MIAMI -- In a game filled with adversity, what makes it worth it to manager Craig Albernaz is the people, the togetherness and the feeling that comes from pushing through difficult stretches as a group. But on Thursday night at loanDepot park, the Orioles were handed another challenge.
“That's the biggest thing for me. It's, you know, everyone -- 26 guys -- pulling together and accomplishing one goal, playing every day,” Albernaz said postgame. “I love this game. This game is special to me, especially everyone in that [clubhouse].”
One of those moments occurred when Cade Povich’s fourth appearance of the season came to an early end in the Orioles’ 4-3 walk-off loss against the Marlins, as the left-hander was removed after three innings due to left forearm discomfort. Albernaz later labeled the injury "tricep lateral elbow tightness" and said Povich would undergo an MRI on Friday. With Baltimore already managing a depleted rotation, Povich’s status now becomes another question for a club searching for stability on the mound.
“Today was a tough one with Povich coming out,” Albernaz said.
Povich, who wasn’t made available to the media after the game, went about his usual pregame routine quietly, spending time on the clubhouse couches before later sitting alone in the dugout. He did not show any obvious signs of discomfort during his outing, but was lifted after 43 pitches. Albernaz noted that Povich started to feel something in the second inning and it really tightened up on him in the third on the outside of his elbow.
The 26-year-old faced 14 batters and allowed three hits and three runs (all earned), walked two and struck out one over his three frames. Miami struck early, with Liam Hicks delivering a two-run homer in the first inning. In the third inning, Connor Norby added an RBI single to left, bringing home Javier Sanoja.
Even with Povich at a modest pitch count, right-hander Yennier Canó was warming in the Baltimore bullpen prior to the left-hander’s departure. Canó threw two scoreless innings on 23 pitches, and the rest of the bullpen kept the Marlins quiet until the bottom of the ninth, when a throwing error by Coby Mayo sealed the win for Miami.
“The 'pen did an outstanding job. Canó was awesome coming in the pinch and eating up two innings. Same thing with [Dietrich] Enns, [Keegan] Akin getting out of the [eighth] inning, and [Andrew] Kittredge looked good too. So that was a tough one today,” Albernaz said.
Two members of the Orioles’ Opening Day rotation are sidelined: Trevor Rogers (illness) and Zach Eflin, who is out for the season after undergoing Tommy John surgery on April 8. Rogers joined the team in Miami after dealing with the flu and is expected to return later this month, while Dean Kremer, who was recalled by the Orioles to replace Eflin, remains on the injured list with a right quad strain. Baltimore currently has seven pitchers on the injured list.
Povich was recalled from Triple-A Norfolk after right-hander Cameron Foster was optioned on May 1 ahead of the Orioles’ four-game series against the Yankees. Prior to Thursday, his shortest outing came in that series, when he allowed five runs across four innings. Povich now holds a 5.12 ERA with 12 strikeouts across 19 1/3 innings this season.
The bullpen-heavy night came one day after Brandon Young delivered his first quality start of the season and only the Orioles’ eighth overall. Baltimore is 15-9 this year when its starter throws at least five innings, underscoring how important rotation length has been to its success.