The Baltimore Orioles got a quality start this evening out of Grayson Rodriguez. That doesn’t mean he had his best stuff. But putting your team in a spot to win is the name of the game, and Rodriguez did that. Rodriguez’s line: 6.0 IP, 8 H, 3 R, 2 BB, 5 K.
The Orioles drew first blood, on Austin Hays’ RBI-double in the last of the first. However Toronto would ambush Grayson Rodriguez in the second, with Varsho smacking a two-run homer. The Birds actually appeared a bit on the desperate side in that inning, as later on Toronto had a runner on first with nobody out. And Kiermaier lined out to first baseman Ryan Mountcastle, who tagged first base and tallied an unassisted double-play,
Mountcastle catching the liner on the fly in and of itself was a dramatic play. But he fell right next to first base, and tagged the bag as the runner tried to get back after taking his lead. Mountcastle had a rate game against Toronto where he was quiet at the plate, but his glove sure came in handy!
However Kiermaier would come up again in the fourth, and his RBI-double extended the Toronto lead to 3-1. But the O’s fought back, and it started with Jorge Mateo. More poignantly, it started with Jorge Mateo’s speed.
Mateo went to steal third base, and was able to score on a throwing error in the fifth. Jordan Westburg’s RBI-double would later tie the game at three. And the game remained tied at three, as the teams went to extra innings.
And Toronto’s Belt smacked a two-run homer on the first pitch of the tenth. Guerrero would later score on a wild pitch, and the Orioles trailed 6-3 the Birds went quietly in the last of the tenth, and went down to victory. Their margin over Tampa in the AL East is now two games.
The series continues tomorrow night at Camden Yards. Jack Flaherty gets the start for the O’s, and he’ll be opposed by Toronto’s Kevin Gasman. Game time is set for just after 7 PM.
Birdland Crush 