Due to the ongoing situation with the Miami Marlins, the Baltimore Orioles opened their home schedule against New York last night. I suspect that the Birds and starter Asher Wojchiekowski wish it had been Miami they were playing, as New York came out swinging early and hit the O’s hard. Wojchiekowski’s line: 5.0 IP, 4 H, 5 R, 2 BB, 7 K.
Wojchiekowski surrendered a solo homer to LeMahieu in the first at-bat of the game. Solo home runs aren’t going to beat you, but these are the Bronx Bombers. They do more than just one solo shot in the first inning.
They would net another run on Ford’s sac fly-RBI later in the inning. However even though NY was throwing it’s ace, Cole, the O’s battled back. Jose Iglesias‘ RBI-single in the last of the first cut the lead in half at 2-1. But again, the Bronx Bombers don’t just go away. Judge’s solo homer in the third extended their lead to 3-1.
Hicks would smack a two-run homer later in the third, and LeMahieu and Judge would add RBI-singles in the sixth. The thing about teams such as New York is that they don’t really stop adding runs on. I wrote about insurance runs last weekend, and how it was good to see the Birds adding them on. That’s never been a problem for a team like New York.
The O’s did get a two-run homer from Dwight Smith Jr. in the seventh, but again New York kept adding on runs. Even in the ninth inning. When the smoke cleared, they beat the Orioles 9-3.
Perhaps the bigger story was that first baseman Chris Davis wasn’t with the team last night. Manager Brandon Hyde said before the game that he wasn’t available and wasn’t with the team. He was unable to say anything further, which of course naturally makes people think that this is COVID-related.
In the wake of the Miami situation Davis had said that he was more concerned about the situation. Certainly it’s a concern for anyone, but especially a guy like Davis who has young children. He has remained on the active roster, so in terms of him staying with the team that’s a positive sign.
The disjointed series will be “paused” until next week following tonight’s game, and truly finalized next Wednesday night when New York returns to Camden Yards. John Means makes his season debut for the O’s, and he’ll be opposed by New York’s J.A. Happ. Game time is set for just after 7 PM.
Birdland Crush 