Domínguez serves up walk-off homer in Orioles' 4-3 loss to Mets (updated)

NEW YORK – The rain delay lasted only 10 minutes tonight, and the Orioles fell behind quickly as well after the tarp was peeled back and rolled. An offense that was laboring again covered for Trevor Rogers, who didn’t make it out of the fifth inning.

The rally happened fast, with a balk from David Peterson scoring Ryan Mountcastle in the seventh and Ramón Urías hitting a game-tying homer on the next pitch.

The ending also came suddenly.

Francisco Alvarez homered off Seranthony Domínguez with one out in the bottom of the ninth to give the Mets a 4-3 victory over the Orioles before an announced crowd of 26,874 at Citi Field.

The Yankees are idle tonight and lead the Orioles (73-53) by a half-game.

“I think that's just baseball," Rogers said. "You just got to keep even keel. It's probably the hardest thing you do in this sport. Just when you think you got something figured out, it'll humble you really quick."

Domínguez allowed two runs in 20 2/3 innings against the Mets in his career before tonight. He also surrendered a homer yesterday to Boston's Rob Refsnyder but earned his third save with the Orioles.

Alvarez crushed a 97.9 mph fastball to lower Domínguez's career record against the Mets to 3-1. Alvarez had his first career walk-off hit.

"It’s part of the game. No one wants to feel that but it’s part of the game," Domínguez said.

"I made a couple mistakes, got behind in the count. I tried to get back in the count and just made a good swing, put the ball in play."

Domínguez had allowed only two runs and five hits with 13 strikeouts since joining the Orioles. He struck out pinch-hitter Jesse Winker to open the ninth and saw his 3-0 fastball travel 421 feet to center.

“We had a few guys down today who pitched a lot the last couple days. Seranthony’s been really good for us," Hyde said.

"Alvarez obviously looking heater and just beat him tonight.”

Mountcastle doubled to lead off the seventh, Peterson retired the next two batters and the balk brought the Orioles within a run. Urías hit a sinker 432 feet to center field at 107.3 mph off the bat for his second homer in four games. He has six hits and six RBIs in that span.

Rogers was gone after 4 2/3 innings, a second walk in the fifth causing his removal. Hyde brought in Colin Selby in the fifth for his Orioles debut with Rogers at 91 pitches and two runners on base. Starling Marte struck out with the count full.

Selby retired all four batters he faced, striking out three. Keegan Akin retired all six that he faced, striking out five. No small feat with plate umpire John Tumpane unable to establish a consistent zone.

"I was really impressed with Selby," Hyde said. "We got a good look at Selby and he threw the ball great, and Akin went right through them there for six big outs for us. We had a tough time with their starter offensively and they kind of gave us a couple runs. Urías with a big homer for us. Just not enough.”

Rogers was charged with three runs and five hits, with three walks and five strikeouts. He’s allowed 15 earned runs and 16 total with 25 hits and 10 walks in 19 innings for a 7.11 ERA.

“I thought he was OK," Hyde said. "He gave up a few runs, he got into the fifth inning. It’s tough. It’s nine righties against him, so not an easy matchup. But he kept us in the game in the middle part of the game.”

The Orioles sent infielder Connor Norby and outfielder Kyle Stowers to the Marlins for Rogers, hoping the left-hander could give them quality innings at the back end of the rotation. Norby was recalled today, singled in the sixth inning and later scored on Stowers’ single.

Grayson Rodriguez’s right lat/teres injury amplifies the importance of getting more from Rogers. He’s fighting to stick in a starting role, with the alternatives if there’s no improvement a move to the bullpen or an option to Triple-A.

Left-hander Cade Povich was sent down Saturday after allowing two runs to the Red Sox in a career-high 6 1/3 innings and must stay down 15 days unless replacing an injured player.

Rogers began his start by striking out Francisco Lindor, but Mark Vientos singled and J.D. Martinez homered on the next pitch, a sinker that he carried to right-center field. Marte singled and stole a base in the inning.

Rogers retired seven in a row after the single. Jackson Holliday made a terrific stop of Martinez’s 110.8 mph ground ball and threw from his knees to get the final out in the third.

Pete Alonso led off the fourth with a double, Alvarez walked with two outs and Tyrone Taylor lined a run-scoring single into left field. Taylor was able to stay in the box after Anthony Santander raced into the right field corner and couldn’t make the catch in foul territory before slamming into the fence.

“I thought my stuff was really good today," Rogers said. "It's just the results aren't there. I really like where I'm at. I know the numbers don't say that but I really like where I'm headed.

"I think my fastball command and my use of my fastball in good spots was really good. Changeup was probably the best since I got traded over here, really good sliders. Just need to do a better job of getting them in the zone early. I think they did a good job of just seeing it out of hand. They knew it wasn't going to be a strike. So definitely can improve on that and really just working out of certain situations. I made one bad pitch tonight and it cost me. I really got to improve on keeping my team in the game in the first inning. I haven't been doing a good job of that.”

Asked about Tumpane, Rogers said, "Definitely thought he missed some on both sides. It was just one of those days. But you're just going to have to battle the strike zone a little bit and just use more plate and just, hope he made the right call.”

Peterson allowed two earned runs and three total in seven innings, and he struck out eight. He walked leadoff hitter Austin Slater and retired 10 of the next 11 before Santander’s infield hit with two outs in the fourth. Mountcastle singled into left field, but Vientos made a diving stop of Eloy Jiménez’s grounder and got the force at second base.

Colton Cowser, lowered to seventh in the order, led off the third inning with a single and stole his eighth base. Holliday and Slater struck out in the inning.

Peterson helped the Orioles to a run in the fifth with an errant pickoff throw after Urías’ one-out double. Urías scored on Holliday’s ground ball to cut the lead to 3-1.

Peterson has allowed two earned runs or fewer in 12 of his 14 starts.

Mets closer Edwin Díaz retired the side in order in the top of the ninth and earned the win. The reliever who's now handling closing duties for the Orioles was on the wrong end, and the Orioles lost ground in the division race.

“It’s always tough losing a game like that," Urías said. "I think their starting pitcher (had a) really good game. We just couldn’t do more offensively. We’ll be back at it tomorrow and get the win.

"We know it’s going to be a tough last two months of the season. We’ve just got to keep believing in ourselves and keep fighting and stay positive.”

“Losses hurt," Hyde said. "We’re having a sprint at this point and we’re trying to win as many games as we can.”

Hyde will try to avoid using Domínguez three games in a row, but a late lead will fall into his hands again when he's available.

"I feel really good," he said. "I know I can do the job. I’ll be better.”