It took the Baltimore Orioles much longer than one would have thought to win last night. Starter Cole Irvin only lasted three innings. But that was due to a lengthy rain delay, this after the game was delayed 15 minutes at the beginning. Given the forecast, maybe it made sense. Irvin’s line: 3.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 3 K.
This game was obviously the start of three with upstart Cincinnati, but also noteworthy because prospect Jordan Westburg was making his make league debut. Westburg started at second base, and walked in his first at-bat. Westburg drove in a run on a fielder’s choice in the third, and got his first big league hit on a bloop single in the fifth.
Cincinnati took an early 1-0 lead in the third on Steer’s RBI-single in the first inning. However the O’s just needed to get warmed up. They loaded the bases in the second, and Austin Hays’ two-RBI single gave them a 2-1 lead. Not long after, the skies opened up – and we waited. For two hours.
Jordan Westburg’s aforementioned RBI came on a fielder’s choice in the third. A second run scored on a throwing error, extending the Orioles’ lead to 4-1. However the O’s would break the game open in the fifth. Ramon Urias’ RBI-double extended the lead to 5-1, Cedric Mullins added a sac fly-RBI, and Urias would later score on a wild pitch.
When the smoke cleared, the Orioles held a 7-1 lead. Cincinnati would get two back in the sixth on a two-run homer by Steer, however call that a “nominal blip in the radar.” Austin Hays tacked on an RBI-double in the last of the seventh, and Adley Rutschman a two-RBI single, to close out the scoring in the Birds’ 10-3 win.
Jordan Westburg of course was the story. And the fact is he looked good overall in the game. The moment to remember of course is his first hit. However in his first at-bat he fell behind 0-2 in the count. Yet he came back and drew a walk. That should speak to not only his plate discipline, but his knowledge of the strike zone.
Westburg’s first at-bat also came in a driving rain. The weather was unsettled all night, but Westburg took it in stride:
Pretty crazy. It felt like something out of like a movie, or something that you dream, honestly.
Quote courtesy of Jake Rill, MLB.com
Cincinnati is also one of MLB’s hottest teams, and this series is being billed as being between two of the teams who are poised to be “the future.” Playing Cincinnati also brings back memories to many fans of the 1970 World Series. Namely, Brooks Robinson throwing a runner out from behind third base. Baseball’s fun.
The series continues tonight at Camden Yards. Tyler Wells gets the start for the O’s, and he’ll be opposed by Cincinnati’s Andrew Abbott. Game time is set for just after 7 PM.
Birdland Crush 