Cole Irvin got the start this evening for the Baltimore Orioles against Toronto at Ed Smith Stadium. This is the first game in the “second half” (if you will) for the O’s in Spring Training. Yesterday was the lone off day for the Orioles, and now they make the slow trek closer to Opening Day. Irvin’s line: 4.1 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 0 BB, 3 K.
Irvin gave up RBI-singles to Barger and Lukes in the top of the first inning. But that was the low point of the game for the Orioles. They turned it around very quickly.
The O’s put a couple of runners on in the last of the second, and Nomar Mazara’s two-RBI single promptly tied the game at two. One inning later they got the lead for good. Austin Hays’ two-run homer gave the Orioles a 4-2 lead.
Kyle Stowers smacked an RBI-triple in the fifth. Austin Hays and Franchy Cordero followed with RBI-doubles. This gave the Orioles a 7-2 lead. Toronto would tack on a couple in the ninth, giving the Birds a 7-4 victory.
A big deal in this game was the Orioles’ success in getting last first base on hits. They won this game due to the extra base hits. That’s a huge plus going into the season. If you can get extra base hits in games, you can tack on runs quickly. And that’s what the Orioles did tonight.
The Orioles head to Hammond Stadium in Fort Myers tomorrow to take on the Minnesota Twins. Dean Kremer gets the start for the O’s, and he’ll be opposed by Minnesota’s Tyler Mahle. Game time is set for just after 1 PM.
Birdland Crush 