The Baltimore Orioles lost their 14th straight game last night, tying a season high. Spenser Watkins put them in a position to win the game, but as can often be the case the Birds couldn’t get out of their own way. Tampa slides in when they’re given opportunities in games, no matter how small the opening. You have to be better than perfect to beat them, and the Orioles haven’t been. Watkins’ line: 4.0 IP, 8 H, 4 R, 2 BB, 2 K.
The O’s actually started out with the lead, and they had it before Watkins even took the field. Cedric Mullins led off the game with a solo homer. Later in the first inning Pedro Severino’s RBI-single gave the O’s a 2-0 lead. However that was fool’s gold in a sense.
With one out in the last of the first, Franco got aboard with what was ruled an infield single. It could have been an error however, as Martin misplayed the ball at shortstop. And there’s your small little opening for Tampa to get in. True to form, Choi produced a two/m-RBI single later in the inning to tie the game at two.
Lowe’s RBI-single in the fourth gave Tampa the lead at 3-2. Lowe would later steal second – another small opening. Tampa puts runners on with the expectation that they’ll score. And they do whatever they need to do to ensure those ends. Sure enough, Franco would double Lowe home, and Tampa led 4-2.
Franco would add an RBI-single in the sixth, and Cruz a sac fly. Meadows would add a sac fly of his own, and Tampa held a 7-2 lead. Meadows also added an RBI-double in the eighth. However the O’s got two back in the seventh and eighth, on an RBI-single by Austin Wynns, and solo homer by Ryan Mountcastle.
The series concludes this afternoon at Tropicana Field. Jorge Lopez gets the start for the O’s, and he’ll be opposed by Tampa’s Shane McClanahan. Game time is set for just after 1 PM.
Birdland Crush 