BALTIMORE — Tomoyuki Sugano’s outing started with a two-run first inning in which his offerings exploded off the bats of Mets hitters. More of the same for the veteran right-hander who was limping into the second half after a difficult past six weeks, it appeared. But his start ended with a quick sixth inning that brought those who returned for the rescheduled game to their feet as Sugano trotted off the mound.

Those same New York batters who pounced on Sugano early pummeled pitch after pitch into the Camden Yards dirt or tapped them weakly into the sky. The right-hander controlled Thursday’s nightcap, originally scheduled for Wednesday but moved because of thunderstorms, as the game went on in what will likely be his final outing of the season’s first half.

Sugano’s efforts, plus another offensive outburst, produced a 7-3 Orioles win over the Mets on Thursday to cap a doubleheader sweep, Baltimore’s first since June 2016, and another series victory, the club’s second in a row and third of its past four.

It’s the first time the Orioles are eight games under .500 since May 6, when Brandon Hyde was still managing the club.

The victories closed an eventful day for the Orioles. After trading reliever Bryan Baker to the Rays for the No. 37 pick in Sunday’s draft, executive vice president and general manager Mike Elias spoke confidently about the direction his disappointing team was headed. This won’t be a complete teardown, he said, while admitting the club might begin focusing on potential moves that help future years at the expense of this one.

But, Elias also acknowledged, Baltimore isn’t out of the playoff race yet. Thursday’s wins proved such.

Sugano faced his biggest test in the fifth inning. Brandon Nimmo singled and Juan Soto was intentionally walked to put two on for Pete Alonso, whose 21 home runs are tied for the club lead with his $765 million teammate. But for the seventh time of the evening, the right-hander induced a groundout to strand the pair and end the threat.

Sugano ended his night with nine outs via the ground ball. Twelve of his 18 outs came from groundouts or fly outs. He needed just two strikeouts to produce his seventh quality start of the season.

The Mets started Game 2 of the doubleheader with a two-run first inning. Baltimore snatched the lead away with a three-run second that featured an Alex Jackson RBI double and Jordan Westburg’s 10th home run of the season. The Orioles’ lead grew to 7-3 with two-run fifth and sixth innings as Sugano turned the game over to a rested bullpen — only Grant Wolfram and Félix Bautista threw in Game 1.

Andrew Kitteredge, Gregory Soto and Seranthony Domínguez didn’t allow a run over the final three innings.

Sugano entered Thursday with a 4.44 earned run average, behind only Trevor Rogers in the Orioles’ current rotation and best among Baltimore starters with more than five starts. He’s stayed true to what most expected him to be coming over from Japan — just 57 strikeouts but only 19 walks in 93 1/3 innings. He instead aims for weak contact with a hard-hit rate that ranks among the best on the Orioles and in the American League.

Thursday differed from his recent outings and looked more similar to his early-season output. Sugano held a 2.72 ERA through his first eight games but a 6.13 mark in the nine starts since. His up-and-down first half encapsulates how difficult it’s been for Baltimore’s rotation to find cohesion and stability. As Sugano starred in April and May, Charlie Morton sputtered and Rogers was in Triple-A. Now, they’re the team’s top two starters while Sugano searches for answers and Zach Eflin is on the injured list for the second time.

The unit has never rolled in unison. Any post-All-Star break comeback bid — the Orioles are six games back of a Wild Card spot after the victory — must include just that.

Instant analysis

Thursday’s doubleheader was overshadowed by the move made hours before first pitch of the afternoon matinee. Baker collected his belongings from his locker in the home clubhouse while answering questions about his four seasons in Baltimore, saying it’s “been everything” and that he was “shocked” to be dealt.

Elias took more questions. When asked if the trade is an indication that Elias might begin looking beyond this season, he said “I think it’s a step in that direction,” while maintaining that the team is “not taking our foot off the gas pedal.”

Elias is so far unprepared to fully embrace being a deadline seller, and this series is the reason why. Thursday’s first game, a 3-1 win, featured a Morton gem and eighth Gunnar Henderson heroics. The Orioles closed the series with a seven-run outpouring.

They’ve won 26 of their last 42 games. Playing to a .619 winning percentage the rest of the way would get Baltimore to 85 wins. Morton, Henderson and Mansolino echoed Elias’ belief Thursday. Stacking more series like this will get them closer to making that long shot a reality.

On deck

The Orioles host the Marlins (42-49) for a three-game series beginning Friday night. Miami will start Edward Cabrera, a right-hander with a 3.33 ERA. Baltimore hasn’t announced its probable starting pitchers for the weekend. But if the rotation stays in turn, Dean Kremer would take the mound for the series opener followed by Rogers and Brandon Young.

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