Grayson Rodriguez was dominant from the beginning for the Baltimore Orioles tonight. And given the four-game losing streak (at the worst possible time) and a tired bullpen, it was EXACTLY what the Birds needed. A long and dominant start from a starter, supported by previously dormant Oriole bats. Rodriguez’s line: 8.0 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 7 K.
And the aforementioned Oriole bats were active right away in the game. Following a walk, a single, and a double-steal, Ryan O’Hearn gave the O’s a 1-0 lead on an RBI-single. One inning later they doubled the lead on an RBI-single by Adam Frazier. But that was only the beginning…
…as Gunnar Henderson was coming to the plate. And he sent the first pitch he saw deep into the Baltimore evening, culminating in it ending up in the grandstand. And the O’s led, 5-0.
But when you’ve hit a losing streak at an “untimely moment” in the season, you have to be sure that it’s ending. Especially when first place is on the line, among other things. Gunnar Henderson came up in the fourth, extending the lead to 5-0 on an RBI-single. Adley Rutschman followed with one of his own, and the O’s led 6-0 after four.
The Birds would put two more across in the fifth on RBI-singles by Cedric Mullins and Ramon Urias. And through it all, Grayson Rodriguez stood tall on the mound. Mowing Tampa hitters down left and right. And again, this sort of game was exactly what the Orioles needed tonight.
With the win, the O’s clinched the season series against Tampa. Which means they hold all tie breakers going forward in the division. And with Cleveland beating Texas, it narrows the Orioles’ magic number to one. Meaning they could clinch a playoff spot with a win tomorrow afternoon, or a Texas, Seattle, or Toronto loss. The O’s hold a one-game lead over Tampa in the AL East.
And with that, the series concludes in that aforementioned game tomorrow at Camden Yards. Dean Kremer gets the start for the O’s, and he’ll be opposed by Tampa’s Zack Littell. Game time is set for just after 1:30 PM
Birdland Crush 