The Baltimore Orioles’ closer, Craig Kimbrel, had a forgettable series against the Oakland Athletics, which was capped off by an early exit from Sunday’s game due to back soreness.

Kimbrel’s struggles were evident from the start of the ninth inning. After issuing a four-pitch leadoff walk, he surrendered a go-ahead two-run home run to the Athletics, blowing the save opportunity. Just one pitch later, Kimbrel was forced to leave the game due to back issues.

The Orioles ultimately lost the game 7-6, and manager Brandon Hyde expressed uncertainty about Kimbrel’s status moving forward. “I don’t know how long or what the timetable is with Craig, or any at all; we’ll see,” Hyde stated.

Kimbrel had been on the cusp of a significant milestone, as Sunday’s game presented an opportunity for him to record his 425th career save, which would have tied him for the fifth-most saves in Major League Baseball history. However, his early exit due to injury put those plans on hold.

The veteran closer’s health will be a concern for the Orioles in the coming days, as they assess the severity of Kimbrel’s back soreness and determine the next steps for their bullpen.