The Orioles find themselves atop the American League East largely because they are masters of the nail-biter. Games such as Tuesday night’s blowout loss to the San Diego Padres have been uncommon, including those that end with them on the winning side.

Baltimore’s 10-3 loss, which featured backup catcher James McCann’s first major league pitching appearance, left the Orioles at 74 victories. Exactly half have come in games decided by two or fewer runs. Despite a record 17 games above their opponent’s, Baltimore’s run differential is only seven better than San Diego’s.

The Padres (57-63) cut into that deficit early Tuesday by quickly creating one for the Orioles. Making his third start for Baltimore after being acquired in a trade deadline deal with the St. Louis Cardinals, right-hander Jack Flaherty issued a bases-loaded walk before surrendering a grand slam to Gary Sánchez in a first inning in which he threw 18 strikes and 16 balls.

Flaherty’s second frame was perhaps more laborious, with one of his 39 pitches within it resulting in a two-run double by former Orioles infielder Manny Machado. He struck out three of his next four batters, but with 83 pitches and seven runs allowed, Flaherty’s night ended after three innings. He has a 7.07 ERA for the Orioles (74-46), only once pitching past the fifth inning.

With the Orioles using a six-man rotation, their bullpen is operating a man short. Nick Vespi allowed three runs over two innings before Shintaro Fujinami and Mike Baumann worked a scoreless inning each. McCann, a 10-year veteran, took the mound for the first time for the bottom of the eighth, stranding two runners in scoring position while throwing only one of his 14 pitches above 50 mph.

Before Austin Hays’ solo home run and Gunnar Henderson’s RBI single plated runs in the ninth, Baltimore’s offense came on Cedric Mullins’ single in the sixth. San Diego starter Michael Wacha pitched five scoreless innings in his first start since July 1.

Perhaps the only good news for the Orioles was the Tampa Bay Rays also losing by seven, leaving Baltimore’s lead in the AL East at three games.

This story will be updated.

Orioles at Padres

Wednesday, 8:40 p.m.

TV: MASN2

Radio: 97.9 FM, 101.5 FM, 1090 AM

Orioles at Athletics

Friday, 9:40 p.m.

TV: MASN2, MLB Network (out of market only)

Radio: 97.9 FM, 101.5 FM, 1090 AM

()