Shane Baz has got to feel like he’s watching the same movie played on a loop. Even worse, he’s starring in it.

Baz puts up a tremendous fight but is no match for the antagonist. He seems in control but discovers that he can’t dictate his own fate. Friends express their sympathy, saying that he deserves better.

Four straight batters reached against Baz with two outs in the sixth, an inning that began in a scoreless tie. Fans stood to applaud as he walked to the dugout, looking straight ahead and staring at another defeat.

The Orioles couldn’t complete the sweep, putting only one runner on base until Colton Cowser’s leadoff homer in the ninth and losing to the Rays 3-1 before an announced crowd of 27,745 at Camden Yards. They’ll fly to St. Louis later today with a 63-68 record and the same seat in last place.

A third run was charged to Baz after Chandler Simpson’s ground ball off Grant Wolfram sneaked into center field to score Junior Caminero. Baz had a 4.02 ERA before the game and a 4.04 ERA after returning to the clubhouse. His 14 losses lead the majors.

Cowser’s double was the only baserunner allowed by Nick Martinez in six innings. He retired 18 of 19. But Cowser led off the ninth with a homer off Bryan Baker, his 12th this season, and Leody Taveras reached on an error.

Baker recorded his 37th save, leaving Taveras at third base.

Baz tried to keep up with Martinez, but scant run support is common with him. The Orioles scored 15 runs in his last 11 starts since June 18 heading into today.

Simpson singled in the second inning and Samuel Basallo threw him out trying to steal. Baz walked two batters in the third and got a double play grounder from Yandy Díaz. Jonny DeLuca lined a single into left field at 111.1 mph with one out in the fifth and Basallo threw him out attempting to steal while Cedric Mullins took a third strike.

Díaz and Jonathan Aranda singled with two outs in the sixth, the former on a ground ball that scooted under Jackson Holliday’s glove. Díaz scored on a knuckle-curve in the dirt that Basallo blocked but couldn’t locate as it rolled away.

Caminero singled on a grounder up the middle, and Tampa Bay led 2-0.

The bats were sluggish last night until Basallo’s game-tying two-run homer in the eighth inning. A hero didn’t emerge to save them today.

Cowser doubled with one out in the third and was stranded. DeLuca ran down Holliday’s 377-foot fly ball in right-center field. Christian Encarnacion-Strand ended the fifth by striking out on the 10th pitch of the at-bat.

Pete Alonso’s hitting streak ended at a career-long 14 games. The Orioles’ walk streak was snapped at 121.

Nunez escapes jam and apparently injury

Anthony Nunez entered in the eighth inning in his first appearance since the Orioles recalled him on Friday. He retired the first two batters and loaded the bases on a walk, infield hit and four-pitch walk.

Nunez did a small hop on his landing leg after the last pitch to Simpson that filled the bases. Frustration? The Orioles thought it might be something more because assistant athletic trainer Ben Fraser came to the mound.

The right-hander stayed in the game and retired DeLuca on a fly ball. His velocity was fine. His fastball topped at 98.3 mph.

Bautista in Bowie

Félix Bautista began his injury rehab assignment today with a start for Double-A Chesapeake.

Bautista, in his first game since July 20, 2025, retired only one of his five Richmond batters. He allowed one hit, walked three and was charged with three runs.

Tyson Neighbors let two inherited runners score.

Bautista threw 22 pitches, 10 for strikes.

Recovering the old velocity is going to be a process after undergoing surgery last August to repair the labrum and rotator cuff. He was throwing 97 mph in his last bullpen session at Camden Yards.

Bautista will report to Triple-A Norfolk for Tuesday night’s game in Durham.

Upcoming probables

The Cardinals aren’t listing their starters for the three-game series in St. Louis that begins Tuesday night.

The Orioles are starting Chris Bassitt, Kyle Bradish and Trevor Rogers before they head to Sacramento.

Farm system etc., etc.

Norfolk was no-hit in Game 1 of its doubleheader against Nashville. Michael Forret allowed two runs in five innings.

Aron Estrada hit his 22nd homer for Chesapeake and Wehiwa Aloy hit his 20th overall and fifth since moving up to Double-A. Sebastian Gongora tossed six scoreless innings with only one hit allowed.