Baltimore Orioles’ starter Gabriel Ynoa there a quality start last night in Houston. Of course the problem is that the Birds dropped the game to the Houston Astros. However that’s keep in mind that Houston’s an established winner, and the Orioles are trying to become that. The O’s are also at limited strength with the injuries they sustained this past week in Dallas. Ynoa’s line: 6.0 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 3 BB, 2 K.
The Orioles gave Ynoa a lead before he even stepped on the field. They loaded the bases in the top of the first, and netted two runs on Rio Ruiz‘s two-RBI single. Two innings later in the third Chance Sisco‘s solo homer ran the lead to 3-0.
It was shaping up to be a good night for the Birds with Ynoa dealing and a three-run lead. However in the fifth Ynoa made two bad pitches. One came to Reddick, resulting in a solo homer. The other came to Kemp, resulting in a two-run shot.
Other than that, Ynoa pitches a great game. He certainly did his job as a starter, which is to put the team in a spot to win the game. He’s also been a pleasant surprise since coming up from the minors. We saw Ynoa a bit last year, and with lackluster results. But he’s put in a lot of work since then, and he’s spent a lot of time with the new Orioles’ regime’s coaches. He looks like a totally different pitcher.
The game went into extra innings, and Houston won on a walk off RBI-double by Chirinos in the 11th. There was a close play at the plate, and the runner was called safe at the plate. The call was also upheld on review. The play itself set off a wild celebration by the Houston players, and the upholding of the play meant another wild celebration – almost as if they won the game twice. Interesting reaction for a team that’s won a World Series very recently, and who had to go to extra innings to beat a team with the record that the Orioles have.
The series continues this afternoon at Minute Maid Park. Andrew Cashner gets the call for the Orioles, and he’ll be opposed by Houston’s Framber Valdez. Game time is set for just after 4 PM.
Birdland Crush 