For one of the final times in 2023, wins and losses don’t matter for the Baltimore Orioles. Starting Thursday that won’t be the case any longer, but for today it remains the case. What’s important is how crisp the play on the field is, and today it could definitely be described as “crisp,” beginning with starter Kyle Bradish. He set the O’s up for success with a solid outing. Bradish’s line: 5.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 3 K.
That’s about as solid a stat line as you’re going to see – in Grapefruit League play, or in the regular season. Obviously in a regular season game you’d hope that your starter goes deeper into the ballgame than just five innings, however the fact remains that he qualified for the win. And as I said, solid (or “crisp”) outings by your starting pitcher set you up for success in ballgames.
The Orioles were in the driver’s seat from the very beginning in this game. The Birds put runners on second and third in the last of the first, and Cedric Mullins scored on a balk that was called on Philadelphia’s starter, Matt Strahm. This with Gunnar Henderson at bat – Henderson of course was credited with an RBI on the play.
Two innings later Anthony Santander smacked a two-run home run, giving the O’s a 3-0 lead. Philadelphia would get on the board in the fourth on Cave’s RBI-double, but the O’s marched on. They scored on a throwing error by Philadelphia in the field in the sixth inning, running the lead to 4-1. Philadelphia would get a run back in the eighth on a solo home run by Cave, however on this sunny afternoon in Sarasota, the Orioles were too much.
Bradish of course had to be removed twice during innings in his last outing (also against Philadelphia) in Clearwater, but was back in form this afternoon. And bad outings are going to happen. That’s just how baseball ebbs and flows. Bradish on today’s game versus his last start (quote courtesy of Roch Kubatko, MASNsports):
Just felt more comfortable on the mound. The last outing was a weird day for me, mentally. I was actually checked in today. Like I said last week, it wasn’t really an indicator of anything. It was just a weird outing, but finishing strong going into the season. Mixed a lot well today, got ahead of guys. Couldn’t put them away, but not too worried about that.
End of the day you want to see improvement. The Orioles most definitely saw that out of Bradish this afternoon. And end of the day, they aren’t overly concerned about him. As I said, that’s just how baseball ebbs and flows.
The O’s will close out the spring slate of games tomorrow afternoon against St. Louis at Ed Smith Stadium. Dean Kremer gets the start for the O’s, and he’ll be opposed by St. Louis’ Steven Matz. Game time is set for just after 1 PM.
Birdland Crush 