As if to add some drama to the most tense moment of the game, the skies opened up at 8:46 p.m. Wednesday in Baltimore, just as the Orioles hoped to finally scrape across a run or two and threaten the visiting Chicago Cubs’ three-run lead in the seventh inning.
After a quickly passing storm and a 19-minute delay, Orioles All-Star Adley Rutshman returned to the plate with two on and one out. The first pitch he looked at after the pause was strike three, though, and Ryan Mountcastle — who had already singled three times — followed up with a flyout, leaving the Orioles with zeroes on the scoreboard.
The Orioles never mustered a run in the 4-0 loss, getting shut out for just the third time this season and the first time since May 7 against the Washington Nationals.
It had been another 90-plus degree day in Baltimore until the downpour — preceded by a sample of thunder and lightning — cooled down the announced 20,694 fans in attendance whether they liked it or not. Most returned to their seats, though, to watch the American League East leaders. Even with the loss, the Orioles (57-35) still lead the New York Yankees in the division by two games with a chance to avoid the sweep Thursday against the Cubs.
For the second straight night (Baltimore lost 9-2 to Chicago on Tuesday), the Orioles’ offense couldn’t plate enough runs. Austin Hays and Rutschman each hit deep blasts in the fourth and fifth inning, respectively, but both harmlessly stayed inside the deep left field wall and were caught.
Then, in the sixth, recently named All-Star Jordan Westburg smacked one 404 feet — far enough to be a home run anywhere else — but it bounced off the wall for a double. He and Mountcastle, the only Oriole with a multihit game, were stranded as Baltimore’s offense stayed cool. The Orioles have managed just two runs in two games against Chicago.
“I thought three balls we really barreled up, two flew out to the wall and one went off the wall,” manager Brandon Hyde said. “We didn’t do a ton besides that.”
Baltimore had its opportunities, notching eight hits and leaving 10 on base. It marked the first time since July 24, 2022, that the Orioles stranded 10 runners without scoring a run.
On a night when he did not dominate — and allowed nine hits, tied for a season high — Orioles All-Star pitcher Corbin Burnes did what he has so consistently this season: deliver a quality start. He’ll head into the All-Star break having recorded 13 quality starts in his past 14 outings with a 2.43 ERA.
“He’s the real deal, right? He’s a Cy Young winner,” catcher James McCann said of Burnes. “He’s shown us why he is labeled as the guy that he is.”
Burnes has not allowed more than four runs in any game this year and he turned in another productive outing Wednesday night against a familiar foe in the Cubs, a divisional rival when he pitched for the Milwaukee Brewers. He lasted six innings, allowing three earned runs, including a solo homer to center field by Christopher Morel. One of the runs he allowed was scored by Michael Busch, who reached base by smacking a ground ball that skipped into second base and darted into short left field, giving him an unconventional double. McCann called it “bad baseball luck.”
“They had a pretty good approach up there of just doing their best to put in play and a lot of things happened for them,” Burnes said. “The balls found holes, hit bases, pretty much anything that could’ve gone on tonight happened. So for the most part, threw the ball well.”
Cionel Pérez and Jacob Webb followed Burnes with scoreless frames and Dillon Tate pitched the ninth inning, allowing one run.
Hyde could have opted to start Burnes on Tuesday, and then again Sunday against the Yankees, the club’s final game before the All-Star break, but he instead pitched the ace in his regular turn in the rotation. That decision, Hyde said, was about keeping Burnes healthy and on regular rest, but he added: “Hopefully he’s going to start the All-Star Game.”
Cubs 30-year-old starter Shota Imanaga, an All-Star and one of the top rookies in the National League, put together another solid start, not allowing a run and striking out six over six innings. Luke Little, Porter Hodge and Héctor Neris combined to allow just three hits and no walks in three scoreless innings of relief.
Around the horn
• Joining the Orioles’ four on-field representatives at next week’s All-Star Game will be one sideline selection. Tyler Smith, a 31-year-old ball boy for the Orioles who made a smooth catch on a foul ball early this season, was voted by fans to join players in Arlington, Texas, for the Midsummer Classic.
• Ryan Flaherty, an infielder who was selected by the Orioles in the Rule 5 draft in 2011 and played in Baltimore from 2012 to 2017, was recognized on the video board during Wednesday’s game. Flaherty previously worked as a coach for the San Diego Padres and is currently a bench coach for the Cubs.
• Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco has been charged with sexually abusing a 14-year-old girl in the Dominican Republic and is scheduled to go on trial Aug. 14. Major League Baseball placed Franco on administrative leave last August and he has not played this year for the Rays.
Cubs at Orioles
Thursday, 6:35 p.m.
TV: MASN
Radio: 97.9 FM, 101.5 FM, 1090 AM
