The Baltimore Orioles are facing a tough decision about starting pitcher Charlie Morton. He had another rough outing on Wednesday night as the Orioles lost to the Minnesota Twins 5-2 at Target Field.
Morton entered his latest start with a 9.76 ERA . He's in his first season with the Orioles after previous stops with the Atlanta Braves, Pittsburgh Pirates, Houston Astros, and Tampa Bay Rays.
A hanging curveball to Byron Buxton was the difference in Charlie Morton’s start tonight.
— Orioles on MASN (@masnOrioles) May 8, 2025
The veteran evaluates his outing. pic.twitter.com/Z7ohehjYlt
Whatever Morton was expected to bring to a Baltimore rotation that needed starting pitching has got to be re-evaluated. Morton is not getting the job done and his latest outing is more proof. Orioles manager Brandon Hyde and the team's front office might need to move along from Morton.
Morton, a 41-year-old right-hander, has no wins for Baltimore in nine appearances (six starts). Against the Twins, Morton allowed three runs and four hits in four innings and saw that ERA go to 9.38.
Buxton came up in the Twins' half of the third inning and slammed a three-run homer to the second deck in left field. That gave Minnesota a 3-1 lead and the Twins didn't give it up for the rest of the game. Buxton has now homered in three straight games.
Three straight games with a HR for Byron Buxton! pic.twitter.com/pC50tcU0RX
— MLB (@MLB) May 8, 2025
In the seventh, Bader pinch hit for Kody Clemens. He saw a 1-0 pitch from Orioles reliever Keegan Akin and connected for a two-run homer. That gave the Twins a 5-2 lead and sealed the win.
Minnesota reliever Danny Coulombe (1-0) pitched a scoreless inning to pick up the victory. Jhoan Durán earned his fifth save with a clean ninth inning for the Twins, who have now won four straight (matching their longest win streak this season), The Associated Press reported.
Ramón Laureano homered and doubled for the Orioles, according to MLB.com.
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