Baltimore Orioles’ starter Grayson Rodriguez loaded the bases in the first inning of today’s game, but he pitched out of it. However that was a harbinger for the rest of the game. Rodriguez’s line: 1.2 IP, 6 H, 5 R, 4 BB, 2 K.
The O’s did get the lead in the wake of that tightrope walk in the first inning. They would subsequently load the bases, and Aaron Hicks’ two-RBI-double would put the Birds up 2-0. However Texas had one of those second innings that we’ve seemingly seen against the Orioles for generations. The 2014 ALCS against Kansas City comes to mind. Every ball found daylight that came off of a Texas bat. Taveras’ two-RBI double tied the score at two – for starters.
Garver hit the ball back to Rodriguez on the mound with a runner on third, but his throw to first was too late – giving Texas a 3-2 lead. Two RBI-singles later, and Texas led, 5-2. And the hardest part was that as softly hit balls and comebackers were being hit against the Orioles, Texas starter Montgomery was seemingly getting stronger.
Oriole pitching would get Texas hitters on the ropes – with two strikes. And the would-be third strike would be a base hit. That’s frustrating as heck for anyone. It reached an urgent level in the third inning when Jacob Webb walked three straight hitters with two outs, loading the bases. That brought Garver to the plate, who smacked a grand slam well over the left field wall at Camden Yards, and giving Texas a 9-2 lead.
Now to their credit, the Birds didn’t go down looking today. Jorge Mateo’s RBI-single in the fourth cut the lead to 9-3. Ryan Mountcastle also tacked on a sac fly-RBI, this before Garver grounded into a double-play with the bases loaded in the fifth, extending the lead back to 10-4. Gunnar Henderson would smack a solo homer in the fifth, and Texas would tack one back on in the ninth.
But while still in a losing effort, the Birds weren’t quite done yet. They put two runners on in the ninth, forcing Texas to go to their closer. And Aaron Hicks smacked a three-run homer, putting the final score at 11-8. It was too little too late, but a late rally like that does help with confidence.
Ironically, the Oriole bullpen was suspect. And Texas’ was strong. It was supposed to be the other way around. Jorge Mateo in the lineup was criticized by some fans. He was a major force in the Orioles’ offense today. Every bounce and roll went Texas’ way in the first two games. And for the Orioles, that’s tough to accept.
The strike zone was wonky today, to say the least. With one out in the second Texas’ Lowe drew a walk, on a ball four (from Grayson Rodriguez) that appeared to be in the strike zone. Well into the strike zone. But it was called ball four, and in effect that sparked the Texas rally.
With that said, Texas adapted to the wonkiness of the zone. The Orioles did not. And that’s been something we’ve seen out of the Orioles for some time. And as they started going through relievers in the early innings, we saw Oriole pitchers trying too hard to win for the black. And the pitches would end up outside in key moments. And when they’d back themselves into situations of high leverage, Texas hitters could sit on a fastball. The Garver grand slam comes to mind.
The Birds now head to Texas for an elimination game on Tuesday. Lose, and their season is over. Win, and they go onto another elimination game on Wednesday.
These series’ are all about who gets hot at the right time. Texas has caught lightning in a bottle thus far in the postseason. If the O’s can’t win the next three games, Texas will have taken out the two best teams in the American League – in the regular season. That’s tough to compete with. Especially when the opponent rides a wave of emotion and gets stronger as the games go on.
In short, the O’s have to win three games. But if Texas wins one, it’s over. But you still have to take them one at a time. Starting with Tuesday.
Birdland Crush 