BALTIMORE—After scoring 11 runs in consecutive games, the Orioles were totally baffled by José Berrios, who allowed just three hits in 7 2/3 innings and improved his lifetime record against them to 10-0 with a 2.66 earned-run average.
The Orioles’ 3-1 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays before an announced crowd of 16,083 at Camden Yards on Wednesday night ended their five-game winning streak.
After Berrios no-hit the Orioles for the first six innings, Adley Rutschman led off the seventh with a single to center.
“We had a tough time with Berrios,” manager Brandon Hyde said. “I thought he was absolutely excellent. We were making quick outs and he was filling up the zone with all his pitches, moving the ball in and out. The fastball had a ton of life. He was tough to hit.”
The closest the Orioles (42-25) came to getting a hit in the first six innings was Austin Hays’ drive to right that George Springer leaped and caught in front of the scoreboard.
Berrios (7-4) retired the first 13 Orioles he faced until Hays walked in the fifth. He was thrown out trying to steal, ending the inning.
Ramón Urías was hit by a pitch with two outs in the sixth.
“He just had a really good rhythm going. It was pretty obvious,” Hyde said. “Everything going, a ton of strikes. Not somebody you really want to get to two strikes, anyway, and he was locating extremely well, and made it tough on us.”
Despite their lack of offense, the Orioles had chances late in the game.
Adam Frazier singled with one out in the eighth and Urías singled with two outs. Gunnar Henderson grounded out sharply to short against Tim Mayza, who relieved Berrios.
“We gave ourselves a chance in the eighth and ninth, came up a little short,” Hyde said.
With two outs against Jordan Romano in the ninth, Ryan O’Hearn, Hays and Aaron Hicks singled. Hicks’ single scored O’Hearn. Frazier struck out and Romano had his 19th save.
“We definitely showed heart right there,” Hicks said. “In the ninth inning, coming up with some clutch hits with two outs. We were able to get one run.
“We were still out there fighting, especially since the pitcher tonight. He was pinpointing his spots. You’re just going to have games like that, so the fact that we kept fighting means a lot.”
Oriole starter Kyle Bradish (2-3) had little luck. He didn’t allow a hit for the first three innings, and Springer’s 10th home run to left was the only run Bradish gave up in seven innings.
“Kyle just threw one bad pitch, that changeup in the middle part of the plate there to a really good hitter,” Hyde said.
Bradish gave up four hits and didn’t walk a batter.
“It’s a tough one, but you’ve got to keep it close,” Bradish said. “You saw in the eighth and ninth inning, the runners on. That’s what we’ve been doing all year. Unfortunately, it didn’t go our way tonight.”
Bradish said his slider wasn’t working.
“Definitely pleased without having my best pitch,” Bradish said. “It was a grind. Berrios threw the ball very well.”
Danny Coulombe, who hadn’t pitched in eight days, allowed two runs in the eighth. It could have been worse, but Whit Merrifield tried to score on a grounder to shortstop. Gunnar Henderson threw to Frazier at second, and Frazier’s throw home was in time to get Merrifield.
Merrifield’s ground-rule double scored Kevin Kiermaier, and Bo Bichette’s double scored Springer for a 3-0 Toronto (38-31) lead.
Notes: Henderson’s six-game hitting tear came to an end. He was hitless in four at-bats. … Hicks has reached base in his first 12 games with the Orioles, the longest streak since Jorge Mateo reached base in his first 14 games with the Orioles from August 6th-20th, 2021. … Reed Garrett, whose contract was purchased from Triple-A Norfolk, pitched a scoreless ninth. … Tyler Wells (5-2, 3.24) will face Yusei Kukuchi ((6-2, 4.34) on Thursday at 1:05 p.m.
Minor league update: DL Hall allowed two runs on three hits in three innings in Triple-A Norfolk’s 13-5 loss to Worcester. Hall struck out four and walked three.
First baseman Heston Kjerstad had three hits. Centerfielder Daz Cameron hit a two-run home run, his 10th.
Mychal Givens allowed a run on two hits in 1 1/3 innings, walking one, in Double-A Bowie’s 5-1 loss to Richmond in the first game of a doubleheader. Rightfielder Billy Cook hit his eighth home run.
Justin Armbruester (3-2) allowed two runs on seven hits in seven innings in Bowie’s 2-0 loss in the second game. The Baysox had just three hits.
Rightfielder Dylan Beavers hit his fifth home run and shortstop Jackson Holliday had two hits in High-A Aberdeen’s 5-4 loss to Brooklyn.
Leftfielder Trendon Craig homered in Single-A Delmarva’s 7-1 loss to Salem in the first game of a doubleheader. The Shorebirds had just three hits.
Jared Beck pitched four shutout innings, allowing three hits, in Delmarva’s 3-1 win in the second game.
Infield prospect Luis Almeyda will miss several weeks after he sprained his left ankle.