Did Kyle Bradish really start this game for the Baltimore Orioles? Of course he did. And he was great for six innings, pitching to a quality start. But while his contribution was massive, it won’t be remembered when all’s said and done and fans think back to this game. Bradish’s line: 6.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 7 K.
The O’s were already in business today because Tampa lost to Cleveland. So they had an opportunity to extend their lead in the AL East to three games over Tampa. If they could win.
The Orioles of course got Cedric Mullins back this weekend from the injured list, but he started the game on the bench. The O’s took an early 1-0 lead on Gunnar Henderson’s sac fly in the third. Seattle would tie it on Suarez’s RBI-single later in the inning, and take the lead in the last of the fifth on Rodriguez’s RBI-double.
However Bradish would close his day with the score tied, as Austin Hays would smack an RBI-single in the sixth. And we appeared to be going to extra innings, which we did. Just not for the reasons that we thought.
The O’s had Jorge Mateo on second in the top of the ninth with Adley Rutschman at the plate. And Seattle pitcher Munoz was called for a balk – sending Mateo to third. Seattle manager Scott Servais came out to argue, and was ejected.
Now to be clear, the balk call itself was borderline at best. And it was a tough one to make at that stage of such an important game. But the umpire made it, and it played right into the hands of the Orioles given Mateo’s speed. They put the contact play on, and sure enough Rutschman put a swinging bunt in play in front of the pitcher…
…Seattle tried to nail Mateo at home plate, but he slid head first into home and gave the O’s the lead. The play was reviewed, and upheld. And the Orioles led.
With one out in the last of the ninth, Seattle’s France sent a deep shot to center field. Full disclosure, I thought it was gone off the bat. However I also immediately noticed that Cedric Mullins, who had entered the game as a pinch hitter, seemed to be acting like he had a chance at making the play. And he did have a chance…
…as he got to the wall he leapt, and…brought the ball back in. He caught it on the fly and brought the ball back into the ballpark. He climbed the wall, and appeared to have saved the game. With perhaps the defensive play of the year, league-wide.
I say he appeared to save the game because the next batter, Canzone, did smack a solo homer. Which seemed to let some air out of the sails. However as the game went to extra innings, we were once again reminded that today was Cedric Mullins’ day. And he wasn’t going to be stopped.
Mullins came up in the top of the tenth with the ghost runner at third base. Mullins almost out the O’s ahead with a two-run homer early in the at-bat, but the ball pulled foul. However like the catch, that drive was a harbinger. Because he eventually smashed a long two-run homer, giving the Orioles a 5-3 lead. Which translated into a 5-3 win.
You can almost see video yearbook programs looking back to this game after the season is over – whenever that ends up being, that sequence in the end – the balk and ejection, leading up to the Mullins homer (and everything in between)….that was perhaps as intense a sequence as I’ve ever seen in a sporting event. These two teams played each other TOUGH in both regular season series’ this year. An Orioles vs. Seattle series in October would be one for the ages. But needless to say, the cream also rose to the top when all was said and done.
The O’s now head to San Diego to open up a three-game set at Petro Park. Grayson Rodriguez gets the start for the O’s, and he’ll be opposed by San Diego’s Yu Darvish. Game time is set for 9:40 PM.
Birdland Crush 