Dean Kremer picked a bad time to have a clunker of a start for the Baltimore Orioles. He had a rough second inning, getting out of it having thrown 49 pitches over the first two. Which set the tone for the game going onward Kremer’s line: 3.1 IP, 7 H, 6 R (3 earned), 2 BB, 3 K.
The O’s appeared like they were about to take an early hold of the game – and actually they briefly did. Anthony Santander’s RBI-double in the first got them on the board. He would later score on a wild pitch. However Cleveland evened the score right away with an RBI-double and a sac fly.
One inning later they took a 3-2 lead on Straw’s RBI-single. But again, it was Gunnar Henderson who sparked the Birds. His RBI-double in the third tied the game at three. He would later score on a throwing error by Cleveland pitcher Bieber, scored as Adley Rutschman reaching on a fielder’s choice, and Henderson scoring on the error. Anthony Santander would single Rutschman home, and the O’s appeared to have resorted order to things and led 5-3.
However Cleveland retook the lead again with a three-run fourth. And they do it by paper cutting you to death. They hit the ball softly and somehow it finds grass. It’s a tactic that a lot of teams seemingly get away with – in short they don’t push. They don’t try too hard. And it works.
Does that mean the O’s need to stop pressing? Tough to say. Nothing works forever and all the time. The O’s would tie it back up in the seventh on an RBI-single by Anthony Santander. But AGAIN Cleveland came back. Brennen’s RBI-single in the seventh gave them a 7-6 lead.
The O’s did come back again however, and as late as you possibly can. Aaron Hicks’ two-RBI double with two outs in the ninth briefly gave the Orioles an 8-7 lead. But again, Cleveland picked them to death. Fry’s two-RBI double in the last of the ninth gave Cleveland a 9-8 win.
The Orioles’ 1.5 game lead in the AL East was sustained by virtue of Tampa falling to Toronto. Their magic number also went down to six as a result of that game. So it wasn’t necessarily a total loss of a day – per se.
But the Orioles appear tired; specifically, the pitching staff. And understandably so. While it’s been a successful season, it’s also been a long one. I’m not exactly sure what can be done in the way of roster moves, but…it’s a thought.
The Birds are off Monday, so that certainly helps. However this issue illustrates why it’s so supremely important that they win the division. If Tampa overtakes them, then they have to go to the Wild Card series (presumably at home). They’d get a day off after the end of the regular season, and then go into the Wild Card the next day.
Winning the division gives them a break before the ALDS. They need that more than any other team. And Tampa, while losing yesterday, seemingly has endless exuberance and energy. The O’s need to stop the bleeding.
The series on Cleveland continues tonight at Progressive Field. John Means gets the start for the O’s, and he’ll be opposed by Cleveland’s Cal Quantrill. Game time is set for just after 6 PM.
Birdland Crush 