The Baltimore Orioles didn’t face much competition in tonight’s game from Kansas City. Alexander Wells got the start, and while he left with the lead, he didn’t qualify for the wins by only pitching four innings. Wells’ line: 4.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 3 BB, 2 K.
Anthony Santander gave the Orioles the lead in the last of the first with an RBI-single. But the Orioles weren’t done in the inning. Not by a long shot. Austin Hays’ RBI-groundout ran it to 2-0, and DJ Stewart’s two-run homer put the Birds ahead 4-0.
Kansas City’s Lopez would cut the lead to 4-1 in the third with an RBI-single. However Austin Hays would do him one better in the bottom of the frame with a two-run homer that broke the game wide open. The O’s led 6-1.
Santana would smack a solo shot in the fourth to cut the lead to 6-2. And that appeared to chase Wells, who again only pitched four innings. They then turned to rookie Mike Bauman, who had been called up from Norfolk yesterday afternoon.
And Bauman, who was only making his big league debut (with his entire family cheering him on in the stands), was really strong. He sent Kansas City down 1-2-3 in the fifth, and in doing so became in line for the win.
Bauman pitched with ice water in his veins. He could have pitched that one inning, hit the showers, and left it at that. And it would have been a successful debut. But he instead lasted 3.2 innings, giving up two hits and one unearned run. And he earned high praise from manager Brandon Hyde:
He was absolutely outstanding. I loved the aggressiveness in the strike zone. I like how he attacked hitters. I thought his fastball had a ton of life to it. Had him scheduled for two-to-three innings tonight and he goes three-plus. Going 3 2/3, not giving up an earned run. I thought he flashed some good secondary stuff, as well. A couple good sliders, a couple good curveballs to add in there. But I just liked his aggressiveness in the strike zone, challenged hitters.
Quote courtesy of Roch Kubatko, MASNsports
Cedric Mullins would smack a solo homer in the seventh, and Kansas City would score the aforementioned unearned run on an error in the eighth. But the O’s coasted to a 7-3 victory, giving Mike Bauman the win in his major league debut. And make no mistake, that’s a big deal.
The series continues this evening at Camden Yards. Matt Harvey gets the start for the O’s, and he’ll be opposed by Kansas City’s Mike Minor. Game time is set for just after 7 PM.
Birdland Crush 