The Baltimore Orioles have avoided the injury bug this year, save for John Means. But that string came to an end last night as starter Tyler Wells left in the fifth inning with back discomfort. Brandon Hyde isn’t rushing to judgement quite yet, but he said that there was a good chance that Wells was destined for the 10-day IL. Wells’ line: 4.1 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 0 BB, 5 K.
Tampa took an early lead off of a two-run homer by Choi in the first inning, and a solo shot in the second by Raley. However Rougned Odor’s RBI-single in the last of the second got the Orioles on the board.
One inning later Adley Rutschman was able to score in the third on a wild pitch, cutting the Tampa lead to 3-2. However Tampa would tack one on in the fifth on Diaz’s RBI-double. Wells departed shortly thereafter after feeling the discomfort in his back. Wells on his situation:
I was out there and it happened, and I was like, ‘Oh, that doesn’t feel great.’” I didn’t want to continue to try to test it because I know, you see it so many times with other people. One extra one and it just irritates it, and I wanted to make sure I stayed on top of it and didn’t really get to a point where I made it any worse.
Quote courtesy of Roch Kubatko, MASNsports
But the fight went on despite Wells’ injury. Trey Mancini’s RBI-double in the last of the fifth brought the Birds back to within one at 4-3. And the score remained right there nearly until the bitter end. Or what we thought was the bitter end. Jorge Mateo smacked a solo homer in the last of the ninth to tie the game and send it to extra innings.
However Tampa’s Arozarena’s two-run double in the tenth gave Tampa the lead back. And it ended up being the game-winning moment, as Tampa took this one, 6-4. And on we go to tomorrow.
The series concludes this afternoon at Camden Yards. Jordan Lyles gets the start for the O’s, and Tampa is yet to announce a starter. Game time is set for just after 12:30 PM.
Birdland Crush 