The Baltimore Orioles fell this afternoon against Texas in game one of the American League Championship Series to Texas. It came in a Kyle Bradish start, in which he probably did as much as one could do as a starter to get the O’s over the top. What killed them was going 0-for4 with RISP, and leaving five men on base. Bradish’s line: 4.2 IP, 7 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 9 K.
The two teams traded base hits here and there throughout the first few innings, after an hour and fifteen minute rain delay before the game even started. However Texas opened up the fourth inning with back-to-back doubles, the second of which was an RBI-double by Carter. Brim would follow with an RBI-single, and the Birds trailed 2-0.
However Ryan Mountcastle would cut that lead in half in the last of the fourth with an RBI-double of his own. That at least told you that the Birds came to play. But two innings later the teams would trade homers, with Jung extending the lead to 3-1. Then in the last of the sixth Anthony Santander would smack a solo homer of his own, cutting it back to one at 3-2.
As much as we talked about the Oriole bullpen leading up to this game, it was Texas’ that closed things out. The O’s put runners on base a few times down the stretch late, however Texas relievers were always able to come up with a ground ball double-play.
The O’s thus trail the best-of-five series one game to zero. However they need to take the attitude that the end is far from near. Go back and watch Rocky; Mickey (his coach) gives him the line I didn’t hear no bell! This meaning that the bell signaling the end of the round hasn’t sounded yet. That absolutely has to the the Orioles’ attitude going into game two. There’s a lot of baseball left to be played. They have to get back on track tomorrow.l in game two.
The series continues tomorrow at Camden Yards. Grayson Rodriguez gets the start for the O’s, and he’ll be opposed by Texas’ Jordan Montgomery. Game time is set for just after 4 PM.
Birdland Crush 