Baltimore Orioles’ reliever Miguel Castro gave up a go-ahead three-run homer in tonight’s game against New York. It was the eventual game-winner, hit by Frazier. Scouting reports say that Frazier hits fastballs better than sliders. So Castro feeds Frazier a two-strike slider with two outs and two on, which ended up in the seats.
Dylan Bundy got the start for the Orioles, and while he ended up being ineffective his pitch count was once again an issue. New York hacks and hacks, fouling pitch after pitch off – and raising their opponents’ pitch count. Needless to say, Bundy will be happy his next start won’t come against New York. Bundy’a line: 3.2 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 2 BB, 2 K.
The teams traded solo homers in the first inning; Judge for New York and Trey Mancini for the Birds. Judge would also smack a two-run shot in the third, and New York took a 3-1 lead. For what it’s worth, both of Judge’s homers came on two-strike counts. So did the aforementioned homer by Frazier.
Renato Nunez‘s fifth inning RBI-single brought the Birds to within 3-2. Two innings later the O’s sent Chris Davis up as a pinch hitter with a runner on third. Davis didn’t get a base hit, however he did get an RBI on a sharp dribbler up the line which was bobbled by the first baseman. That allowed a run to score, tying the game at three. Later in the inning Rio Ruiz would rack on a sac fly-RBI, giving the Birds a 4-3 lead.
Which brings us back to the aforementioned Frazier homer in the eighth. Castro seemed to feel that if he threw a fastball to Frazier the ball would end up traveling a long way. However New York is the type of team that can sense fear. And sure enough, the O’s basically told NY that they didn’t want to throw them a fastball with the game on the line. That was anticipated, and it cost the Orioles.
In fairness to Castro, he had nothing to do with the Orioles going 1-for-14 with RISP. The Orioles has their chances to get, pad, and preserve a lead. They just couldn’t take advantage of the opportunities that they had. It’s tough to win when you can’t get guys in, and that includes leading off two innings with doubles and having the runners die at second.
The O’s will try to salvage one game tomorrow against New York at Camden Yards. David Hess gets the start for the O’s, and he’ll be opposed by NY’s Domingo German. Game time is set for just after 1 PM.
Birdland Crush 