ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – The Orioles clubhouse was livelier this afternoon, the televisions tuned to baseball and golf, and players joking and interacting with each other.

Last night’s 5-4 loss, which ended a 10-game winning streak, created silence and left the Orioles visibly frustrated.

“We’ve been playing so well,” said manager Brandon Hyde. “Just disappointing that we lose a close game like that. We feel like it’s a game we should have won.”

Stranding eight runners in the first six innings hinted at disaster.

“We had our opportunities early in the game to add on a lead.” Hyde said. “When you let teams like this hang on - we’ve seen it in the past with these guys - it’s very, very difficult.

ST. LOUIS – Bryan Baker makes his first career start in the majors as the Orioles commit to a bullpen game to close out their series against the Cardinals.

Baker has made 12 relief appearances, including 11 this season with the Orioles. He’s allowed six runs and 11 hits with 11 strikeouts in 10 innings in 2022.

Baker started 13 times in 174 minor league games.

Manager Brandon Hyde hasn’t used Baker for more than 1 2/3 innings or 24 pitches. Left-hander Keegan Akin could provide bulk innings behind him.

Baker’s last appearance was May 5.

The latest injury to Orioles right-hander Hunter Harvey may keep him out about a month, according to manager Brandon Hyde. Harvey went on the 10-day injured list today with a strained lat, and lefty Zac Lowther was recalled from Triple-A Norfolk. Harvey felt something on what was to be his last warmup pitch in the bullpen Wednesday night at Houston. He was about to be summoned into the game, but instead is headed back to the injured list. "He went and saw the doctors yesterday," Hyde said...

We've seen seasons when the New York Yankees batters had their way with Orioles pitching at Camden Yards. This is not one of those seasons. The Yankees were 2-2 at Camden Yards this year, scoring 17 runs in those four games heading into last night's series opener at Oriole Park. And while they hit three homers last night - they had hit six in the previous four games - they only put up five runs. But that was enough to beat the Orioles 5-4 to start the weekend series. The Orioles are going...

As the Orioles continue to struggle many nights on offense, there is frustration in that. But also frustration in how, with just a few more runs, they could have several more wins. Here are the scores of the last six O's losses dating to the first doubleheader with Seattle: 4-3, 4-2, 2-1, 1-0, 3-0 and 3-1. They have allowed just 17 runs in those six losses, which have come by 10 total runs. I told you it would be frustrating. But as the offense has been exactly that, the O's bullpen has been...

The Orioles were locked in another pitcher's duel this afternoon. Last night they trailed 1-0 after six innings but won 6-1. It was 0-0 today in Arlington, Texas through six. And through seven. And eight and nine. But the Orioles finally cracked. Nate Lowe's bases loaded single to left won it 1-0 in 10 innings for Texas as the O's failed to sweep and fall to 7-9 for the year. The O's missed a chance in the top of the 10th. With Maikel Franco on third and one out, pinch-hitter Trey Mancini...

It was not just that the Orioles produced a comeback win in Texas, one that gives them a series victory. It was how they did it and who was responsible that was also quite big. Struggling Trey Mancini lined a go-ahead double in the eighth. Right-hander Dean Kremer, who had a 10.50 ERA at game time, pitched a strong game on three days' rest. Shortstop Freddy Galvis had four hits and started one sensational double play. And the improving Orioles bullpen had another good night. And down by 1-0...

It's been about a week since I first wrote in this space about four-seam fastball spin rates. So today, I am jumping back on the spin rate train and presenting more data that is available to all from the baseballsavant.mlb.com website. Once again trying not to hurt myself, pull a hammie or break a hamate and/or injure myself in any way as I jump on the train. Too close to the start of a new season for any reporter setbacks. Today let's look at breaking pitches - sliders, curveballs and cut...

There was some good and some not so good for O's lefty John Means today. He went 5 1/3 innings and that was a season high, topping the 4 2/3 innings he threw Aug. 4 against Miami. He also threw a season-high 81 pitches. That is seven more than in his last outing against Toronto. So, he continues to get stretched out and that part of his day was a positive. But he gave up two more homers this afternoon, and that was not a positive. It got the Orioles' pitching off to a so-so start today, and...

Might as well express what figures to be an unpopular opinion and then duck. Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Joe Kelly got suspended for eight games for throwing at the Houston Astros in the sixth inning Tuesday night at Minute Maid Park. He was not even ejected from the game, but he got hammered with this suspension that he is currently appealing. The Major League Baseball press release stated, "Kelly, who has previously been suspended in his career for intentional throwing, threw a pitch in the...

The Orioles formed a row along the third base line tonight while waiting for the playing of the national anthem. One of baseball's long-standing traditions that brought each of them to one knee. They clutched the long black ribbon that's been unfurled in ballparks as a symbol of the racial reckoning that's happening in the United States. Rising to their feet, the Orioles moved closer together and linked arms as another gesture of unity and equality that didn't require or demand social...

In search of their ninth opening day win in the last 10 years, a couple of bad innings happened to the Orioles tonight. A couple of really, really bad innings. They got bombed 13-2 at Fenway Park in the 2020 season opener. Instead of another opening day win - and the club was 15-4 its previous 19 openers coming in - the Orioles have lost back-to-back opening day games for the first time since 2007 and 2008. Lefty Tommy Milone was making his first career opening day start and his Orioles debut....