The Baltimore Orioles sent ace designate Corbin Burnes to the mound this afternoon in Sarasota against Boston. For the most part, the results were positive. The second inning can be classified as this is why we play these spring games; which speaks for itself in that it’s very true. Spring training baseball isn’t supposed to be perfect. Burnes’ line: 5.0 IL, 4 H, 4 R (3 earned), 0 BB, 2 K.
The O’s got off to an early lead. Ramon Urias and Jorge Mateo smacked RBI-singles in the last of the first, and the Birds led 2-0. However Boston would strike right back with solo homers by Dalbec and Abreu in the second, tying the game.
Later in the inning following a single and a force out, Corbin Burnes would commit a throwing error trying to pick the runner off first. This sending the runner to second. Heineman would follow with a run-scoring single, giving Boston a 3-2 lead.
And later in the inning with Heineman at second, Burnes would do the same thing. Heineman would go to third, and later scored on Guthrie’s sacrifice fly. Boston led 4-2 after two as a result.
Two throwing errors isn’t exactly how Burnes wanted his outing to go. But again you have to file that under at least it wasn’t the regular season. Yes, he also threw two home runs. So there’s that as well. But overall he grabbed the bull by the horns today and pitched well.
His final three innings of work were scoreless. And the Birds did register one more run for him in the last of the fifth, when Ramon Urias walked with the bases loaded. However the O’s still trailed Boston, 4-3.
Coby Mayo once again made his case to be on the Opening Day roster this afternoon. He was four-for-four today with a run scored. It seems that whenever he comes up to bat he’s finding a way to put the ball in play and get on base. He’s set on making Brandon Hyde’s, Mike Elias’, and others’ jobs tough – by having a great spring and making a case for his inclusion on the roster.
I say this recognizing that sometimes guys look amazing in spring, and not so much in the regular season. Jake Fox comes to mind from years ago. The difference with Mayo is he’s young. Would he be blinded by the bright lights of the regular season, and the orange carpet of Opening Day? Tough to say. But needless to say he’s making it tough for them to decide to send him to Norfolk in just over a week.
On top of that, Mayo’s final at-bat of the game was a single in the ninth inning. That set things up nicely for the Orioles, who would tie the game on Judge Fabian’s RBI-single. Later in the inning Dylan Beavers would follow suit, winning it 5-4 for the Birds.
The O’s will have a split squad day tomorrow, with the “B squad” going to Lakeland to take on Detroit and the “A squad” staying in Sarasota as Atlanta comes into Ed Smith Stadium. Tyler Wells gets the start for the Orioles, and Atlanta is yet to announce a starter. Game time is set for just after 1 PM.
Birdland Crush 