Starter Cole Irvin set the Baltimore Orioles up nicely last night. He came out of the bullpen, and put the O’s in a position to win. He only lasted five innings, but he played his role flawlessly. Irvin’s line: 5.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 6 K.
The teams played to a scoreless tie through nine innings. Both sides had opportunities (the Birds were 1-for-6 with RISP), but nobody could put anything across. Seattle starter Kirby pitched nine scoreless innings before giving way to the bullpen as the game went to extras.
And the O’s took advantage of Kirby being out, after he stymied their bats all game. Teams of course get to a ghost runner on second base in extra innings. And with one out in the tenth, Ryan Mountcastle smacked a run-scoring single, giving the Orioles a 1-0 lead.
The Birds had brought in closer Felix Bautista in the top of the ninth, so he was actually in line for the win as he was the pitcher of record when the Birds took the lead. Brandon Hyde sent Bautista back out for the tenth, in effect to play his normal closer’s role. And he sent Seattle down 1-2-3, closing out a win for the O’s.
Most of the time it’s hard to win when you play nine scoreless innings. But this was a pitcher’s duel, and that’s how some games go. Tampa had beaten Cleveland earlier in the day, so this was a big win for the Orioles because it retained their two game lead atop the AL East. It also snapped Seattle’s eight-game winning streak.
The series concludes this afternoon at T Mobile Park. Kyle Bradish gets the start for the O’s, and he’ll be opposed by Seattle’s Bryce Miller. Game time is set for just after 4 PM.
Birdland Crush 