Dean Kremer gutted out seven innings this afternoon for the Baltimore Orioles, who were looking to even the series with Seattle. He wasn’t spot on, but he was far from awful. Needless to say, while he didn’t play a role in the final parts of the game, he put the O’s in a spot to win. Kremer’s line: 7.0 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 1 BB, 5 K.
The Orioles took a 1-0 lead in the last of the second when Adam Frazier smacked an RBI-single. However Seattle’s Mike Ford tied it with a solo homer in the fifth. Keep that in mind; solo homers usually don’t hurt you. But multiple solo homers might.
That was true in the interim, as well as down the line in this one. Because Seattle toon the lead on a second solo home run later in the inning, this one by Crawford. This was a very entertaining game, and true to form the O’s tied it back up in the last of the third on a solo homer by Anthony Santander, who would later smack an RBI-single, giving the Birds a 3-2 lead after five.
However Seattle also came back. Crawford’s solo shot in the sixth tied the score at 3. However the teams ended up swapping home runs that inning, the Orioles’ coming off the bat of Aaron Hicks. And giving the O’s the lead back at 4-3.
The Birds did run into some trouble in the eighth. Yennier Cano put runners at second and third, but Danny Coulumbe was able to pitch out of it. This includes a dramatic out at home plate on a fielder’s choice. You take them however you can get them.
Seattle was down to their last out in the game, trailing 4-3. However Mike Ford smacked a solo homer off of Felix Hernandez, tying the game. Remember how I said that solo shots won’t kill you but multiple ones can? This is partially what I meant. The Orioles did have the winning run on first in the form of Jorge Mateo (as a pinch-runner). But Mateo was doubled off of first, and we went to extra innings.
The O’s had sent Ryan McKenna in as a defensive replacement in the eighth inning in place of Anthony Santander. So when McKenna came up in the tenth, many fans silently wished Santander was still in the lineup. While Santander had a good day at the plate, they soon forgot those concerns.
Because Ryan McKenna ended the game. He sent a deep shot into the right field grandstand for a two-run home run. So yes, solo homers don’t kill you. But multiple run homers can. And anything can kill you in extra innings.
Big win for the Birds after taking it on the chin last night. It also avoids the Orioles slumping into a three-game skid. And that’s how you stay on top in MLB – avoid long losing streaks.
The series concludes tomorrow at Camden Yards. Kyle Bradish gets the start for the Orioles, and he’ll be opposed by Seattle’s George Kirby.
Birdland Crush 