ST. PETERSBURG -- For long stretches over the past three years, Paul Fry has been a mainstay on the short list of manager Brandon Hyde’s most trusted relievers, a versatile situational lefty with the rare ability to keep the ball in the ballpark during a home run-happy era and within a bullpen prone to unreliability. That’s what makes the past two-and-a-half weeks so concerning from the Orioles’ perspective.

Fry struggled again Monday night at Tropicana Field, surrendering three sixth-inning runs that helped sink the Orioles to their 12th straight loss, a 9-2 defeat to the Rays. It was the third time Fry has allowed at least three runs in six appearances, and he watched his ERA spike from 3.24 to 5.44 in seven games this month. Fry had allowed three or more runs only three times in his previous 71 appearances dating back to 2019.

“We need to get Paul on track,” Hyde said. “Paul was having a really good season in the first half, pitching in big spots and getting big outs for us. Right now, he’s scuffling a little bit.”

The damage in the series opener came in relief of Matt Harvey, who held the Rays hitless through three but cracked for five runs in the fourth and fifth to take his 12th loss. Inheriting a runner at first in a 4-1 game in the fifth, Fry walked his first batter, Austin Meadows, and allowed an RBI double to Joey Wendle. He then surrendered his first two homers of the year in a three-batter span in the sixth, via Brett Phillips’ inside-the-parker and Brandon Lowe’s two-run shot.

All told, it was another out-of-character performance from Fry, who ranked among baseball’s best relievers earlier this year at both avoiding hard contact and commanding the baseball in the strike zone. He’s issued nine walks over his past three innings; his 17.6% walk rate since June 1 is 43% higher than his 10.3% career rate up to that point. Fry owned a 1.78 ERA and a .172 opponent average on June 18; he’s allowed 22 earned runs in 21 1/3 innings since.

“Paul has a ton of ability,” Hyde said. “He’s proven he can get Major League hitters out. He’s just hit a bit of a speed bump lately.”

Fry is far from the only Baltimore reliever to struggle this season, but his plight is notable because of how recently he seemed like a bright spot and a potential building block. Wendle’s double was only the second extra-base hit Fry allowed all season; Phillips’ inside-the-parker was the first homer he allowed all year, and the first dating back to Sept. 9, 2020. Fry also allowed only one homer across his first 35 career appearances, and went 52 appearances between homers entering Tuesday.

So what’s different? The command is noticeable, but so is the sharpness of Fry’s stuff. Fry’s fastball velocity is down a tick or two -- more importantly, he’s getting four fewer inches of horizontal break on his slider than in April, according to Statcast. His average slider on Tuesday was down 102 rpm from his season average per Statcast, a significant decrease. That’s vital for a pitcher with a two-pitch arsenal like Fry, who throws 43% sliders and uses them as his primary out pitch.

The loss was the Orioles’ 12th in 13 tries against the Rays this season. They are the third American League team since 1901 with two 12-game losing streaks in the same season, and the first since the 1996 Tigers.

“I think we’re handling it the best we possibly can,” Hyde said. “I thought our energy in the dugout was unbelievable for a team winning as many games as we have. I think our clubhouse is still positive and our coaching staff has done a great job trying to stay positive through these rough stretches. I think the effort is there. We are playing hard. We are just not executing.”

Boom, boom, ouch!
Hyde lifted Trey Mancini for a pinch-runner in the eighth after Mancini fouled two pitches off his left calf and left foot before doubling home a run off winning pitcher Josh Fleming. Hyde characterized the move as precautionary given the score, but he emphasized that Mancini is sore. He is considered day to day.

“I took him out because he was hobbling around second base and we were down eight,” Hyde said.

If Mancini needs even a day or two, the timing might perfectly coincide with the return of Ryan Mountcastle, who could be activated as early as Wednesday after completing a full on-field workout Monday, his first since landing on the concussion injured list on Aug. 7. Mountcastle took batting practice as part of a full slate of baseball activity with an eye toward imminent return, but he must be re-evaluated Tuesday before any decision is made, per protocol.