Sports

Since May 3 Littell has been one of the team’s best pitchers, and his improved play continued.

The Orioles chipped away at the lead the Blue Jays built in the early innings, but an uncharacteristically poor performance from Bradish set the groundwork of Baltimore’s 6-4 loss at Rogers Centre.

The MRI on Orioles catcher Samuel Basallo’s abdomen was clean, manager Craig Albernaz said a day after the slugger departed Friday’s series-opening win due to discomfort on his right side.

García hit two of the Nationals’ five homers. They had 16 hits as they sucked the life out of Chase Field.

That outpouring of runs continued what has been a strong stretch for Baltimore.

The Orioles have had 19 players hit the injured list this season.

​Given the ups and downs of the season, now felt like a good point to open the mailbag.

Pitcher Joseph Dzierwa skipped Low-A Delmarva entirely and made quick work of High-A Frederick. He’s pitched three times at Double-A Chesapeake with a 3.24 ERA and 23 strikeouts in 16 2/3 innings.

“The starting pitching group is kind of like their own team,” manager Craig Albernaz said.

Baltimore (30-33) has won nine of 13 games, allowing the club to hang in the wild-card hunt despite a poor start.

COLUMN | If it looks as if hitters are just guessing against Rico Garcia, it’s because they are.

The dismal performance Wednesday doesn’t derail the momentum built over the last two weeks — the Orioles (29-33) had won eight of their last 11 entering this game — but this did feature a return of some of the issues that plagued Baltimore the first month and a half of the season.

That Nationals could not solve Max Meyer.

Keondre Jackson was the star of the Ravens’ third open practice of organized team activities, outshining even Lamar Jackson in the afternoon session.

What changed in that moment is hard to describe. “I think it was a feeling, for sure,” Basallo said.

The Nationals and Marlins were both throwing no-hitters entering the fifth inning. Washington exited it trailing 4-0.

Baltimore has won 8 of its last 11 games.

Baz allowed two runs on sacrifice flies throughout seven efficient innings, and his knuckle curveball once more baffled an opposing lineup.

“Patience and trust has been the biggest thing,” manager Blake Butera said recently. “He does a really good job of walking and getting on base, and he just keeps getting better and better [in] understanding how he’s getting attacked.”

“He got the same mentality as us,” wide receiver Zay Flowers said of new offensive coordinator Declan Doyle. “Like, he ain’t playing, but he a dog, though. You can just get that vibe from him.”