For what it’s worth, Cole Irvin pitched three innings today for the Baltimore Orioles. That’s somewhat noteworthy because it’s a starter pitching an extra inning. Meaning they’re starting to get stretched out – ever so slightly. Irvin’s line: 3 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 K.
Oriole bats have been hot thus far this spring, and today was no exception. While it took a few innings for the Orioles to get on the board, when they did it was on. Austin Hays smacked a solo homer in the last of the fifth to get the scoring started. Ryan Mountcastle’s two-RBI double an inning later in the sixth extended the lead to 3-0.
Later in the inning Hays would extend the lead to 5-0 on a two-RBI single. Kyle Stowers also had a good day, adding a two-run homer in the seventh. Manager Brandon Hyde glowed about Stowers and his spring thus far after the game:
That’s impressive. Is that three? Three off lefties? Those balls are no doubters too. Putting really good swings together. Not easy to do when you play the back-half of the game. Sit around for an hour and a half, two hours and all the sudden you jump and get in the game. Happy for him. Last year was a rough year for him. To see the way he’s swinging it right now. Exciting for us.
Quote courtesy of Steve Melewski, MASNsports
Hyde makes a really good point there in that it’s tough to string together good outings in the spring when you aren’t considered a regular. Your day’s starting later than everyone else’s, and you’re doing a lot of nothing early in games. But needless to say, Stowers has looked good thus far in the spring.
New York would put three nominal runs across in the top of the ninth. But the O’s weren’t about to let them leave Ed Smith Stadium with a win. The Orioles cruised to a 7-3 victory this afternoon.
The Birds head to Bradenton tomorrow to take on Pittsburgh at Lecom Park. Grayson Rodriguez gets the start for the Orioles, and he’ll be opposed by Pittsburgh’s Martin Perez. Game time is set for just after 1 PM.
Birdland Crush 