What they’re saying about Orioles’ offensive struggles, Burnes’ pitching in 2-0 loss to Yankees

BALTIMORE—What happened? The Orioles had just three hits and lost to the New York Yankees, 2-0. It was the first time this season they’ve been shut out.

The Orioles won the first two games of the four-game series at Camden Yards and are percentage points ahead of the Yankees for first place in the American League East.

Oriole starter Corbin Burnes allowed two runs on four hits in six innings. Oswaldo Cabrera’s two-run home run that was wedged into the right field foul pole in the fifth was the difference.

“I thought he threw the ball well. Just a well-pitched game,” manager Brandon Hyde said. “Unbelievably pitched game from both sides … Burnesy had great stuff again. Wasn’t hit hard. Threw the ball great.”

Heston Kjerstad and Jordan Westburg had singles against Luis Gil, who worked 6 1/3 innings. Ryan O’Hearn singled against Yankees closer Clay Holmes in the ninth.

“We pitched well and they pitched us a little better,” Hyde said. “We had a tough time with Gil, getting on top of his fastball, which was really good … and a good changeup.

“I thought we got pitched extremely tough. Gil, he has a really good arm, has a ton of life to his fastball. We hit a lot of popups and got beat a lot with his fastball. He had a good changeup, too, to keep us honest.”

Cedric Mullins walked to lead off the eighth against Ian Hamilton. Kjerstad was hit by a pitch and Anthony Santander, who was pinch-hitting, fouled out to New York catcher Jose Trevino before Holmes struck out Gunnar Henderson and Adley Rutschman. Holmes got five out for the Yankees.

How did Burnes feel about his outing? Burnes allowed the two-run home run to Cabrera in the fifth inning. He gave up four hits in six innings. He walked one and struck out six. It was his fourth quality start. Five of his six strikeouts came in the first two innings.

“I thought I threw the ball well,” Burnes said. “The last three or four [starts] hadn’t been what we wanted to. Tonight was definitely a step forward. I thought we commanded the ball well outside of two or three [at-bats]. Had a good gameplan going in, a bunch of punchouts early. They adjusted, got more aggressive, got a bunch of groundouts. It was a good plan.

“Unfortunately, the one pitch [Cabrera] hit out was the decider. Pretty good pitch. Tip your cap. Good swing.”

Burnes thought it was the best game he pitched since Opening Day when Mike Trout’s home run was the only hit he allowed in six innings in a win against the Los Angeles Angels.

“Cutter command was better. I didn’t spin the breaking ball as well as I had throughout the year. I made up for it with some other pitches. Changeup, didn’t have a feel for it tonight. If you nitpick every pitch, there are some pitches that are better, but overall was more pleased with how we threw the baseball tonight.”

How did Kjerstad do? Kjerstad got his second start since he was called up on April 23^rd. He was hitless in his previous five at-bats. His third-inning single was the first hit against Gil. He fouled out to Cabrera at third in the fifth and was hit by a pitch by Ian Hamilton in the eighth.

“His pitches are really good, and he was executed his spots,” Kjerstad said. “The way he was tunneling the ball, he uses his fastball a lot, and he used it a lot and he was putting it in good spots, making good pitches and staying ahead in the count.”

The Orioles couldn’t capitalize on Kjerstad’s hit on a night when they were overmatched.

“To get in there and get a hit, do anything I can to help the team win,” Kjerstad said. “I tried to get the inning rolling. It was good to make some good contact and go out there and play.”

It was Kjerstad’s first start at home this season.

“Anytime you can be in the starting lineup, you’re really pumped and thankful to be in it,” Kjerstad said. “Wanted to go out there and play hard and have fun.”

Kjerstad caught one fly, a sliding catch on Giancarlo Stanton’s liner in the sixth.

“I got a good first step, ran in hard and made a good play,” Kjerstad said. “Got to play hard when our pitchers are working hard, too.”

What’s the word? “I joked that if the pole was 325 instead of 318, it would have been a foul ball. It’s the park we play in. He put a good swing on a good pitch.”-Burnes on Cabrera’s home run.

What’s the latest on the starting rotation? Hyde said that he hopes Grayson Rodriguez, who went on the 15-day injured list Wednesday because of right shoulder inflammation, won’t need additional time to recover. Left-hander John Means, whose rehab assignment is over, was activated by the Orioles, but Hyde didn’t say when he would pitch.

Hyde also needs to find a spot for right-hander Kyle Bradish, who could start on Thursday in the final game of the four-game series against the Yankees. Hyde didn’t say who would start on Thursday after Wednesday’s game. The Orioles will have to make a roster move to add Bradish.

What’s going on in the minor leagues? Left-hander cade Povich allowed one run on five hits as Triple-A Norfolk beat Nashville, 7-3. The 24-year-old Povich (3-1) walked four and struck out five. His earned-run average is 1.11.

Centerfielder Kyle Stowers and first baseman Coby Mayo each hit their 10^th home run.

Cameron Weston threw four scoreless innings in relief, allowing two hits and striking out eight without walking a batter as Double-A Bowie beat Erie, 6-4.

Leftfielder Jud Fabian and rightfielder Dylan Beavers each hit their third home run. Beavers’ was a two-run homer. Second baseman Collin Burns drove in two runs.

High-A Aberdeen’s Jackson Baumeister was scratched from his start at Brooklyn because of illness. The IronBirds defeated the Cyclones, 6-2. Rightfielder Tavian Josenberger hit a two-run home run.

Single-A Delmarva committed five errors in a 5-4 loss to Fayetteville. The Shorebirds had just three hits and are 3-19.

What does it mean? Closer Craig Kimbrel was ready to enter the game in the ninth had the Orioles tied it or taken the lead. He wasn’t available on Monday or Tuesday after leaving Sunday’s game with upper back tightness.

What’s the stat of the day? The Orioles were shut out for the first time this season. On Monday night, they recorded their first shutout, beating the Yankees, 2-0.

What’s next? The Orioles haven’t named their starter for Thursday, but it seems likely that Bradish, who’s been on the injured list with a sprain of the right ulnar collateral ligament, will start. New York will start Carlos Rodón (2-1, 2.48. Game time is 1:05 p.m.

Call for questions: Each weekday, I’ll be answering at least one Orioles’ question. Please send yours to: Rich@BaltimoreBaseball.com