Orioles’ bats go cold, strike out 16 times in 4-1 loss to Twins

BALTIMORE — The Baltimore Orioles are still getting warmed up. After squeaking out a 2-1 win over the Minnesota Twins on opening day Thursday, the Orioles were quiet on offense again Saturday as the Twins strung together a few rallies for a 4-1 victory. It was a chilly day in Baltimore — the first-pitch temperature of 44 degrees was tied for 10th coldest in Camden Yards history — and the Orioles’ bats were just as cold, finishing with five hits and combining to strike out 16 times with 11 runners left on base.

“There were some good swings, great at-bats,” manager Craig Albernaz said. “It looked like we struck out [on] a lot of backup breaking balls. Offspeed, too, up in the zone.

And those are the pitches you want to hit. It’s early in the year. I believe our guys would be on time for those and make the adjustment, but I like our at-bats up and down.

… We just couldn’t get the big hit today. ” The game’s decisive swing was a two-run home run by Twins third baseman Royce Lewis off Kyle Bradish, who took the loss in his season debut. Bradish cruised through the first four innings; the only hit against him was a ground-ball single that needed replay review to overturn an athletic play by second baseman Jeremiah Jackson.