‘Just Wanted It to Be Over’ – Orioles Manager Brandon Hyde Reacts to 24-2 Meltdown Against Reds

On an afternoon that will live in infamy for Baltimore Orioles fans, the scoreboard at Great American Ball Park told a brutal story: Cincinnati Reds 24, Baltimore Orioles 2. And for Orioles manager Brandon Hyde, the reaction was as blunt as it gets.

“I just wanted it to be over,” Hyde admitted postgame. “We’ve all been a part of tough losses, but this was… something else.”

For a team that came into the game with playoff aspirations and one of the American League’s better records, the 24-2 defeat wasn’t just a loss — it was a historic collapse that laid bare every crack, flaw, and vulnerability in one painful, nine-inning window.

The Reds looked like a juggernaut. The Orioles? A team completely overwhelmed, outgunned, and unprepared for what hit them.

Here’s a full breakdown of how the worst loss of Hyde’s managerial career unfolded — and what it means moving forward.

A Nightmare From the Start

It didn’t take long for things to unravel. Cincinnati came out swinging in the bottom of the first inning and never looked back.

Baltimore starter Cole Irvin was rocked for nine earned runs in just 1.2 innings, giving up two home runs and five hits in a brutal outing that set the tone for the entire day.

The Reds scored five in the first, four more in the second, and then just kept piling on. By the time the dust settled, they had racked up:

• 24 runs
• 28 hits
• 6 walks drawn
• 3 home runs hit

The Orioles, by contrast, managed just 2 runs on 6 hits, with both of those runs coming long after the game was decided.

“We couldn’t stop the bleeding,” Hyde said. “Once it started, it just kept going.”

A Defeated Dugout

Hyde’s demeanor in the postgame press conference told the story. The usually composed and optimistic manager looked visibly frustrated — not just by the result, but by how his team responded to adversity.

“There’s a difference between losing a game and being embarrassed,” he said. “And today, we got embarrassed.”

In the later innings, cameras caught Hyde seated silently at the edge of the dugout, hands on knees, occasionally shaking his head. When asked what he was thinking during those moments, he didn’t hold back.

“I was thinking, ‘Let’s get to the ninth inning.’ That’s really all I could do.”

Veteran outfielder Austin Hays echoed the sentiment. “You just try to get through it without making it worse. There’s no rally speech in the sixth inning of a 17-run game. You just grind through it.”

Red-Hot Reds

The Orioles’ misery was, in part, a product of facing a Cincinnati team that was firing on all cylinders.

Jonathan India had a career day: 4-for-6 with 8 RBIs, including a grand slam. Spencer Steer went 4-for-6 with multiple doubles, Elly De La Cruz contributed 3 RBIs and stole a base, and Tyler Stephenson added four hits of his own.

The Reds batted around twice and posted crooked numbers in five separate innings.

“They didn’t miss pitches,” Hyde said. “Every mistake we made, they made us pay for it.”

Cincinnati manager David Bell was quick to acknowledge the flurry of offensive fireworks: “It was just one of those days where everything clicks. You don’t see many of them, but when they come, they’re special.”

Pitching Disaster for Baltimore

The Orioles’ bullpen, one of the team’s strengths in the first month of the season, was stretched beyond its limits.

After Irvin’s early exit, five different relievers were used, none of whom escaped unscathed:

• Bryan Baker: 2.0 IP, 6 H, 5 ER
• Mike Baumann: 1.2 IP, 4 H, 3 ER
• Cionel Pérez: 1.0 IP, 3 H, 3 ER
• Nick Vespi: 0.2 IP, 5 H, 3 ER
• Ramón Urías (INF): 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R (Yes, a position player pitched the ninth.)

The final insult? When Urías — typically Baltimore’s utility infielder — pitched a clean ninth inning with more success than the team’s actual pitchers.

“You don’t ever want to use a position player on the mound,” Hyde said. “But at some point, it’s about protecting arms. It wasn’t about trying to come back. It was about getting through it.”

What Went Wrong?

Plenty.

1. Pitching Collapse

The most obvious issue was pitching. Irvin was erratic and ineffective. The bullpen offered no relief. The Orioles couldn’t locate fastballs, and their breaking balls hung like piñatas.

2. Lack of Fight

One of the more troubling aspects was the lack of competitive at-bats once the Reds pulled away. The Orioles struck out 12 times and drew just 1 walk. There were few quality plate appearances after the third inning.

3. Defensive Lapses

While no errors were officially recorded, there were several mental mistakes: late throws, miscommunications in the outfield, and lackluster hustle on ground balls.

“I don’t think we competed after the fifth inning,” Hyde said. “And that’s not acceptable.”

A Humbling Loss in Historical Context

How bad was it?

• The 22-run margin of defeat was the worst in Orioles franchise history since relocating to Baltimore in 1954.
• The 24 runs allowed were the most since giving up 23 to the Rangers in 2007.
• It was the largest loss by any MLB team this season — by far.

According to Elias Sports Bureau, it was just the third time in 100 years that a team lost by 20+ runs while using five or more pitchers who each allowed multiple runs.

“You don’t see games like this very often,” said ESPN’s Buster Olney. “But when you do, they tend to leave a scar — and also make you ask serious questions.”

The Fallout: How Will Baltimore Respond?

In baseball, even the worst losses only count for one in the standings. But the real test for Hyde’s club will be how they respond.

“This game’s about bouncing back,” shortstop Gunnar Henderson said. “You can’t let one day turn into two, or a week. We’ve got to flush it.”

Hyde plans to meet with the team privately before Monday’s series opener against the Yankees.

“There’s going to be accountability,” he said. “This wasn’t us. And it better not become us.”

The Orioles still sit in second place in the AL East and have the talent to make a playoff run. But they’ll need to reestablish discipline, competitiveness, and energy — fast.

Fans React With Fury and Frustration

Social media was quick to turn against the Orioles Sunday.

Orioles Twitter was flooded with anger, sarcasm, and disbelief as the score climbed inning after inning:

@CharmCityChad: “Is this a baseball game or a punishment?”

@BirdlandBurner: “At this point just forfeit. Save the gas money for the bullpen.”

@O’sFanDani: “I’ve seen spring training split-squad games go better than this.”

By the seventh inning, even national pundits were piling on, comparing the score to an NFL blowout and calling for mercy rules in MLB.

Silver Linings? Not Many, But a Few

It’s hard to find bright spots in a 24-2 demolition, but a few players escaped the day with their heads held high:

• Ramón Urías: Pitched a scoreless inning and joked afterward that he may have found a new career.
• Jordan Westburg: Went 2-for-4 and continued his quietly productive season.
• The bullpen? Every reliever’s ERA now has more “character.”

Humor is sometimes the only defense in a game like this.

Looking Ahead: A Crucial Homestand

The Orioles will now return home for a seven-game homestand against the Yankees and Rays — two teams that will test their resolve immediately.

“I actually like the timing,” Hyde said. “We’ll find out who’s got guts. This is a chance to refocus and compete against the best.”

A Wake-Up Call

Sunday’s beatdown was more than just a loss — it was a wake-up call.

Hyde and the Orioles have been on an impressive upward trajectory the last two seasons, building a contender from the ground up. But games like this expose the fragile line between competitive and complacent, focused and flat.

As Hyde put it bluntly: “We’ve done too much to let one game define us — but we’d better make damn sure it doesn’t.”

The embarrassment is real. But so is the opportunity to turn it into fuel.

For now, though, the Reds dance in the history books, and the Orioles are left to wonder how it all went so wrong — and how to make sure it never happens again.