Kyle Bradish got the start for the Baltimore Orioles this afternoon in game 162 against Boston. Manager Brandon Hyde managed the game like an exhibition game. He cleared the bench and the bullpen today, with Bradish being used sparingly. Bradish’s line: 2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 5 K.
Boston plated two runs on two separate errors in the third. They put two more across in the seventh on a fielding error by Gunnar Henderson, who had an uncharacteristically bad day in the field. But if you’re going to have one of those, a meaningless game 162 is a good time to do it!
RBI-singles by Story and Abreu would extend the lead to 6-0 later in the seventh. Adley Rutschman would at least ensure that the Birds didn’t get shut out on this regular season finale, with an RBI-single in the last of the eighth. End of the day, Boston took the game 6-0, splitting the series at two games a piece.
End of the day, Brandon Hyde was probably happier that they came out of the weekend with no injuries than anything else. I do think it’s good that the O’s took one of the last two games of the season, that being last night. The results meant less than perhaps the final spring game, but it helps to ease your way out of the regular season.
And what a regular season it was! The Orioles last won 100 games in 1980. This year they won 101. Not even 1983, in which they won the World Series, did they hit 100 regular season wins. Before the season I did predict a playoff appearance for the O’s. But even the most optimistic person wouldn’t have thought they’d have the season they ended up having. Except perhaps every person in that clubhouse.
The is the point of the show where I’d normally set up the next game and give the pitching matchups. In the past I’ve even mentioned the date, venue, and the opponent of the first Grapefruit League game the next season – with a wink and a nod. But we know there’s another game, and we know it’s next Saturday at Camden Yards. Opponent and starters on both sides yet to be determined – stay tuned!
Birdland Crush 