Baltimore Orioles: Felix Bautista injured in Birds’ win

Cole Irvin wasn’t perfect, however the Baltimore Orioles picked him up in the end. However did this win over Colorado cost the O’s something precious, that being closer Felix Bautista? I guess we’re going to find out. Irvin’s line: 6.0 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 1 BB, 5 K.

The O’s took the lead early with Ryan Mountcastle’s solo homer in the last of the first. The ball bounced off the grounds crew’s shed in right field, and back in play. Mountcastle appeared to slide in safely at third, only to score on what would have been an error. But the umpires ruled it a homer; either way that gave the O’s a lead. Gunnar Henderson also added a sac fly-RBI, and the Birds led 2-0.

However Colorado put up four runs quickly. Diaz’s RBI-double in the third and Trejo’s sac fly-RBI in the fourth tied the game. Tovar’s two-run homer in the fifth gave them a 4-2 lead.

However the O’s were having none of this team coming into Camden Yards on a Friday night – a City Connect night to be exact – and beating them. Austin Hays brought them to within one with a solo homer in the last of the sixth. But it was the last of the eighth where the Birds did their big damage. Gunnar Henderson’s three-run homer out the Orioles back in the lead at 5-4.

Colorado just finished a series with Tampa where their hearts were broken a few times. And the Orioles have done it to many other teams thus far this year. They do their best work late.

However the big story of the game takes an unfortunate turn. Felix Bautista had two outs and a two-strike count in the top of the ninth, and he fell off the mound after throwing a pitch. Manager Brandon Hyde and team trainers immediately came out to check on him, and almost immediately lifted Bautista in favor of Danny Coulumbe, who recorded the final out.

Brandon Hyde said after the game that Bautista had “arm discomfort,” and that he wanted to go into no more detail than that. Make no mistake that this could be a huge loss to the team if Bautista needs to miss any time. However they have a next man up mentality. While losing Bautista might hurt a little, someone else will just have to step up. They always do.

The series continues tomorrow night at Camden Yards. Kyle Bradish gets the start for the O’s, and he’ll be opposed by Colorado’s Chris Flexen. Game time is set for just after 7 PM,