The Baltimore Orioles realistically needed to at least win three-of-four in Boston to have better than an outside shot to make the postseason. Unfortunately with today’s loss at Fenway Park, they dropped three-of-four, and now stand five games out of the final wild card spot. Mike Baumann got the start this afternoon, and was non-decisioned. Baumann’s line: 4.0 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 0 BB, 2 K.
To be clear, the Birds are mathematically still alive. So they aren’t quite at the point of guys such as Baumann auditioning for roles next season as of yet. This isn’t quite Spring Training, 2023. But things are trending in the wrong direction, needless to say.
The O’s took the lead in the third inning with Adley Rutschman’s RBI-groundout. Anthony Santander would later reach on a fielding error by Boston first baseman, Casas. And things were looking upwards for the Birds.
But keep in mind that even though they’ve already been eliminated from postseason contention, Fenway Park is Boston’s home yard. Casas redeemed himself in the last of the third with an RBI-double, cutting the Orioles’ lead to 2-1. Hernandez would add an RBI-single, and the game was suddenly tied at two.
Boston would take the lead in the sixth with an RBI-groundout, but the O’s did still have a faint heartbeat. Kyle Stowers would tie the game at three with a solo home run in the seventh. However Boston kept the pressure on, and one inning later they took a 5-3 lead on a two-run homer by Hernandez. And that 5-3 tally ended up being the final.
As I said, the O’s now stand five games back. That could go down to 4.5 games, or up to 5.5, depending on what Seattle does this evening. They play at Texas this evening.
The O’s now head to Yankee Stadium for the final road series of the year, against New York tomorrow night. Jordan Lyles gets the start for the Orioles, and he’ll be opposed by New York’s Domingo German. Game time is set for just after 7 PM.
Birdland Crush 