Cobb, bullpen struggle in Orioles 11-1 loss to the White Sox

After an emotional loss Tuesday night, the Orioles were not in the mood to drop another close game. Instead, the White Sox pounded the Orioles, 11-1, to ensure Baltimore would have the worst record in the American League at 15-34.

Orioles starter Alex Cobb, who picked up his first win of the season against Boston last week, hit a rough patch in the third before failing to make it out of the fourth inning.

The White Sox took control with four runs in the third inning. Cobb walked Tim Anderson and allowed a single to Adam Engel to put runners on the corners. After that, former Red Sox prospect Yoan Moncada blasted a 1-2 pitch over the center field wall to provide Chicago a 3-1 lead.

Cobb induced a ground ball from Yolmer Sanchez for the second out, but the Sox were not done. Jose Abreu doubled to deep center, and Daniel Palka drove in Abreu with an RBI single. Suddenly, Chicago led by three.

Cobb retired the first two hitters of the fourth with ease, but the third out proved to be elusive. Engel singled to left field, stole second and advanced to third on a wild pitch. After Moncada worked a walk, Sanchez singled to score Engel.

With runners on first and second, Abreu muscled a bloop single into center field to score Moncada and chase Cobb from the game. Cobb (1-6) allowed six runs on eight hits in 3.2 innings. The righty walked two and struck out three on 81 pitches.

Pedro Araujo replaced Cobb and recorded the third out of the inning with the help of Manny Machado’s glove. However, Araujo would not have the same luck in the fifth inning.

Anderson drove in Jose Rondon with a single to increase the lead to six. Engel followed with a two-run blast to put the game entirely out of reach at 9-1.

Tanner Scott worked the seventh and eighth innings, and the rookie kept up with the trend of allowing runs. Scott walked Trayce Thompson, and allowed the White Sox third home run of the day. Rondon blasted a two-run shot to right to provide Chicago with a double digit lead.

The Orioles only run came in the top of the second. Danny Valencia sent a change up the other way for a one-out single. After Chance Sisco worked a walk, the inning nearly came to an end. Joey Rickard hustled to first base to avoid an inning-ending double play, and Jace Peterson stepped in with runners on the corners and two outs. Peterson singled up the middle to provide the Orioles a brief one-run lead.

The Orioles bats went silent after that, but keeping up with Chicago’s offensive outburst would have been a tall task. Mike Wright Jr. pitched a scoreless eighth inning. He was the only Baltimore pitcher to not allow multiple runs. Jonathan Schoop finished 2-4, and was the only Oriole with multiple hits. Baltimore did not record an extra-base hit and left seven men on base.

After a rough start to the season, Cobb had pitched well in the month of May. He had not allowed more than three earned runs, and pitched six innings in three of his last four starts. Obviously, that streak came to an end tonight.

The Orioles will have to fight for a split Thursday afternoon. Dylan Bundy will look to right the ship for Baltimore against Lucas Giolito. On the bright side, the Orioles can’t lose a series to the team with the worst record in the American League if they themselves now hold the worst record.