Hours before the first pitch on Friday night, Brandon Hyde expressed his desire for his team to start games better. He talked about the struggles of the offense in the early innings but praised their fighting spirit in making comebacks late in games.
The Orioles, who had completed come-from-behind wins in each of the past three nights in Boston and led the league with six such wins, couldn't repeat the feat on Friday. They fell 11-1 to the Milwaukee Brewers at Camden Yards, failing to find the late-game offense that had characterized their early-season play.
Baltimore's bats went cold, going 6-for-33 with 14 strikeouts and 0-for-4 with runners in scoring position against Brewers' starter Freddy Peralta and the bullpen. Peralta dominated, pitching six innings of one-run ball with 11 strikeouts.
Milwaukee, on the other hand, had a hot start. They jumped on Orioles starter Tyler Wells in the second inning, with Gary Sánchez hitting a 434-foot, two-run homer, followed by Joey Ortiz's RBI triple. The Brewers added three runs each in the fifth and sixth innings, with William Contreras hitting a two-run shot to make it 9-1.
The game also marked the home debut of Jackson Holliday, the 2022 No. 1 overall draft pick. Fans were eager to see him play, with many wearing T-shirts featuring his face. Holliday struck out in his first plate appearance but showed promise defensively, making a key play in shallow right field and turning a double play.
Despite Holliday's debut, the standout performance of the night came from Colton Cowser. The outfielder doubled in the first inning and later hit a 415-foot homer over the center field wall, showcasing his improved aggressiveness at the plate.
The Orioles' pitching struggled, with Wells lasting only four innings and Jonathan Heasley giving up six runs in relief. Dillon Tate and Jacob Webb pitched in relief, but the Brewers' offense proved too much to handle.
Tensions flared in the sixth inning when James McCann and Willy Adames exchanged words at home plate, leading to a bench-clearing incident. Overall, it was a tough night for the Orioles, who couldn't replicate their recent comeback magic.
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