The Orioles' win streak ends in a 5-3 loss to the Rays on June 16. Despite a Gunnar Henderson HR, a key injury to pitcher Cade Povich adds to team woes.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
Well, it was fun while it lasted. The Orioles' four-game heater came to a screeching halt Monday night at Tropicana Field, as the Tampa Bay Rays handed them a 5-3 loss. But the defeat on the field was only part of the story. Before the first pitch was even thrown, the team announced another blow to their already beleaguered pitching staff, placing Cade Povich on the injured list and leaving fans to wonder who's left to take the mound.
Gunnar Henderson's solo shot in the seventh marked his 18th home run of the season, a continuing bright spot for the young superstar.
Things started promisingly enough. The O's jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the second inning thanks to a clutch two-run double from Colton Cowser. But as is often the case in Tampa, the lead felt precarious. The game flipped in the fourth when Randy Arozarena launched a three-run homer off starter Dean Kremer, giving the Rays a lead they wouldn't relinquish. Kremer battled through five innings, allowing four runs (three earned), but the damage was done. Gunnar Henderson tried to spark a comeback with a solo blast—his 18th of the year—in the seventh, but the offense couldn't muster anything else against the Rays' bullpen, with Pete Fairbanks shutting the door for his 17th save. The loss drops the Birds to 30-41, a frustrating end to a solid stretch of baseball.
The bigger, more concerning news of the day came from the training room. Left-hander Cade Povich was placed on the 15-day injured list with left hip inflammation. Povich had been a valuable arm, most recently tossing 3 2/3 scoreless innings in relief. His absence creates another hole in a staff that can ill afford one. To fill the roster spot, the Orioles called up righty Colin Selby from Triple-A Norfolk. Selby has been impressive for the Tides, posting a 2.89 ERA and fanning 34 batters in 28 innings. He'll get a chance to prove he can stick, but the O's are clearly stretching their depth.
The Povich injury underscores just how thin the pitching staff is. The latest injury report offers a mixed bag of news. The bad: Grayson Rodriguez remains on the 60-day IL with no clear return date, and Cody Poteet is also out indefinitely. The good: Kyle Bradish and Tyler Wells, both recovering from elbow surgery, are making progress. Both are now throwing from flat ground and are expected to begin mound work sometime this week. It's a crucial step, but their return is still a long way off. For now, the Orioles have to patch things together with the arms they have, which puts immense pressure on the remaining starters and the offense.
Losing a game is one thing, but losing another key pitcher is a tougher pill to swallow. Monday's loss in Tampa serves as a harsh reminder of the challenges this team faces. The offense, led by the incredible Gunnar Henderson, will need to keep slugging, but the season's fate ultimately rests on a pitching staff held together by duct tape and hope. The Birds will look to bounce back tomorrow and even the series, but they'll need someone to step up on the mound and stop the bleeding.
