The Baltimore Orioles taxed Kyle Bradish with going to the mound and starting in St. Louis tonight. And all Bradish did was produce the Birds’ fourth straight quality start in as many games. Bradish’s line: 7.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 0 BB, 11 K.
This is an interesting series for a couple of reasons. First off, the Orioles came to Baltimore from St. Louis in 1954. Previously they had been the St. Louis Browns. They also hadn’t played in St. Louis since the early 2000’s. This meaning it was their first visit to the new Busch Stadium.
Bradish keeping the Redbirds at bay can’t be under-stressed. He put forth an all-star like effort tonight in keeping that lineup down. And in doing so, also helped save the Oriole bullpen a bit for later in the road trip.
The Orioles took the lead in the third inning on a two-run homer by Cedric Mullins. Tyler Nevin smacked one of his own (this one a solo shot) an inning later, running the score to 3-0. Obviously you’re going to be in good shape of you can get an outing like what Bradish produced tonight, combined with a few runs.
Come the fifth inning the O’s ran their lead to 4-0 on Anthony Santander’s RBI-double. Trey Mancini added an RBI-single in the sixth, and the O’s took a 5-0 lead. The O’s were cruising.
St. Louis’ first two runs came in a strange manner. Bader smacked a two-run homer – an inside-the-park home run, to be exact. Not only that, but it was the first inside-the-parker in the history of Busch Stadium. (The park opened in 2006.) Donovan would smack a solo homer in the last of the ninth as well, cutting the Birds’ margin of victory to 5-3.
But the rested Oriole bullpen held once Bradish left the game after the seventh, save for the solo homer. The O’s closed the door, and took the first game of the series 5-3. Talk about making a first impression in a ballpark where your franchise has never played before!
The series continues tomorrow night at Busch Stadium. Spencer Watkins gets the start for the Orioles, and he’ll be opposed by St. Louis’ Miles Mikolas. Game time is set for 7:45 PM.
Birdland Crush 