Kyle Bradish's 40-Strike Meltdown And The Orioles Blew Their Best Shot At A Home Series Win

You gotta be kidding me. You really, really hate to see it. Sunday was supposed to be the day the Baltimore Orioles finally snagged a home series win, something they haven't done in a MONTH since sweeping the Rays way back in late May. Their ace, Kyle Bradish, was on the mound, fresh off two dominant starts where he whiffed 21 batters and cruised into the seventh inning each time. Facing a Nationals squad whose starter, Zack Littell, had nearly a 7.00 ERA in June? This was practically a layup! Except it absolutely wasn't, and now the Orioles are stuck at 39-46 after a brutal 6-4 loss that just stings.

Bradish Lost The Zone, And The Series Went With It

Honestly, what even happened out there? Kyle Bradish, the guy who was untouchable, looked like a completely different pitcher. Manager Craig Albernaz said it perfectly, "He just didn't have any feel. Couldn't build count leverage or just dominate the strike zone like he usually does." Bradish struggled big time against what the league considers its top-scoring offense. He gave up three earned runs, but here's the kicker: he only allowed *one* hit. One hit! Yet he pitched only into the fifth inning. How does that even compute? It computes with walks. Five of 'em, his most in a game since 2023. This is baseball at its most humbling, right? He only managed two strikeouts, his lowest all season, and generated just five swings and misses. Those free passes killed them. Two outs in the third inning, Bradish walks two guys, and then Luis García Jr. ripped a double into the gap to score both. Just like that, Washington capitalized. Bradish threw a dismal 40 strikes out of 85 total pitches. Tha

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t's a gut punch, and it handed him his team-high eighth loss, even after the Orioles gave him an early lead.

Defense Fails To Back Up A Comeback

You want to talk about how a game slips away? Look no further than the third inning, after García Jr.'s double. Bradish looked like he might escape with the game tied, but third baseman Curtis Mead grounded a ball to third. Coby Mayo, who entered Sunday with a rough -7 defensive runs saved, spiked the throw. First baseman Samuel Basallo, making his first start at the position this season, couldn't corral it. Just like that, the Nationals had a lead they never let go of. Mayo's error was his sixth at third base this season. Ouch. Manager Albernaz did say Basallo "moves well" and is "pretty athletic," which is something, I guess. The Nationals kept pouring it on, too. Bradish walked James Wood to open the fifth, and then reliever Tyler Wells came in and instantly gave up a home run to García Jr., his second of the day on the way to five RBIs and three hits. The damage could've been even worse if not for center fielder Colton Cowser, who made a "spectacular" catch to rob Dylan Crews of a two-run homer. This is the kind of game that leaves you shaking your head. What's next for the Orioles? Well, at least they got Adley Rutschman back, who singled in his first at-bat after missing seven games with a concussion. Dylan Beavers also returned from an oblique sprain. Rutschman said it was a "weird" sensation, but he's glad to be back. After his single, Pete Alonso blasted a 437-foot homer off Littell. But even with returns and some pop, when your pitching struggles this much and the defense breaks down, you're gonna lose. They squandered a golden opportunity, and that's just a tough pill to swallow.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.