Alex Cobb gave the Baltimore Orioles a quality start last night. Against Tampa. That can’t be argued. In fact, it may have been Cobb’s best start of the season. However it was Oriole bats that couldn’t get untracked in the game last night, equaling a loss for the O’s. Cobb’s line: 6.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 3 BB, 5 K.
Cobb gave up one run in the last of the first on Lowe’s RBI-single. And again, Tampa finds the littlest ways to beat you – or the least likely manner, I suppose I should say. That was set up by a triple – didn’t see that coming.
An RBI-single in the third would give Tampa a 2-0 lead. The lone Orioles’ run came in the fourth inning on Austin Hays‘ solo homer. But when you only score one run, the opponent only needs two. Tampa was able to get exactly what they needed, and defeated Cobb and the Birds.
After the game Cobb addressed the “streakiness” of his season (quote courtesy of Roch Kubatko, MASNsports):
It’s been up and down. I felt like I started off pretty well and then the middle part toward this later part I’ve been struggling to find … We’ve been trying to make a lot of adjustments with the delivery. I’ve been working with (Darren) Holmes and Brocail a lot, especially this last week to make some adjustments and I think it’s going to pay off a lot in the long run. But it’s a challenge to do that in-season and feel comfortable out there. But it’s something you have to go through in game situations to work on stuff to see how hitters are responding to your stuff and see if you’re on the right path. There’s been some games where I’ve had to battle and try to get through it, but I think we’ve made a lot of progress. And coming off the year last year, where my health got me and I had to have two surgeries, I knew this year was going to have these types of moments where they’ve been up and down and trying to find your delivery and stuff like that. It’s difficult, but I think that the trajectory has been moving up and I’m pleased with that.
The series continues tonight at Camden Yards. Jorge Lopez gets the start for the O’s, and he’ll be opposed by Tampa’s Charlie Morton. Game time is set for just after 7:30 PM.
Birdland Crush 