The final line for Corbin Burnes deserved better. The Orioles right-hander earned a quality start for allowing two runs in six innings and, in doing so, he looked like the pitcher who dominated for much of the season until August.
But, when Burnes walked off the mound in the sixth, he was in line for the loss. With the way the offense is performing of late, there’s almost no room for error — and Burnes experienced that as Baltimore stumbled to a series-ending 2-0 loss against the Tampa Bay Rays on Sunday.
On consecutive days, the Orioles squandered offensive chances and wasted solid outings from their top two arms. For the better part of the last three months, the Orioles have wasted many of their best opportunities to gain ground — or create distance — in the American League East.
On Saturday, right-hander Zach Eflin allowed three runs in 5 2/3 innings against his former club. On Sunday, a two-run homer off Burnes accounted for the Rays’ only offense, but the Orioles manufactured one run between those losses. In their last four games, the Orioles have scored four runs. They’re 24-24 since the All-Star break.
“We kind of go in stretches where it kind of looks like we’re coming out of it,” Burnes said. “Two steps forward, one step back. So it kind of feels like we start to get there, and then a couple bad days and it kind of feels like we reset and start over. We’re still right there in the hunt. Whether it’s for first, whether it’s the wild card, whatever it may be, we know we’re going to be a postseason team.”
The spiral in offensive production has been stark. They entered Sunday’s game with a .245 average since July and are even worse with runners in scoring position, at .237. Baltimore stranded nine runners on base Sunday and finished 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position.
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When asked if there might come a point when he is forced into making drastic changes to the lineup or giving players days off to reset, manager Brandon Hyde said he thinks “I’ve done all those things.”
“Really since the All-Star break it’s been a challenge,” Hyde said. “Tough time offensively. Guys are swinging a little bit frustrated and pressing. Trying to do way, way, way too much. Way too many big swings.”
The most egregious of the transgressions with runners on came in the eighth, when pinch hitter Coby Mayo walked and Gunnar Henderson followed with an infield single. With no outs and two runners on, the heart of the Orioles’ order did this:
Strike out.
Strike out.
Strike out.
They were from Adley Rutschman, Eloy Jiménez and Anthony Santander, and the sequence put on display the rut — or is it a canyon? — the Orioles have found themselves in of late. They didn’t put the ball in play for three straight plate appearances.
“Our guys have done a great job hitting with runners in scoring position all year,” Rutschman said. “Baseball is a tough game, and you’re going to have that. Ups and downs, and our guys are going to be ready to go for tomorrow.”
A ball in play, of course, does not guarantee a run. It could have just as easily resulted in a double play to compound the issues, but during this stretch Hyde expressed the need for his hitters to put pressure on the defense when runners are in scoring position.
But in that moment all the pressure seemed to be on the offense. Left-hander Garrett Cleavinger stuck out Rutschman, and right-hander Edwin Uceta entered to strike out the next two batters.
“The swings are looking too hard right now,” Santander said. “We have to be shorter to the ball and put the ball in play, especially with runners in scoring position.”
Even earlier, Baltimore missed opportunities with runners on. Henderson, who recorded three of the Orioles’ five hits, was left at third in the third inning. A leadoff walk from Rutschman in the sixth didn’t amount to anything. Two more were left on base in the ninth inning.
It left Burnes to carry the loss, even with a strong performance — apart from Jonny DeLuca’s two-run homer in the sixth. Burnes walked the leadoff batter and left a slider just enough over the plate so DeLuca could pull it to deep left field.
Still, it was a better showing than Burnes provided throughout August, when he allowed 28 runs in five starts. In September, Burnes is getting back on track.
But, without any offense to support him, the Orioles slumbered to a series loss.
