The Orioles ran out of magic today.
They were no-hit for 3 2/3 innings. Another player left with an injury. There’s only so much adversity that a team can scale in one weekend.
Tomoyuki Sugano limped off the mound in the top of the fourth inning after Hyesong Kim’s 96 mph one-hopper struck his right foot, and the Orioles followed one of the most thrilling wins in franchise history with a 5-2 loss to the Dodgers before an announced crowd of 27,874 at Camden Yards.
Shohei Ohtani hit solo home runs in the first and third innings, giving him 24 career multis and 12 this season to tie the club record set by Mookie Betts in 2023. Ohtani and Betts went back-to-back in the third, and the Orioles (66-77) lost for the first time in their last six games.
They tried to rally, scoring twice in the sixth and forcing the Dodgers to remove future Hall of Famer Clayton Kershaw and trust a bullpen that’s imploded over the weekend. They widened the margin for mayhem against Rico Garcia in the top of the ninth on Betts’ RBI single off the left field wall, and left-hander Jack Dreyer recorded the save.
Miguel Rojas led off the third with a single and stolen base, and Sugano turned his body toward first base and stuck out his foot to keep Kim’s ball in the infield. He dropped to one knee, slowly got up and limped to the dugout, needing assistance to hop down the steps.
A fourth run was charged to Sugano when catcher Alex Jackson attempted a pickoff at third base and fired the ball into left field. Sugano allowed seven hits and threw 67 pitches, and the three home runs – two on his sinker and one on his four-seam fastball - tied his career high in the majors.
Sugano was making his 27th start, proving to be one of the more durable players on a team that’s put 28 different players on the injured list. The Orioles said he was experiencing “right foot discomfort” and will provide another update later this afternoon.
Dean Kremer exited Friday night’s game with right forearm soreness, but he played catch earlier today and should be fine after skipping a start. Catcher Samuel Basallo came out of last night’s game after a bunted ball struck his right hand, but he said today that he felt “much better” and is expected to be in Tuesday’s lineup against the Pirates.
Another starter is needed to replace Kremer for one game, and now Sugano is questionable for his next turn over the weekend in Toronto.
Left-hander Grant Wolfram tossed two scoreless innings after replacing Sugano. Yennier Cano retired the side in order in the eighth and hasn’t allowed a run in his last six appearances.
Kershaw retired 11 of the first 12 batters in his first career start against the Orioles, issuing a two-out walk to Dylan Carlson in the second. Emmanuel Rivera, who delivered the two-run, walk-off single last night to cap a furious rally, dumped a single into right field with two outs in the fourth. Kershaw struck out the other three batters in the inning.
Carlson led off the fifth with a single and Kershaw struck out two more batters. Gunnar Henderson singled with two outs in the sixth and scored on Rivera’s double to left-center field, reducing the lead to 4-1.
Rivera scored on Jackson’s double off Edgardo Henriquez to leave Kershaw with two runs allowed, four hits, one walk and eight strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings.
The Orioles had runners on the corners with one out in the seventh and Justin Wrobleski struck out Jeremiah Jackson and Ryan Mountcastle. Wrobleski struck out the side in the eighth.
Henderson committed his first error in 74 games on an errant throw while attempting to turn a double play in the seventh. His last error was June 8.
* Tyler O’Neill served as designated hitter today at Double-A Chesapeake and went 1-for-3 on his injury rehab assignment. Creed Willems hit his 16th home run.
Chayce McDermott returned to Triple-A Norfolk after spending yesterday on the Orioles’ medical taxi squad and allowed a run in the seventh inning after walking three batters. Jordyn Adams, Livan Soto and TT Bowens homered in the eighth.
High-A Aberdeen’s Chase Allsup allowed one run and one hit in five innings.