The Baltimore Orioles played a much more complete game tonight against Houston than we saw last night. Granted it came in a losing effort still, however starter Jorge Lopez put them in a spot to win. And then some. Lopez’s line: 6.1 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 6 K.
If you’re keeping track at home, that’s a quality start for Lopez. It’s always a shame to waste a quality start on a loss, but I also think it’s worth pointing out that maybe the Orioles’ coaching staff is learning how to better handle Lopez. Maybe they know what to look for better in terms of when Lopez is tiring, and/or of opposing teams are seeing his stuff better.
Houston took a 1-0 lead in the second when Straw smacked a solo homer to left. The ball appeared to hit off the top of the left field wall and bounce back into play. However that’s a home run under Camden Yards’ ground rules, and the call was rules as such upon review.
Cedric Mullins’ sac fly-RBI would tie the game at one an inning later in the third. And that tie would last for much of the remedy of the game. But it didn’t last long enough, as Straw’s RBI-single on the seventh have Houston a 2-1 lead. One inning later McCormick’s sac fly-RBI would give Houston a 3-1 lead. And that would be your final.
The series concludes tomorrow night at Camden Yards. Thomas Eshelman gets the start for the Birds, and he’ll be opposed by Houston’s Jose Urquidy. Game time is set for just after 7 PM.
Birdland Crush 