Of course, after finally leading after one inning in two straight games<\/a> the Orioles (38-43) would be no hit through five innings by a starter who brought a season ERA just under 13.00 into this game, with a career ERA just under 10.00. Surely, \u00a0this would be the time for big offseason rotation piece Shane Baz to revert to his worst tendencies \u2013 prone to the big inning with his resurgent knuckle curve pounded had.<\/p>\n That\u2019s just who they are.<\/p>\n Even allowing for some of the lineup issues \u2013 Adley Rutschman on the concussion IL; Blaze Alexander \u2013 the best hitter in MLB since April 28<\/a> \u2013 unavailable after fouling a ball off his knee Monday \u2013 it\u2019s somewhat unfathomable that they allowed Ryan Johnson, a second-round pick in 2024 who was rushed to the majors (it\u2019s just what the Angels do) to toy with them for six innings.<\/p>\n This kid has mostly been used as a reliver and was crushed for 12 earned runs in 14 1\/3 innings last season and mustered more than 10 outs once previously in his career and had never gone more than five innings before. Yet he allowed just two runners in six innings of work (one walk and one hit) and he owned the Orioles throughout, striking out eight.<\/p>\n “He was spotting up with all his pitches,\u201d rookie skipper Craig Albernaz said of rookie post-game. \u201cThe split was really tough for our guys \u2026 he threw a ton of strikes. We didn\u2019t have an answer for him.\u201d<\/p>\n This was a swing-and-miss tour de force by the O\u2019s (21 through eight innings; maybe they thought this was getaway day?), reverting to their worst form trying to launch everything. Believe it or not, somehow, Johnson struck out everyone in the starting lineup save for 21-year-old catcher Samuel Basallo. It was a pretty meek and pathetic way to end an ugly first half., though Albernaz tried to defend their approach after.<\/p>\n “Sometimes you have to give credit to the opposing pitcher,” Albernaz said, not up to dole out any of that tough love he saves for a 21-year-old kid a few weeks back.<\/p>\n Baltimore mustered a run off the Angels bullpen in the seventh but blew an opportunity to do more damage with men on base, and now will need to win on Wednesday to take this series and clinch a winning road trip.<\/p>\n Baz Was Bad<\/p>\n The mound wasn\u2019t nearly as kind to Baz. He didn\u2019t have much Tuesday.<\/p>\n He\u2019s been cutting down on the longball that haunted him into May, but surrendered a two-run shot three batters into the game, a sign of what was to come. Baz fell apart in the fifth inning, giving up three runs or more in an inning for the 16th time this season, pretty staggering (he also leads MLB in doubles allowed).<\/p>\n “Made a couple of bad pitches,” Baz conceeded. <\/p>\n The Angels were super aggressive, with four straight hits to open the inning (twice jumping the first pitch) and Jorge Soler capped it at 5-0 with a sac fly. The top of the order \u2013 Zach Neto, Vaughn Grissom and Nolan Schanuel \u2013 went five-for-nine off Baz with four RBIs and four runs scored. Baz has been attacked early in games far too often.<\/p>\n \u201cIt just seems like the past couple of starts,\u201d Albernaz said, \u201che\u2019s trying to settle into the game … instead of pushing the tempo and pushing the pace. That\u2019s when he\u2019s at his best.\u201d<\/p>\n Baz allowed eight hits in five innings and seven hard hit balls and he closed the first half with a 4.31 ERA, not what Elias must have had in mind when he gave up a bundle of prospects for him<\/a> and then made him the rarest of Oriole who gets a contract extension.<\/p>\n Bird Seed<\/p>\n Jackson Holliday remained out again with a groin tweak he picked up on the road trip. After missing most of the season with a broken hand, he\u2019s appeared in just 29 games \u2026 With the walking wounded, $19M man Tyler O\u2019Neill served as the DH and of course struck out twice. He now sports a .183 batting average and .544 OPS, with 40 strikeouts (in 131 at bats), two homers and eight runs batted in.<\/p>\n
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