Alex Cobb made his maiden start this spring for the Baltimore Orioles, and without much success. Cobb’s line: .02 IP, 3 H, 4 R, 1 BB, 0 K. Cobb was lifted after only two outs presumably because the coaching staff didn’t want to have him flailing in the wind out there. He finished his work in the bullpen.
Cobb started putting runners on base almost immediately, and gave up an RBI-single to Choi in the first inning. Kiermaier would also plate a run on a fielder’s choice-RBI, which was followed by Heredia’s two-run homer. That chased Cobb from the game, with the Orioles trailing 4-0.
It’s exactly what we saw in this game which is why I personally believe that the O’s will be slightly better out of the gate this year as opposed to last year. Cobb and Andrew Cashner (who we should see this weekend) didn’t sign until late in camp last year. Between the two of them, they had one spring start.
And both pitchers had a poor April. Mainly because they hadn’t had their reps in the spring. This year both will get those reps. Cobb will be able to work out his kinks in Sarasota this year, as opposed to doing so when the games really matter. Cobb on his outing this afternoon:
I felt like some of those balls were over the plate, the first batter,” he said. “They got a little jam job into right field and before I know it I’ve got runners on first and second and got a couple ground balls that I was trying to get and they found holes, and obviously the two-run home run was a big blow.Quote courtesy of Roch Kubatko, MASNsports
The Orioles did battle back into the game a bit. In the second Chance Sisco smacked a solo home run, adding to his valiant effort this spring. Eric Young Jr. also smacked an RBI-single. This cut the lead to 4-2. However Heredia would tack on an RBI-single, and Meadows a solo home run , both in the third, running the score to 6-2.
Richie Martin would smack an RBI-double in the last of the fifth, and he would later score on a wild pitch, which cut the Tampa lead to 6-4. Jomar Reyes would walk with the bases loaded in the last of the sixth to pull the Birds to within 6-5. However Tampa would get a two-RBI-double by Velasquez in the eighth, extending the score to 8-5. The final would be 10-5, after Bemboom’s two-run homer in the ninth. In typical Tampa fashion, these guys just don’t quit.
The O’s tagged a few balls deep in the last of the seventh, however they either faded foul or were knocked down by the wind. Sometimes the spring training wind helps you, and sometimes it hurts. Ultimately, the Orioles are still 0-0 for 2019 regardless of whether they win or lose these games.
The Orioles’ “B squad” will head to George Steinbrenner Field in Tampa this evening to take on the New York Yankees. John Means gets the start for the Birds, and he’ll be opposed by NY’s James Paxton. Game time is set for just after 6:30 PM.
Birdland Crush 