Kyle Bradish was taxed with steadying the Baltimore Orioles’ ship in the wake of closer Felix Bautista being injured on Friday. And he did his job, along with the rest of the team. The Birds dazzled the sellout crowd at Oriole Park at Camden Yards, telling fans that things were going to be okay. Bradish’s line: 6.0 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 8 K.
Before the game Brandon Hyde and GM Mike Elias updated the media on Bautista’s condition. He was put on the IL, and it appears that there was at least “some damage” to the UCL. Whether the eventuality ends up being Tommy John’s surgery or not remains to be seen. It’s a tough pill to swallow for the O’s, but…next man up. Many people thought the season was over when Ryan Mountcastle got injured – and that was on Memorial Day. Instead itt made them stronger. You have to hope this will also.
Colorado took a 2-0 lead in the third inning on an RBI-single by Blackmon and an RBI-groundout by Tovar. However the O’s came back – as has been their way this year. Austin Hays was thrown out at home plate on a fielder’s choice by Ramon Urias. However the Orioles challenged the play, arguing that the Colorado catcher was blocking home plate. And the challenge was upheld, cutting the Colorado lead to 2-1.
One inning later the Birds took the lead when Ryan Mountcastle smacked a two-RBI double. Austin Hays’ RBI-groundout would extend the lead to 4-2. Anthony Santander would hit an RBI-double of his own in the seventh, and the Birds held a 5-2 lead.
Colorado would put two more across in the eight, cutting the lead to one as Yennier Cano was tabbed to record the save in Bautista’s stead. But before he even threw a pitch there was controversy. The umpires ruled that his glove needed to be replaced, which enraged managed Brandon Hyde:
I guess he patted his glove with the rosin bag. They wanted him to get the rosin off. Then they asked for a towel, and they felt like we needed a wet towel. And then he just needed a new glove. Unfortunately, that kind of killed the moment and the vibe, and the anxiousness heightened. But give Yenny a ton of credit for dealing with some adversity in that moment and coming out and throwing some great sinkers and changeups.
Quote courtesy of Roch Kubatko, MASNsports
Luckily for the Orioles that seemed to inspire Cano, and he sent Colorado down 1-2-3 in the ninth. Hopefully that’s an omen for the rest of the team in the wake of the Bautista injury. Incidentally this was the Orioles’ 81st win, which clinched their second consecutive non-losing season.
The series concludes this afternoon at Camden Yards. Jack Flaherty gets the start for the O’s, and he’ll be opposed by Colorado’s Ty Blach. Game time is set for just after 1:35 PM,
Birdland Crush 