The Orioles failed again yesterday to run a winning streak to four games.

Their 9-3 loss to the Padres at Camden Yards featured Pete Alonso going 3-for-5 with a double and home run, his 16th of the season and third in four games. Tyler O’Neill doubled for the fourth time in three games. But Trey Gibson allowed six runs with five walks and seven strikeouts in 4 1/3 innings, and his 93.5 mph sinker in the fifth nailed Xander Bogaerts on the side of the helmet. Gibson was replaced, and Bogaerts came out of the game after playing another inning at shortstop.

Padres reliever Ron Marinaccio was ejected, along with manager Craig Stammen, with two outs in the ninth inning after hitting Gunnar Henderson on the hip with a 93.9 mph fastball. Bradgley Rodriguez almost hit Henderson twice during an earlier at-bat.

“I guess they were trying to make up for missing,” Henderson told the media afterward. “They had their two opportunities in my previous at-bat and missed, so thought that should have been end of it. But I guess they were trying to get payback, so I guess we’re even now.”

The score was far from even after Albert Suárez surrendered three home runs in four innings.

Meanwhile, Ryan Helsley made his second injury rehab appearance with Triple-A Norfolk and retired all three batters he faced, striking out two. He threw 14 pitches, nine for strikes.

One of Helsley’s fastballs to his first batter was clocked at 99 mph.

Let’s see how fast we can get through these mailbag questions.

Has there any been any talk around the org about dropping Gunnar Henderson in the batting order?
Internal discussions usually stay that way. The Orioles don’t share many conversations. However, manager Craig Albernaz has offered his support of Henderson on multiple occasions when asked about the struggling shortstop. The latest example came a few days ago: “Gunnar is still a force at the plate. He’s close to getting the results he wants.” The organization remains confident that he’s going to bust out. And they’re right. For example, well, there’s the home run, two singles and walk Friday night. Also, how low would he go and who’s moving up to replace him? I could see Adley Rutschman batting second. That’s fine. But Henderson has to slot somewhere and there aren’t a bunch of red-hot hitters near the bottom of the order who are poised for a bump. Manny Machado has batted third or fourth for the Padres in every start except two, and he arrived in Baltimore slashing .172/.253/.345 with a minus-0.6 bWAR. He doubled twice on Friday. You just ride it out and bank on the player going on a heater.

Which player has surprised you the most with their performance?
A player is “his.” Players are “their.”

Hey jerk, which player has surprised you the most with his performance?
That’s better. Henderson would qualify on the negative side other than the home runs. I expected Rico Garcia to break camp with the team, but the unhittable stretch and ranking second on the team in saves weren’t expected. I didn’t think Blaze Alexander would make this much of an offensive contribution. I didn’t think Brandon Young would become the most reliable starter in the rotation and that the Orioles would be 9-1 in his starts.

Presuming we’re buyers, who will we target?
Your mom.

Presuming we’re buyers …
I think that’s a smart presumption. I can give you the areas – rotation and bullpen. And it probably won’t matter how effective or crowded. To offer names would be the same as throwing them against the wall to see which ones stick. If we’re talking starters, forget about Tarik Skubal. You heard it here 51st. The Orioles would have to push too many blue chips in the middle of the table and the stack is shorter than might not have enough anyway. Want someone more reasonable and realistic? Perhaps Mets starter Freddy Peralta or the Marlins’ Sandy Alcantara, who is rumored to attract Orioles interest every year. Maybe one of the Royals’ starters. I’ll campaign for a Kevin Gausman reunion if the Blue Jays are selling. A lockdown reliever might be the biggest difference maker. Imagine, for example, getting back Ryan Helsley and then adding Aroldis Chapman. I’m just sayin’ …

How come the audio for commercials is noticeably higher than audio for Orioles games?
It’s called “dynamic range compression” and isn’t exclusive to MASN. Just like the broadcast interruption last week wasn’t the network’s fault. It was an issue with the switch, which could have been confirmed with a simple phone call. But I digress. Per my research, which involved a quick Google search, advertisers compress the audio to play at the maximum legal volume limit, and it works because we all notice it and reach for the remote. Or does that mean it isn’t working? Either way, we hear it.

Why do they get rid of every ball that bounces in the dirt these days? Seems wasteful. Maybe they could have a designated player reconstitute the balls by polishing them a little to add some shine. How many baseballs do they go through in a game because of this practice?
They aren’t practicing. They’ve gotten really good at it. The ball seems to get replaced after every out or every pitch in the dirt or whenever a player looks at it for too long. I’m told that approximately 14 dozen baseballs are used per game.

Is there a story behind the Polar Bear’s home run celebration holstering a gun?
I had to laugh at how long I’ve gone without noticing it because I’m usually posting the information on social media – when it was hit and the score, how many this season, distance and exit velo – as a player is rounding the bases. I’m much better at the stuff that happens after he crosses the plate and heads back to the dugout. Alonso is like the other players when he signals to the bullpen as he’s reaching second base, but he worked out a routine with third base coach Buck Britton. Take the “gun” out of the “holster,” shoot it, blow the smoke away and put it back. He offered a demonstration at his locker yesterday and suggested that I look for it the next time he homered. He hit his 16th yesterday in the first inning, after I left the ballpark, but I should have plenty of other opportunities.

I think I recall that the starting pitcher would choose the uniform. I’d like to see the new City Connect more frequently. How are the uniforms chosen each game today? Could you please put in a request for more City Connect?
No one is gonna listen to me. The starting pitcher gets to pick the jersey color for most games, but there are exceptions. City Connect is reserved for Fridays, period. There also might be consultation with the opposing team to make sure, for example, that the Tigers aren’t wearing orange when the Orioles have chosen the same color. That’s only acceptable, and very confusing, in spring training. It keeps happening in Lakeland. Grayson Rodriguez always wanted to wear black, I assume to match the cloud that followed him.  

Have you been to the Truist Club?
Only for the media tour before Opening Day. We are strictly prohibited. I step off the elevator on the second level, get my credential scanned and hang a hard left. It’s a nice addition to the ballpark, and the press box move is a baseball blessing. We have air conditioning and heat! We have windows that we can open and close! I’ve grown to love the new angle, which allows me to see pitch location and into the Orioles’ dugout and have a nice perspective of shots down the right field line. It’s all good.

Because of his super jacked arms, I’m gonna refer to Holliday as Jax, after the guy in Mortal Kombat with metal arms. I feel like I won’t refer to Jeremiah at all. Is he even on the team still?
Jackson Holliday’s return certainly has cut into Jeremiah Jackson’s playing time, which we saw coming. Blaze Alexander is the first choice at third base when Coby Mayo isn’t in the lineup. Jackson hasn’t started since May 30. He’s entered four games this month, batting in three, and gone 3-for-6. The bat and versatility are nice features for the bench, but it’s an adjustment for Jackson after he was the everyday second baseman.

Now that it’s only Alex, is the system phamished?
I see what you did there. And this seems like a good place to stop.