BALTIMORE — Two months ago, the mention of Trevor Rogers’ name in Baltimore might result in scoffs or snide comments. Eleven months ago, his presence on Camden Yards’ mound featured grumbling fans about a trade deadline deal gone wrong.

Now there’s a new noise associated with Rogers among Baltimore fans: thunderous applause. After another gem Saturday, this time with a hint of revenge against his former team, the 34,332 announced fans at Oriole Park gave Rogers a standing ovation as loud as any other this season.

Five minutes later, there was little to cheer about. The Orioles’ bullpen imploded and the bats went ice cold to squander Rogers’ mastery in a 6-0 loss to the Miami Marlins that ended Baltimore’s three-game winning streak.

Relievers Gregory Soto, Seranthony Domínguez and Scott Blewett let in six runs (one that was charged to Rogers) across 2 1/3 frames. Four were scored off Blewett in the ninth, insurance runs for the Marlins that didn’t matter because the Orioles’ offense was stymied by starter Janson Junk and his bullpen.

The Orioles entered winners of six of their past seven, scoring five runs per game. Saturday’s loss drops them to 43-51 and 6 1/2 games back of the final wild-card spot in the American League.

The Orioles acquired Rogers at last year’s deadline, sending prospects Kyle Stowers and Connor Norby to Miami. Norby played well for the Marlins last season as Rogers posted a 7.11 ERA in four starts before his demotion to Triple-A. Then, with Rogers injured to begin this season, Stowers exploded for the Marlins to earn an All-Star nod.

Rogers carried a no-hit bid into the fifth inning and a shutout into the seventh against the team that drafted him and for whom he was an All-Star in 2021. He struck out eight and allowed only two hits and a pair of walks. His velocity was up a tick to 94.3 mph, topping out at 95.8 mph and generating 13 swings and misses. He lowered his ERA to 1.53 through six starts to continue establishing himself as perhaps the Orioles’ best starting pitcher.

At 99 pitches with two outs in the seventh, interim manager Tony Mansolino pulled Rogers for lefty Soto to face Stowers. Soto hit Stowers and then gave up an RBI single to Derek Hill that gave Miami a 1-0 lead. Domínguez allowed a run in the eighth on a single by Jesus Sánchez, while Blewett surrendered another RBI single to Hill, an RBI double to Javier Sanoja and a two-run homer to Xavier Edwards. It was Edwards’ second career homer in 177 career games.

Instant analysis

Both teams can win a trade.

If Mike Elias had a chance at a do-over, he probably wouldn’t take it — even with how poorly Rogers pitched last season and the flak the Orioles’ general manager received. If the Marlins had the chance to go back in time and renege on the deal, they wouldn’t.

Rogers is a good pitcher — maybe close to what he was in 2021 when he was an All-Star. Stowers is an All-Star with an .864 OPS, and Norby is still a promising young player with many years of team control.

Saturday’s game might be the official end of the discourse about the Rogers trade. If he keeps pitching this way and Stowers and Norby continue to provide the Marlins value, it will soon no longer matter that they were traded for each other.

Maybe the Orioles and the Marlins both won the Rogers trade.

Up next

A disappointing first half comes to a close Sunday when rookie Brandon Young pitches opposite Marlins right-hander Eury Pérez. A win would send the Orioles into the All-Star break on a high note with a glimmer of hope that they can get back into playoff contention.

That might ultimately be up to the front office, which already showed it might be sellers with the Bryan Baker trade Thursday. After the four-day hiatus (except for All-Star Ryan O’Hearn, who will start at designated hitter in the Midsummer Classic on Tuesday), the Orioles only have 14 games until the July 31 trade deadline.

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