Baltimore Orioles pitcher Jack Flaherty. Mitch Stringer-USA TODAY Sports

Orioles' Jack Flaherty has season outlier in big loss

By Brandon Willman | Last updated 8/17/23

In the Baltimore Orioles' 10-3 loss to the San Diego Padres Tuesday, O's starting pitcher Jack Flaherty made rounds despite only throwing a third of the game.

Through the game's first two innings, he threw 73 pitches, the second most through that span this season.

The first inning alone featured Flaherty throwing over 30 pitches and giving up five runs, the first of which came from his third walk to Jake Cronenworth. He then gave up the rest of the four with one swing of the bat, courtesy of Gary Sanchez.

Gary Sanchez welcomes Jack Flaherty to Slam Diego! pic.twitter.com/2GNLuHonxb
— Talking Friars (@TalkingFriars) August 16, 2023

After that, he settled down a little, giving up two more runs in the second frame courtesy of another 30-plus pitch inning and a two-RBI double from the bat of Manny Machado.

Manny brings in two more and the Padres score 7 runs off Jack Flaherty on 73 pitches in just 2 innings! pic.twitter.com/I9Ky2GfgfR
— Just Baseball (@JustBB_Media) August 16, 2023

The only player besting Flaherty in 2023 has been Dylan Cease's 79 on Aug. 2. Flaherty ended his start with 84 pitches through three innings, giving up seven runs on four hits and three walks. After starting the season with the St. Louis Cardinals, Tuesday was the third start for the righty with the O's.

It was the first game of his tenure where he did not pitch at least 5.0 innings and his first giving up more than three earned runs. The loss brings his total season record to 8-8 and season ERA to 4.26.

High pitch counts are not a rare sighting, as many other pitchers who have similarly bad games. In 2015, then-sought-out prospect Daniel Norris threw 54 pitches in just one inning of work with the Detroit Tigers.

The same Padres that forced Flaherty into a bad spot recently had similar outings. In June 2022, their own Blake Snell threw 43 pitches in an 11-5 loss for the team.

More must-reads: