appearing to get their offense on track against Tampa Bay, the Orioles had just four hits and lost, 3-1, to the New York Yankees before 23,257 at Camden Yards.
With the loss, the Orioles fell out of a tie for the final wild-card spot.
“Every loss sucks. It doesn’t matter what time of year,” manager Craig Albernaz said. “But like we said, we know where we’re at, time of year and in the race. Yeah, so it’s one of those things where losses, they always hurt, but for us, we’ve just got to turn the page and focus on tomorrow.”
Through six innings, Baz (4-13) had given up Trent Grisham’s 17th home run in the third and George Lombard Jr.’s single in the fifth.
Coby Mayo’s 17th home run in the third against New York starter Carlos Rodón kept a 1-1 tie intact.
Spencer Jones singled to begin the seventh and after Jazz Chisholm struck out, Lombard’s single through the right side of the infield ended Baz’s night. The left-handed Walker, who’s pitched in higher-leverage situations recently, walked pinch-hitter Paul Goldschmidt to load the bases. After he struck out Amed Rosario, he got two strikes on Grisham. But after just missing on two sliders, Walker threw a fastball down the middle and Grishman’s single to center scored Jones and Lombard to give the Yankees (70-55) a 3-1 lead that would hold up.
“I feel like I made not a great pitch to Jones,” Baz said. “He put a good swing on it. And then, same thing to Lombard. I felt like the location could have been a little better. But same thing, put a good swing on it, kind of dribbled it the other way. I felt good, though. I feel like my stuff held real well.”
Rodón, who was starting for the first time since June 28th due to left elbow inflammation, pitched four innings. Yerry de los Santos (1-0) pitched two innings, allowing one hit.
The Orioles (61-65) lost for the second straight time after winning the first three games of a four-game series at Tampa Bay to temporarily claim the third wild-card spot.
Their best scoring chance came in the third when they loaded the bases with one out on a walk to Christian Encarnacion-Strand, a single by Leody Taveras and an error by Chisholm at second. Carlos Navárez and Jackson Holliday both struck out.
In the seventh, Taveras singled against Brent Headrick and Christian Franklin walked. Jeremiah Jackson struck out on three swings-and-misses, Holliday flied to left and Pete Alonso lined to right against Fernando Cruz to end the inning.
Albernaz said he did contemplate asking Jackson to sacrifice. He’s 0-for-25 after the strikeout.
“Definitely a consideration, but then we were factoring in their backend of the bullpen and knowing that was our shot,” he said. “That was our best shot to really get something going, and we love the matchup with J.J. against him, and so playing for the big inning there, just knowing that what they had in the backend in the pen there, and taking our shot there.”
Paul Blackburn pitched a scoreless eighth, walking Mayo with one out. David Bednar recorded his 28th save, striking out Taveras and Colton Cowser. Yohel Pozo grounded out to second to end the game.
How did Baz pitch? In Baz’s last start, he allowed five runs on nine hits in four innings at Minnesota.
“Very pleased,” Albernaz said. “Baz was outstanding. Just that one mistake, the changeup that came back into Grisham. Outside of that, he was outstanding. Especially the last outing in Minnesota, it was good to see him back out there pounding the strike zone with really good stuff.”
Baz was strong from the start, striking out the side in the first, and threw 104 pitches, only the fifth time this season he’s exceeded 100.
“Command was a lot better,” Baz said. “I just felt better out of the gate. I think the stuff kind of reflects that and just felt like I commanded the ball well. We had a good game plan ready to go today and just was able to execute it quite a bit.”
What does it mean? With so many teams fighting for the final spot, the Orioles can’t afford losses like the last two when their bullpen and offense have faltered.
“You’ve got to turn the page, and even though it’s that time of year where we’re playing meaningful games, the wins and losses feel different right now,” Albernaz said.
What’s the stat of the day? 10. Alonso extended his hitting streak to 10 games, one shy of his career high.
What’s the word? “I think we’re on the cusp of it and we’re playing pretty good baseball. It’s just games like that happen where one or two things don’t go your way. It’s just two good teams playing each other.”-Baz on the importance of late-season games.
What’s going on in the minor leagues? Samuel Basallo was hitless in five at-bats in his second rehab game in Double-A Chesapeake’s 7-2 win over Richmond. Basallo, who played first base, struck out twice. Wehiwa Aloy hit a two-run home run.
Caden Hunter allowed one run on five hits in five innings.
Rece Hinds homered and had three hits in Triple-A Norfolk’s 8-7 win over Nashville. Heston Kjerstad had three hits and raised his average to .283.
Four High-A Frederick pitchers limited Wilmington to four hits in a 4-1 Keys win. Boston Bateman allowed three hits in three scoreless innings. Enddy Azocar drove in two runs.
Ty Head and Jaiden Lo Re each had three hits in Single-A Delmarva’s 12-5 loss to Hickory.
Right-hander Jack Crowder and left-hander Brendan Parks were promoted from Delmarva to Frederick. ‘
Right-handers Collin McKinney and Braden Smith, both taken in last month’s draft, were assigned to Delmarva.
Right-hander Michael Caldon was released by Frederick.
Norfolk catcher Silas Ardoin is on the temporary inactive list.
What’s next? Chris Bassitt (4-4, 5.11) will start against Will Warren (8-6, 4.42) on Wednesday night at 6:35.
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