Every dog has it’s day, but yesterday’s wasn’t the Baltimore Orioles’ or Kyle Gibson. West coast trips are tough on east coast teams, and the Birds started theirs out in a less-than-productive manner last night. Stretching into early this morning in a sense for fans back in Baltimore. Gibson’s line: 5.1 IP, 12 H, 9 R, 2 BB, 4 K.
There’s “flat,” and there’s “12 hits and 9 runs surrendered flat.” Now while games like this happens, Gibson isn’t going to let it get to him too much, as it’s certainly the exception to the rule:
Definitely an outlier when it comes to the rest of the season. For the most part, I feel like when I’ve executed pitches, I’ve gotten outs and I’ve been able to get through the game. But for whatever reason, these guys have had my number a little bit this year.
Quote courtesy of Jake Rill, mlb.com
Gibson was also referring to the fact that he’s struggled against Seattle this season. And last night it began early and in earnest. He surrendered a two-run homer to Raleigh in the first inning. Now that’s only two runs, but they were a harbinger. Now having said this, the O’s did fight back at first. Anthony Santander’s solo homer in the fourth cut the lead to 2-1.
However the fourth inning really did Gibson and the O’s in. Caballero’s sac fly-RBI extended Seattle’s lead to 3-1. That was followed by Rojas’ RBI-single, followed by Rodriguez’s three-run homer. And the Birds trailed 7-1.
Now that inning started with a mental mistake that ultimately affected Gibson. France led off the inning with a grounder to Gunnar Henderson, who threw to Ryan Mountcastle at first. However the throw slightly brought Mountcastle off the bag, allowing France to reach safely. The play was ruled a base hit, but it’s an out that should have been made, and it cost the Birds.
France would haunt the O’s again in the fifth with a solo homer, and Rodriguez would add an RBI-double in the sixth. The Orioles would tack on a nominal run in the top of the ninth on an RBI-single By Jordan Westburg, running the final to 9-2. On a positive note the O’s did get Cedric Mullins back last night, and he started the game by robbing Seattle of a presumed double in the first inning. Some things don’t change.
The series continues this evening at T Mobile Park. Cole Irvin comes out of the bullpen to get the start for the O’s, and he’ll be opposed by Seattle’s George Kirby. Game time is set for just after 9:30 PM.
Birdland Crush 