If you had put money on the Baltimore Orioles earning their first series sweep over Houston ever at Minute Maid Park this week, you’d be a rich man today. Houston of course swept the O’s last week in Baltimore, and while the Birds looked incredibly poor that entire series, that was to be expected. Nobody saw this coming. Matt Harvey got the ball in the finale, and set the tone for the game. Harvey’s line: 4.1 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 3 K.
The Birds struck immediately in the game. Don’t tell these guys what their record was; they were hellbent on winning and sweeping last night. Ryan Mountcastle’s two-RBI double in the first gave the Orioles a 2-0 lead.
Mountcastle would score later in the inning on Maikel Franco’s RBI-single. Pedro Severino would also add a sac fly-RBI. Before the crowd had even settled in, the O’s led 4-0. A total about-face from last week’s series at Camden Yards.
Houston would piecemeal together two RBI-singles in the fourth, but they couldn’t muster more than those two runs. Austin Hays would give the O’s an insurance run in the eighth. This in the form of a solo homer.
Maikel Franco appeared to injure his ankle on the final play of the game, sliding to catch the ball and record the final out. He had to limp off the field. Manager Brandon Hyde is taking the “wait and see” approach:
We’ll see the severity of it. I was encouraged how he walked off. I think it scared him at first. I haven’t seen the video but it sounds like he rolled it pretty good, and we’ll know more tomorrow.
Quote courtesy of Roch Kubatko, MASNsports
Hunter Harvey also got up in the bullpen to get warm during the game, but had to stop due to shoulder soreness. Definitely something to watch.
Birdland Crush 