Following just over an hour rain delay before the game could begin, the Baltimore Orioles defeated Cleveland behind a stellar outing from Andrew Cashner. Ironically, Cashner was originally scratched from the lineup – with no reason given. It turned out that the Orioles didn’t want to lose Cashner during a lengthy rain delay. So when the delay came before the game could even start, they reinstated Cashner as the starter. Cashner’s line: 7.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 6 K.
The O’s took a 1-0 lead in the second on Hanser Alberto‘s RBI-single. Two innings later in the fourth, Anthony Santander‘s solo homer extended the lead to 2-0. Incidentally, it wasn’t just any home run; it made it onto Eutaw St. And in doing so, Anthony Santander now has the distinction of hitting the 100th home run onto Eutaw St in the history of Camden Yards.
That fear was a harbinger for the rest of the game. Later in that fourth inning Jonathan Villar and Trey Mancini each smacked RBI-doubles (Villar’s was actually a two-RBI double). Renato Nunez would also add a solo homer, and the Orioles led 7-0.
When the smoke cleared by the end of the game, the Orioles had put 13 runs on the board – for the second consecutive game. And also for the second consecutive game, a starter and the bullpen had combined to keep Cleveland off the scoreboard. So consider that for just a moment; in back-to-back games, the O’s best Cleveland 13-0. That’s 26-0 through the first two games of the series.
Turnabout can be fair play. To this point it’s been the Orioles on the business end of games like these past two. But the hunted became the hunters this weekend thus far. End of the day, an outstanding two-game stretch for the O’s.
Incidentally, the Orioles have now won their first series since April by beating Cleveland in the first two games (of three). And obviously they’ve done so in very convincing fashion, putting up a 13-spot on a very good team two games in a row. As I’ve said many times, sometimes you’re the windshield, and some days you’re the bug. The Birds have been the bug quite often this year. But the last two days they’ve reversed course and been the windshield.
The series concludes tomorrow as the O’s go for the sweep at Camden Yards. Gabriel Ynoa gets the start for the O’s, and he’ll be opposed by Cleveland’s Shane Bieber. Game time is set for just after 1 PM.
Birdland Crush 