The Orioles are bad at baseball, a breakdown

The Orioles are down one run in the bottom of the seventh inning as the game reaches a crucial juncture. Baltimore's leadoff batter, who has a 3-1 pitch count, gets hit by a pitch, putting a runner on first base. Orioles manager Brandon Hyde calls for a pitching change, bringing in left-hander Cionel Pérez to try and escape the jam. Pérez battles the next hitter, Orioles first baseman Ryan Mountcastle, in a full-count situation. On the 3-2 pitch, Pérez fires a fastball that Mountcastle yanks up the middle for a single, putting runners on first and second with no outs. The next batter, shortstop Jorge Mateo, hits a groundball and the Orioles have a chance to turn a crucial double play to get out of the inning unscathed. However, the Baltimore defense mishandles the play, opting to throw to third base instead of completing the double play. This allows the tying run to score and Mateo reaches second base safely. With first base now open, Orioles manager Hyde elects to intentionally walk Cleveland Guardians star José Ramírez to load the bases with one out. Pérez is replaced by rookie right-hander Félix Bautista, who induces a ground ball from Guardians first baseman Josh Naylor. Bautista appears to get the double play, but the relay throw to first base is off the mark and all runners are safe, leading to two more runs scoring for Cleveland. "It's just so stupid," a frustrated analyst laments, watching the defensive miscues unfold. "I don't even know what to add. It's just so stupid." With the bases still loaded, Bautista uncorks a wild pitch in the dirt, allowing the runners to advance to scoring position. The next batter, Guardians outfielder Amed Rosario, then drives a double to left-center field, scoring two more runs and extending Cleveland's lead to 4-1. The Orioles' struggles in this critical moment exemplify their season-long woes, as they continue to find new ways to lose games in frustrating fashion. Manager Brandon Hyde can only shake his head, lamenting his team's inability to execute the fundamentals and capitalize on opportunities to keep the game close.