Orioles fail in quest for doubleheader sweep, lose 8-4 in Game 2 (updated)

Colton Cowser laid into a fastball, watched it soar to right field and raised his right leg. It probably won’t become his signature home run pose, but he was in the moment.

Jordan Westburg wasn’t as confident in the outcome of his fly ball the following inning until it landed in the bullpen area to tie Game 2. He went the more conventional route, with bat dropped and feet motoring.

The Orioles brought early power to the back end of the doubleheader, but lapses on the mound and in the field cost them a chance at a sweep.

Cade Povich didn’t make it through the fifth inning, the walks hurting him again, and the Orioles lost to the last-place Blue Jays 8-4. The twinbill drew an announced crowd of 22,272, with the nightcap starting late due to rain.

An 11^th loss in 17 games lowered the Orioles' record to 63-44. The Yankees are a half-game back for the division lead after hammering the Phillies 14-4.

Westburg committed two errors in his first major league start at shortstop, and Povich was charged with only three earned runs among the six attached to him in 4 1/3 innings. Jacob Webb let an inherited runner score.

Povich was called up as the 27^th man to make his eighth major league start. He allowed seven hits and walked five batters, and manager Brandon Hyde removed him at 94 pitches with two runners on base.

"I think (the walks) have been a big thing that's bothered me so far most of the time that I've been up here," Povich said. "It's something I'm obviously going to take a look at and figure out."

The rookie left-hander retired the first two batters in the first inning before Vladimir Guerrero Jr. doubled, Davis Schneider walked and Ernie Clement doubled for a 1-0 lead. Kevin Kiermaier doubled with one out in the second and scored on Steward Berroa’s single. Berroa was picked off first base but Westburg couldn’t handle Ryan O’Hearn’s throw to second base. Berroa raced to third and scored on Spencer Horwitz’s groundout.

Berroa led off the fourth by reaching on Westburg’s throw that sailed over O’Hearn’s head. He stole second base, George Springer walked and the runs scored on Guerrero’s double and Schneider’s fly ball.

What must Povich do in order to take the next step?

"It's just sharpen up the command," Hyde said. "The five walks. We didn't help him out very much. But the wasted pitches arm-side up, the really deep counts, understanding how to put somebody away. It's just command-based a little bit for me."

"I think I've been able to learn from every outing all my life," Povich said. "And obviously learn a lot more up here and what needs to be better. Just allow myself to take some time and figure out what that is. Just continue to get better from it."

Guerrero led off the eighth with a line drive home run to center field off Cole Irvin, his second in the doubleheader. Irvin allowed one run with no walks and five strikeouts in three innings.

Craig Kimbrel pitched the ninth with a three-run deficit and Guerrero struck again with another RBI double. Guerrero was 7-for-10 with three doubles, two home runs and five RBIs in the doubleheader.

Kimbrel has been scored upon in four of his last five outings, with seven runs total. His ERA is 3.46.

Having Cowser atop the order seems to be working for him. He had a walk, single and sacrifice fly in Game 1 today and hit the Orioles’ 10^th leadoff homer of the season in the nightcap. He also delivered a two-out single in the seventh off left-hander Brendon Little at 111.6 mph that scored Westburg and cut the lead to 6-4.

The Orioles are two leadoff homers away from tying their record set in 1996. Gunnar Henderson accounts for eight and Cowser and Westburg each have one.

Westburg stepped to the plate against Blue Jays starter Bowden Francis, their 27^th man, in the second with the Orioles behind 3-1. Ryan O’Hearn led off with a double and hustled to third base on Schneider’s fielding error, and Westburg crushed a curveball for his 18^th homer.

Cowser’s ball traveled 430 feet at 109.2 mph and Westburg’s went 409 at 102.9. They both knotted the score.

Francis allowed three runs and six hits in 5 2/3 innings and lowered his ERA to 5.68.

The Blue Jays reclaimed the lead in the fourth, padded it and won while sellers at the trade deadline.

"We didn't play a very good baseball game," Hyde said.

Corbin Burnes is starting Tuesday night and Grayson Rodriguez follows Wednesday afternoon. Dean Kremer, Albert Suárez and Zach Eflin would pitch in Cleveland unless the Orioles make a deal that alters the rotation.

They have less than 24 hours to do it.

* Connor Norby’s double in the fifth was his first hit at Camden Yards after going 0-for-11.