Bassitt labors, Orioles’ lineup can’t pick him up in 5-2 loss to Rangers

BALTIMORE — Chris Bassitt and the Baltimore Orioles’ bullpen gave them a chance. The right-hander had a tough time putting hitters away and was 50 pitches in before he recorded his fifth out Monday against the Texas Rangers, but the veteran starter gritted through 4 1/3 innings with four runs allowed in his Orioles debut, and the bullpen behind him kept the score right where it was the rest of the way. Baltimore’s offense just couldn’t take advantage.

Despite Gunnar Henderson launching his first home run of the season, the Orioles’ bats couldn’t string enough hits together late to erase the deficit in a 5-2 loss. Rangers starter Jack Leiter was missing bats all night, inducing 21 whiffs in a new career high for the former Vanderbilt star. He earned the win with two runs allowed on five hits, a walk and eight strikeouts in six innings.

Bassitt came out fighting himself from the first batter, giving up back-to-back singles to start the game. He managed to avoid total disaster with one run allowed — on an error of his own doing when he threw away the ball on a play at the plate — in the first, but the Rangers got to him the following frame. They drove in three runs on a pair of RBI singles from right fielder Brandon Nimmo and first baseman Jake Burger, as well as a sacrifice fly by designated hitter Joc Pederson.

Though the damage was done, Bassitt proved true to his reputation as an innings eater. He pitched into the fifth and finished his outing with a strikeout of third baseman Josh Jung before giving way to the Orioles’ bullpen. The parade of relievers behind him was nails until the ninth.