If you're an Orioles fan, Sunday's 6-2 loss to the Athletics was a tough one to watch—and two innings tell the whole story.
Let's start with the top of the third. Orioles starter Shane Baz, who has the stuff to dominate, just couldn't find his command. After issuing a four-pitch walk and giving up a single, he left a cutter hanging up in the zone to Athletics slugger Brent Rooker. Rooker didn't miss, launching it 365 feet onto the flag court for a three-run homer. Just like that, it was 4-0 Oakland. For a pitcher with Baz's talent, leaving pitches up against a dangerous lineup is a recipe for disaster.
The Orioles had a golden chance to climb back in the bottom of the fifth. Jeremiah Jackson reached on a bloop single, Gunnar Henderson doubled, and Taylor Ward walked to load the bases with nobody out. Up stepped Adley Rutschman, a career .407 hitter with the bases loaded. This felt like the moment. But A's starter Aaron Civale—a pitcher whose stuff doesn't scream "ace"—battled back. Rutschman struck out after a long at-bat. Pete Alonso popped out too shallow to score the runner. Samuel Basallo flew out. Three batters, no runs. The crowd went quiet.
The Orioles did mount a late rally in the eighth against Mark Leiter Jr., who entered with a 7.63 ERA. Leody Taveras, Dylan Beavers, and pinch-hitter Colton Cowser strung together three straight hits to make it 5-2. But that was as close as they'd get. The A's added an insurance run, and Baltimore's offense never truly threatened again.
So what's more concerning? The Orioles' hitters making Civale look like an ace, or Baz failing to get through five innings on 100 pitches? Both are worrying signs for a team with postseason aspirations. Baz's command issues—especially those hanging cutters—are fixable, but they've become a pattern. And against a pitcher like Civale, whose average exit velocity is higher than his fastball, Baltimore's bats need to deliver. On Sunday, they didn't.
For Orioles fans, it's a reminder that in baseball, talent only gets you so far. Execution—from the mound and the plate—is what wins games.