The Baltimore Orioles wasted a quality start by starter Dylan Bundy last night in Toronto. However either way, neither Bundy nor the seemingly ever-silent Oriole bats seemed to figure into the final result. Nevertheless, Bundy continued in his progression as what the Orioles hope is their next great starting pitcher. Bundy’s line: 6.0 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 8 K.
Bundy’s lone run surrendered ca me in the third inning on a Smoak RBI-double. He walked a couple of tightropes in the game, but emerged unscathed for the most part. And as I always say, pitchers are going to find ways to get themselves in trouble – it’s almost the nature of the position itself. The good ones will find way to get themselves out of trouble. Bundy did that last night.
Mark Trumbo tied the game at one in the seventh inning with an RBI-single to center. One inning later, the O’s had the lead thanks to Tim Beckham‘s solo homer. If you believe in the ebb and flow of the game, it appeared that the Orioles had this game in the bag. They had battled back in the game, and had fought to take the lead. But if there’s one thing Toronto loves to do, it’s spoil the Orioles’ plans.
The Orioles brought the best closer in baseball, Zach Britton, in to complete the eighth inning, and back again for the ninth. This of course on the same field that they left him in the bullpen during last year’s AL Wild Card game. Britton allowed a walk and a base hit to start the ninth, before recording a force out.
However Toronto’s Maile, a September call up, decided to take matters into his own hands and smacked an RBI-single to tie the game at nine. Suddenly it was the Orioles who were on the ropes, and sure enough a subsequent RBI-single by Urena won it for Toronto. Two RBI-singles by two young players sunk the best closer in baseball.
And that can happen sometimes. September call ups are usually young and hungry. There’s also not much of a scouting report on them, so that makes it challenging to pitch to them.
The O’s will try to salvage one game in this three-game set in Toronto in the series finale tonight at Rogers Centre. Kevin Gausman gets the start for the O’s, and he’ll be opposed by Toronto’s Marcus Stroman. Game time is set for just after 7 PM.
Birdland Crush 