The Baltimore Orioles got another quality start out of Jordan Lyles this afternoon against the Chicago White Sox. Well, technically not a true “quality start” given that he gave up four runs. But you get the point; he put the team in a position to win the game. Lyles’ line: 7.0 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 1 BB, 4 K.
Chicago jumped out to a 2-0 lead on a second inning two-run homer by Sheets. And for the record, that’s Gavin Sheets – Baltimore-area native, and son of former Oriole, Larry Sheets. You always like to see local kids making it in the big leagues. Not to mention the son of a former Oriole.
The O’s cut that lead in half in the top of the third on a solo homer by Jonathan Arauz. The O’s of course picked up Arauz off waivers from Boston this weekend, promoting him immediately to the big leagues. And he made an almost immediate contribution.
But Chicago came right back. Vaughn added a sac fly-RBI, also in the third. And one inning later Zavala’s RBI-single extended the lead to 4-1.
It appeared that the ChiSox would just coast to a 4-1 lead. But the O’s loaded the bases with nobody out in the top of the ninth. Arauz smacked an RBI-single to center, cutting the lead to 4-2. Cedric Mullins would add a run-scoring sac fly, but the Birds could only make it to 4-3, and fell in the series finale. Obviously however, this weekend series in Chicago was a grandiose success.
On the aforementioned RBI-single by Arauz, there was a chance that the Birds could have plated two runs. However Adley Rutschman was held up at third. He would later score on Mullins’ sacrifice fly.
This is where situational baseball comes into play. In the second or third inning, maybe you send Rutschman (while he’s a catcher, he doesn’t “run like a catcher” – yet). But with nobody out in the ninth inning and the Birds within striking range, you don’t want a runner thrown out at home plate.
The Orioles now head to Seattle for a three-game set at Safeco Field. Tyler Wells starts in tomorrow night’s series opener for the O’s, and he’ll be opposed by Seattle’s George Kirby. Game time is set for just after 10 PM.
Birdland Crush 