Orioles can't overcome rough innings from Chayce McDermott, Cionel Pérez in 6-3 loss to Marlins

MIAMI — The Orioles entered this week’s series with the best record in the American League. The Miami Marlins went in with the worst record in the National League. Two games in, it’s hardly mattered.

The Orioles (60-41) lost to the lowly Marlins, 6-3, for the second straight day Wednesday, overcoming a 3-0 deficit on a three-run double by Colton Cowser in the sixth inning before Miami (37-65) stormed back with a three-run frame of its own against reliever Cionel Pérez.

Starter Chayce McDermott completed four innings with three strikeouts in his MLB debut, allowing all three of the runs charged against him in his final frame. First baseman Josh Bell launched a 414-foot home run to lead off the fourth inning, and Miami followed with three straight singles and a sacrifice fly to jump out to an early lead.

It was a deficit that at first appeared to be insurmountable as long as Edward Cabrera was pitching. The Marlins right-hander, who entered with a 7.36 ERA in eight starts this season, retired 12 of the first 14 batters he faced and held Baltimore to one hit through five innings. He came back out for the sixth seeking Miami’s first quality start since June 27 but loaded the bases with one out to force manager Skip Schumaker to go to his bullpen.

The Marlins’ relievers were the difference in their 6-3 win over the Orioles on Tuesday, but right-hander Huascar Brazobán only got one of the two outs he needed before Cowser sent a line drive down the right-field line that pushed his RBI total to 40 — fifth highest among rookies this season. Baltimore entered the game hitting .177 with runners in scoring position this month, second worst in the majors behind only the Tampa Bay Rays.

Cowser’s swing got McDermott off the hook. The right-hander pitched as advertised in his first start, flashing some swing-and-miss potential and retiring the side in order in two of his first three innings. He mixed in five pitches, averaging 94 mph with a four-seam fastball that maxed out at 95.7. After only pitching one inning in his previous start with Triple-A Norfolk, manager Brandon Hyde pulled him with his pitch count up to 82.

Hyde turned the game over to the bullpen, which turned in two scoreless frames by Cole Irvin and Jacob Webb before things unraveled in the seventh. Webb allowed a leadoff single to Xavier Edwards, prompting Hyde to bring the lefty Pérez in to face the bottom of the Marlins’ lineup. Pérez then threw a wild pitch to move Edwards to second and walked Nick Gordon after the left fielder tried to bunt, prompting No. 9 hitter Ali Sánchez to bunt both runners over for the top of the order.

Center fielder Jazz Chisholm Jr. provided the decisive blow, sending a chopper over the head of Ramón Urías at third base to bring both runners home. Chisholm, a popular trade candidate as the deadline looms, legged out a double on the play and scored on an RBI single by right fielder Bryan De La Cruz. It marked the first time the Marlins have scored six or more runs in consecutive games since June 17-18.

The Orioles’ offensive woes resurfaced in the later innings as Miami’s bullpen retired seven of eight batters after Cowser’s double to turn the game over to closer Tanner Scott, the former Orioles reliever traded to Miami in April 2022. Scott finished off his second save against the team that drafted him in as many days with a swinging strikeout of Urías.

Baltimore has now lost three of its past four series dating to July 9. The club will look to salvage a win in the series finale Thursday afternoon when ace Corbin Burnes takes the ball on five days’ rest against Miami starter Roddery Muñoz.