BALTIMORE—The Orioles survived a difficult 10-game stretch against the Tampa Bay Rays and New York Yankees, splitting those 10 games. All five of the wins were against Tampa Bay, but on Sunday, the Orioles were unable, again, to help starting pitcher Shane Baz, managing just two hits in a 3-1 loss to the Rays before 27,745 at Camden Yards.

The Orioles (63-68) are two games behind in the race for the final wild-card spot in the American League.

Last weekend, the Orioles took three of four at Tampa Bay, lost three straight to the Yankees and won two of three this weekend.

Through five innings, the Rays (77-53) had just two hits against Baz (4-14) and the game was scoreless. Baz came apart in the sixth after two were out.

Singles by Yandy Diaz, Jonathan Aranda and Junior Caminero and a wild pitch by Baz resulted in two runs. After Liam Hicks walked, Grant Wolfram allowed a run-scoring single to Chandler Simpson.

“Baz pitched well enough, definitely well enough for us to win,” manager Craig Albernaz said. “Kept us in it. The last inning he pitched he was grinding through it. Him and Junior had a good battle, but ultimately they got the knock through.”

Baz (4-14) leads the major leagues in losses. Entering the game, he had the third-least run support of any starter, with the Orioles averaging fewer than 3.36 runs per game. Colton Cowser’s third-inning double was the only Orioles baserunner for the first eight innings.

“Just really bad last inning,” Baz said. “Just a couple of ground balls, a few ground balls kind of getting through and just not really putting guys away like I should. I think I was trying to be a little too fine with locations and stuff like that. Just trying to be a little too perfect, but, yeah, just a bad last inning. I’ve got to do a better job of, I guess, slowing it down and just making a better pitch.”

Baz has been operating with little margin for error, and the sixth was all Tampa Bay needed to avoid a sweep.

The Orioles’ streak of drawing a walk in 121 straight games came to an end, as did Pete Alonso’s 14-game hitting streak.

Nick Martinez (13-4) pitched six one-hit innings, striking out four.

“Nick throws a lot of strikes,” Albernaz said. “We knew that coming in. And also, he does a great job of mixing all his pitches and blending them all together. He just keeps guys off the barrel with the cutter, the sinker. He has a four-seam, the changeup. He throws everything at any given time, any count. He does a great job of pairing them together, too. So it’s tough for hitters to make a decision. We just couldn’t really square him up how we usually do. We had a couple good swings but nothing to show for it.”

Cam Booser and Kevin Kelly threw two perfect innings.

Cowser homered against Bryan Baker to lead off the ninth. Caminero’s throwing error allowed Leody Taveras to reach second. Baker retired Jackson Holliday on a fly to center. Alonso and Gunnar Henderson grounded to second, and Baker had his 37^th save.

The Orioles won’t return to Camden Yards until September 3^rd when Adley Rutschman will play his first game as a visitor in Baltimore with the Boston Red Sox. The Orioles’ next nine games — three against against St. Louis, three against the Athletics, and three against Colorado — will be on the road.

“We can’t look nine games ahead,” Albernaz said. “We have to look at the game in front of us. I think that’s where teams go awry, is that they’ll look at the end of the finish line before they actually run the race.

“For us, it was a good series here. Tough one today. Took a series against a really good team, and offday tomorrow. Then, we have a real tough opponent in St. Louis. And for us, our guys recover. It’s that time of year, like we’ve talked about, all the guys are banged up, just like everyone else across the league. Good day of recovery and then come out ready to compete on Tuesday. For us, we just have to focus on Tuesday.”

How much hard luck has Baz faced? The Orioles know the 27-year-old right-hander is far better than his record.

“He’s been great all year,” Cowser said. “That’s something that doesn’t reflect how good he’s been. Feels like, whatever reason, we just need to put up more runs whenever he’s pitching. He’s always keeping us in it, and some weird things happen today. A couple balls sneak through there, and the line just wasn’t what it should have been for him.”

Baz started against his former team for the third time.

“I felt like they were really trying to not chase the curveball today,” Baz said. “They were kind of taking a lot of pitches so I was kind of just trying to get ahead and just see where that kind of takes me. They’re definitely a scrappy team, trying not to strike out, stuff like that. Felt like I just did a good job of not letting them drive the ball and just letting my defense work.”

What does it mean? If the Orioles can have a successful road trip, perhaps going 6-3, they can return just two games under .500. What’s the stat of the day? 2. The Orioles had two hits, their fewest since they were one-hit by Texas on June 25^th, 2025.

What’s the word? “It’s through the roof. I feel like we just had a really long road trip, and we were able to finish it pretty strong there. So, yeah, a lot of faith in this group, a lot of faith in this team, and have an offday tomorrow. So rest up, and then be ready to roll.”-Cowser on his level of confidence in the Orioles.

What’s going on in the minor leagues? Félix Bautista allowed three runs on one hit and three walks, recording one out as Double-A Chesapeake lost to Richmond, 6-5 ,in 10 innings.

Bautista, who had rotator cuff and labrum surgery in August 2025, will have his rehab assignment transferred to Triple-A Norfolk on Tuesday. He threw 22 pitches, 10 strikes.

Wehiwa Aloy hit his sixth home run. Aron Estrada hit his 22^nd.

Norfolk was no-hit in the first game of a doubleheader by Nashville. In the 2-0 seven-inning loss, Rece Hinds’ walk was the only baserunner.

The Tides were held to three hits in a 7-1 second-game loss. Trace Bright allowed five runs in 1 2/3 innings. Luis De Léon allowed a run on a hit and walked two in one inning.

Boston Bateman pitched three scoreless innings, allowing three hits and striking out six in High-A Frederick’s 7-2 win over Wilmington.

Leandro Arias and Jordan Sánchez homered and Enddy Azocar had three hits.

Stiven Martinez homered in Single-A Delmarva’s 4-2 loss to Hickory.

What’s next? The Orioles are off on Monday. They’ll begin a three-game series against St. Louis on Tuesday. Chris Bassitt (4-4, 5.08) will start for the Orioles. The Cardinals have yet to announce their starter. Game time is 7:45 p.m.

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

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