Orioles Fan 12 Times, Manage Just Six Hits in 5-2 Loss to Cubs
The Orioles’ offensive struggles continued Tuesday night as Baltimore fell 5-2 to the Chicago Cubs at Camden Yards, another frustrating performance for a club that has consistently struggled to generate runs.
With the loss, the Orioles dropped to 42-50—the same record they held at this point last season before a managerial change. Baltimore also continued its issues against left-handed pitching, entering the game with one of the American League’s lowest OPS marks against southpaws before being held in check by Cubs left-hander Matthew Boyd.
Boyd delivered his longest outing of the season, allowing just three hits over six innings while striking out Orioles hitters repeatedly. Baltimore finished with only six hits and struck out 12 times, continuing a trend that has plagued the lineup over the past several weeks.
The Orioles have now scored three runs or fewer in seven of their last 10 games and remain at the bottom of the AL East. They also fell to 10-17 against left-handed starters and 21-31 versus teams with winning records.
Manager Craig Albernaz continued searching for answers against left-handed pitching, moving Taylor Ward back into the leadoff spot and featuring four left-handed hitters in the lineup.
“It’s not desperation,” Albernaz said after the game. “We’re trying to problem solve left-handed pitching.”
Baz Gives Up Hard Contact
Right-hander Shane Baz turned in another uneven outing, allowing three runs on six hits over six innings. Although he kept the ball in the park, the Cubs consistently made solid contact, producing 10 hard-hit balls while forcing Baz to throw 100 pitches.
After escaping trouble early, Chicago eventually capitalized as its lineup found more success the second and third times through the order.
“I feel like a lot of times it comes back to the walks,” Baz said afterward, referencing the free passes that contributed to the Cubs’ scoring opportunities.
One costly sequence came when No. 9 hitter Miguel Amaya worked a two-out walk in the third inning before eventually scoring the game’s first run.
Defensive Mistakes Add to the Problems
Baltimore also hurt itself defensively. Jackson Holliday was unable to complete a potential double play, while Taylor Ward hesitated on a throw home, allowing Amaya to score on a sacrifice fly.
The Cubs added an insurance run in the eighth after reliever Anthony Nunez returned for a second inning of work. Albernaz cited bullpen workload as the reason for sticking with Nunez despite Baltimore trimming the deficit to two runs.
“Our guys were running pretty hot,” Albernaz said. “We feel confident with Nunez going back out there.”
Offense Continues to Stall
Baltimore had a chance to break through in the fourth inning after loading the bases with two outs, but three consecutive strikeouts ended the threat.
The Orioles finally scored in the seventh when Adley Rutschman delivered an RBI single, but Gunnar Henderson struck out with two runners aboard, ending another promising opportunity.
Henderson continues to search for consistency during a difficult season, while the Orioles’ lineup as a whole has struggled to produce timely offense.
The club is now 5-25 this season when scoring three runs or fewer, a reflection of an offense that has consistently failed to provide enough run support. Baltimore finished with six hits, struck out a dozen times, and once again was unable to overcome another quiet night at the plate.
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