The Baltimore Orioles picked up right where they left off in the regular season last year with today’s Opening Day game. And you have to figure, this has been a week for the ages in Baltimore between new owner David Rubenstein taking over, the tragic collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, and now Opening Day behind starter Corbin Burnes. And what a start it was. Burnes’ line: 6.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 11 K.
Ironically the O’s at first made everyone wait before pouncing. Trout smacked a solo homer in the first inning. That quieted the buzz in the crowd, but not for long. The Birds loaded the bases in the last of the first, and they tied the game on a fielder’s choice-RBI by Anthony Santander. They then took the lead on Jordan Westburg’s RBI-single.
And the game could have ended there and it would have been the same result. But the O’s appeared on a mission today, perhaps trying to prove their early exit from the postseason last year meant nothing. You also have to feel good for Jordan Westburg, who was on his first Opening Day roster today. And he made an impact in the ballgame.
Adley Rutschman smacked a two-RBI single in the second, and the rout was on. Santander added a sac fly-RBI, chasing Anaheim starter Sandoval. In the second inning. With the O’s leading 5-1. Tack on a two-run homer by Anthony Santander, and the Birds led 7-1.
Tack on a sac fly-RBI by Ryan Mountcastle in the sixth, and the score pushed to 8-1. Cedric Mullins added his own homer, this of the three-run variety in the seventh – and it was 11-1. Anaheim would tack on two in the eighth as a result of a throwing error, but the Birds went home 11-3 winners on Opening Day.
Ironically, you could argue that Corbin Burnes was the unsung hero today. Take a look at that stat line. After giving up the early home run, he mowed ‘em down. He struck out eleven and walked none.
Needless to say, there are 161 games to go. This is only one of 162. But they all count. Make no mistake, there are some days coming where the O’s will struggle. But you have to like how things got started.
I want to highlight how much the city needed this game to go the way it did today. Baltimore awoke two days ago to news reports of its truly iconic Francis Scott Key Bridge having fallen. However out of those ruins came great stories of first responders who cleared the bridge, saving lives. And then the Orioles, equally iconic, show up for their city today. That’s Baltimore folks. And you have to love it.
May we always remember those who were killed in the collapse of the Key Bridge, and their families.
Birdland Crush 