Before opening their latest homestand with a matchup against the National League East-leading Atlanta Braves on Friday night, the Orioles welcomed franchise icon Boog Powell to throw out the ceremonial first pitch in recognition of his birthday Tuesday. The game at Camden Yards was the Orioles’ first at home since Powell, a two-time World Series champion and four-time All-Star in a 14-season stretch with Baltimore that began six decades ago, turned 80.
By the contest’s end, the Orioles’ losing streak was a fifth of the way there. Atlanta provided Baltimore’s 16th consecutive defeat, 3-0, in a game that matched the script of many of its predecessors: The Orioles, who own the major league’s worst record at 38-83, fell behind early and never seemed particularly capable of catching up.