The Baltimore Orioles sent Mike Baumann to the mound this evening against Houston in an attempt to win the series. Baumann didn’t stick around long enough to qualify for the win, but he definitely set the tone. Set the tone for a bit of a wild game, that is. Baumann’s line: 4.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 2 K.
Baumann gave up a two-run homer to Altuve in the third inning. However one inning later the O’s had tied things up with Rougned Odor’s two-RBI single. But they weren’t done. Jorge Mateo gave the Orioles the lead on a run-scoring groundout. Cedric Mullins proceeded to smack a two-run homer, giving the O’s a 5-2 lead.
However Houston would put four runs on the board in the fifth to take the lead back at 6-5. Keep in mind folks, they’re one of the best and most complete teams in the American League. Them fighting back was to be expected.
But the O’s have made a career out of fighting back this season. Anthony Santander’s solo homer in the last of the fifth tied the game back up at six. One inning later they had the lead back at 7-6 on an RBI-single by Ryan Mountcastle. However that lead was short-lived also.
Gurriel’s RBI-double in the seventh tied the game back up. This time at seven. Neither team seemed to want to go away. The O’s put a runner on in the last of the eighth, with Anthony Santander coming back to the plate. And Santander sent a shot DEEP into the Baltimore night, landing on the flag court in right field.
That gave the Birds a 9-7 lead. But they had brought closer Felix Bautista in to pitch the eighth, hoping to get a six-out close of the game. (I’d say a six-out save, but Bautista was in line to get the win.) Bautista unfortunately loaded the bases in the ninth, and Bregman grounded into a fielder’s choice-RBI. But the O’s still led 9-8.
Houston would later tie it on Tucker’s RBI-double. The sad thing? Tucker was down to his final Rougned Odor would smack a solo homer in the last of the ninth, but it was too little too late
The series concludes tomorrow at Camden Yards. Austin Voth gets the start for the O’s, and he’ll be opposed by Houston’s Christian Javier. Game time is set for just after 1 PM.
Birdland Crush 