Baz’s mistakes doom impotent O’s offense in 6-2 loss to the A’s
The O’s starter kept leaving pitches up in the zone in a command-challenged outing, and O’s hitters made Aaron Civale look much better than his stuff.
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - MAY 9: Shane Baz #34 of the Baltimore Orioles throws a pitch against the Athletics during the third inning at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on May 9, 2026 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Bill Streicher/Getty Images) | Getty Images This game was summed up for me by two innings. Be warned; it’s not pretty.
In the top of the third, the Athletics’ Brent Rooker came to the plate with two on and one out. Orioles starter Shane Baz had already given up a four-pitch walk and a single. Then, with the right-hitting Rooker up to bat, Baz left a cutter hanging up and just off the plate.
Rooker swung, launching the pitch 365 feet away onto the flag court. That meatball, and the bombardment thereof, made the game 4-0 Athletics. This felt like an insurmountable lead until the Orioles got a glorious scoring chance in the bottom of the fifth inning.
Infielder Jeremiah Jackson had reached on a Bermuda Triangle single, Gunnar Henderson doubled, and Taylor Ward walked. That brought up to the plate Adley Rutschman, a career . 407 hitter with the bases loaded.
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