No matter what happens, Toronto seems to have the Baltimore Orioles’ number. No matter how the game unfolds, they just seem to find a way. John Means only made it four innings, and couldn’t even qualify for the win. Means’ line: 4.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 3 K.
Means gave up two solo homers. One to Guerrero, and one to Hernandez. Both occurred in the last of the fourth. Those were the only runs he surrendered. And then the O’s turned to the bullpen.
However the O’s fought back in the sixth. They loaded the bases, and Ryan Mountcastle‘s two-RBI single tied the game at two. However Toronto is quickly becoming the team who lives by the refrain anything you can do I can do better. Guerrero would score from third on a wild pitch in the last of the sixth, giving Toronto their lead back at 3-2.
But the Orioles weren’t finished yet. Renato Nunez tied the game at three in the eighth with a solo homer. And from there the game went to extra innings tied at three.
That mean that the O’s would start the inning with a runner on second base. After the runner was moved to third on a bunt, he was played by Hanser Alberto‘s bloop RBI-single. However unfortunately for the O’s, Toronto also gets as runner at second base to start the inning.
And the home team bats last. Toronto may not have been plying at Rogers Centre, but Sahlen Field is their de facto home – for now. Toronto was down to it’s final strike. And Grichuk smacked a ball over the fence for a walk off home run and the O’s had a 5-4 loss.
Grichuk has killed the Orioles over a couple of seasons. He can’t see to help but hit whatever they throw up there out of the park. It’s uncanny. However them’s the breaks.
The series continues tomorrow from Buffalo’s Sahlen Field. Alex Cobb gets the start for the O’s, and he’ll be opposed by Toronto’s Taijuan Walker. Game time is set for just after 6:30 PM.
Birdland Crush 