BALTIMORE\u2014What happened? Chris Bassitt started for the first time as an Oriole, and it didn\u2019t go well. The 37-year-old right-hander labored through 4 1\/3 innings, allowing four runs on six hits, with four walks and three strikeouts in a 5-2 loss to the Texas Rangers before 11,209 on Monday night.<\/p>\n
Bassitt threw 100 pitches and was behind 4-1 by the second inning.<\/p>\n
Texas scored in the first when Brandon Nimmo scored from third on a ball hit back to Bassitt, whose throw home was off-line.<\/p>\n
In the second, Nimmo and Jake Burger had RBI singles, and Joc Pederson had a sacrifice fly. Bassitt didn\u2019t give up any more runs after that.<\/p>\n
\u201cMix pitches up better, but I mean, execution-wise today, I was awful,\u201d he said. \u201cSo, I mean, we mixed it up a little bit more, but overall it was just, execution was really bad.\u201d<\/p>\n
Manager Craig Albernaz agreed with Bassitt.<\/p>\n
\u201cCommand wasn\u2019t sharp early,\u201d Albernaz said. \u201cThe first inning they did a good job of getting the ball forward. Some soft contact that found holes. I think Bassitt would like to have that \u2026 throw home, but other than that \u2026 The walks hurt, but he battled and pitched us into the fifth, which was big for us, especially with the bullpen the way it was.\u201d<\/p>\n
In the Orioles\u2019 first four games, they\u2019ve received short starts from Kyle Bradish and Bassitt, who failed to finish five innings.<\/p>\n
When asked if that was a concern, Albernaz replied: \u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Orioles have split their first four games.<\/p>\n
Gunnar Henderson, who committed his second error of the season in the sixth inning, hit his first home run in the bottom of the first.<\/p>\n
The Rangers\u2019 Jack Leiter threw six innings, allowing two runs on five hits, striking out eight and walking one.<\/p>\n
Henderson\u2019s RBI single in the fifth cut the Rangers\u2019 lead to 4-2.<\/p>\n
Jakob Junis pitched a spotless seventh in relief of Bassitt.<\/p>\n
Taylor Ward and Pete Alonso singled with one out in the eighth against Jalen Beeks, but Adley Rutschman flied to center and Tyler O\u2019Neill hit in a force play.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think when our top of the order is up, it\u2019s always a pivotal moment,\u201d Albernaz said. \u201cEspecially with those four at the top but, yeah, we did a good job battling.<\/p>\n
\u201cGot good pitches to hit but then we just couldn\u2019t cash in when we needed to. But our guys, the at-bats are still there. It\u2019s just, we\u2019re just a click off right now. And that\u2019s something where, when our offense gets going, I think that, once everyone kind of starts clicking and stays with himself and passes the baton, I think that\u2019s where our offense is really going to take off.\u201d<\/p>\n
Texas added a run against Tyler Wells, who\u2019s pitched in three of the first four games, in the ninth. Josh Smith\u2019s bloop single to left scored Burger to make it 5-2.<\/p>\n
Tyler Alexander recorded his second save by retiring the Orioles in order in the ninth.<\/p>\n
How have the Orioles\u2019 bats looked? Excluding Sunday\u2019s game, when the Orioles scored eight runs, they\u2019ve scored five runs on 17 hits.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think early in the year, it\u2019s tough,\u201d third baseman Coby Mayo said. \u201cIt\u2019s a new season, everyone\u2019s excited and antsy, everyone wants to get on the board. Obviously, we\u2019ve had some knocks. I think we\u2019ve swung it fine.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think last series vs. the Twins, we swung it good, and I think we just had some not-so-great luck. I think we took some walks. Like I said, Leiter was on tonight, and we just flip the page, turn to tomorrow and get ready to play tomorrow.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mayo, who was hitless in four at-bats, looked as if he had a hit in the seventh when he dribbled to Junis, whose threw to first appeared late. Mayo was called out by first base umpire Scott Barry, and the call stood after a replay review.<\/p>\n
\u201cI saw the same thing you guys did,\u201d Albernaz said. \u201cI thought that what we had, it was going to be definitely challengeable. Obviously, it stands, but I guess it wasn\u2019t conclusive evidence.\u201d<\/p>\n
Neither Ward nor Alonso has homered in the first four games. Last season, they combined to hit 74.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a great one through nine, plus the four on the bench,\u201d Mayo said. \u201cAny given night, this team is capable of putting up 10-plus. Sometimes, the pitcher just has a good night and you\u2019ve got to credit him and you\u2019ve got to just turn the page, can\u2019t dwell on it too much.<\/p>\n
\u201cTomorrow\u2019s a new day. We have a lot of games left to play. Just got to stay in a good headspace and just look forward to the next day.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
What does it mean? The highlight for the Orioles was the efficient performance of Rico Garcia, who retired each of the six batters he faced.\u00a0<\/p>\n
What\u2019s the stat of the day? 181. The Orioles threw 181 pitches. Last year, Rangers\u2019 opponents threw more than that only four times in a nine-inning game.<\/p>\n
What\u2019s the word? \u201cDefinitely not happy just eating as many innings as I did, but the pitch count, it\u2019s whatever. It\u2019s only going 4 1\/3 or whatever, that\u2019s not great.\u201d-Bassitt on his outing.\u00a0<\/p>\n
What\u2019s going on in the minor leagues? Andrew Kittredge who\u2019s on the 15-day injured list with right shoulder inflammation, will begin a rehab assignment at Triple-A Norfolk on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
What\u2019s next? Zach Eflin will make his season debut on Tuesday night at 6:35. Jacob deGrom is expected to start for Texas, but the Rangers haven\u2019t announced a starter.<\/p>\n