The Baltimore Orioles and starter Grayson Rodriguez were hoping that Boston (tomorrow’s opponent) would do them a solid tonight. However they fell to Tampa, meaning the O’s couldn’t clinch the AL East pennant tonight. Luckily however, they can do it tomorrow, thanks in part to Rodriguez’s effort on the mound. Rodriguez’s line: 5.2 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 5 K.
The O’s took the lead in the third on a two-run homer by Adley Rutschman. Washington would put a couple of runners on base in the fifth, and they would tie it on Alu’s RBI-single. For what it’s worth, that was the first and only run that Washington scored against the O’s this year.
But Rutschman tacked that run back on in the bottom of the inning. His RBI-single extended the lead to 3-1. The Birds would load the bases later in the inning, and Jordan Westburg would draw a walk, extending the lead to 4-1. Austin Hays’ RBI-single in the sixth would give the Birds an insurance run, and they took the game, 5-1.
Again for what it’s worth, the O’s swept the season series with Washington. This after taking the first two games in DC back in April, and of course last night’s game. But this game and this point of the season weren’t about a regional rivalry. It was about something greater.
Again given the Tampa win, the O’s couldn’t clinch the AL East tonight. It the magic number is now one. Tampa’s off tomorrow, meaning the O’s will have a chance to win the division on their own and in their own right. High stakes for sure.
The aforementioned series against Boston, the final series of the 2023 regular season, begins tomorrow at Camden Yards. Dean Kremer gets the start for the O’s, and he’ll be opposed by Boston’s Chris Sale. Game time is set for just after 6:30 PM.
Birdland Crush 