Kyle Gibson was always going to have a shorter start this evening for the Baltimore Orioles at Camden Yards. Honestly I’m surprised he went five innings. I would have expected three or four. Gibson’s line: 5.0 IP, 7 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 7 K.
To their credit, Boston pitching has been very good in this series. So has that of the Orioles, but the O’s obviously are playing for more – even at this stage. And both teams kept the other at bay through most of the game.
Adley Rutschman was lifted in the last of the seventh following a leadoff base hit, in favor of Jorge Mateo. It’s unclear if Brandon Hyde pinch ran Mateo because he wanted speed to play for a run, or if he was trying to rotate Rutschman out like in spring training – or both. But Mateo stole second base, and later scored on Ryan Mountcastle’s RBI-single.
Mountcastle would cross the plate later in the inning on an RBI-single by Heston Kjerstad. Boston would narrow the lead to 2-1 on Story’s RBI-single in the eighth, applying a bit of pressure to the Orioles’ pen. But Oriole bats weren’t going to let anything happen, even in a meaningless game.
Jorge Mateo Douro drive in another run in the last of the eighth on a fielder’s choice-RBI. On a comebacker to the pitcher, Jordan Westburg broke for the plate, and was ruled safe. O’s led, 3-1.
Anthony Santander would tack on a two-RBI single later in that eighth inning extended the lead to 5-1. Boston would tack on a run in the ninth, but the O’s closed out a 5-2 victory. It was their 101st on the season.
End of the day, the Birds and Boston were playing just for the sake of playing out a string in this game. Obviously for different reasons, but the games are meaningless for the season standings, or the playoffs. And the game was well-played on both sides.
It was announced before the game that closer Felix Bautista would be undergoing Tommy Johns surgery in the first or second week of October, ending his season. He’s expected to miss next year as well. However Bautista’s also been signed to a two-year contract through 2025. So as soon as he’s ready to come back, he’ll be able to do so.
The series and the regular season concludes tomorrow at Camden Yards. Kyle Bradish gets the start for the Birds, and he’ll be opposed by Boston’s Tanner Houck. Game time is set for just after 3 PM.
Birdland Crush 