Following yesterday’s loss, the Baltimore Orioles sent Grayson Rodriguez to the mound in a situation whereby they could pick up some ground on New York. This with a win in Toronto, while New York was off this evening. Rodriguez’s line: 6.2 IP, 7 H, 2 R (1 earned), 0 BB, 4 K.
I guess when the Orioles play Toronto, the Birds are always going to win. This no matter what! However the good news is that the correct crop of birds got the ‘dub this evening at Rogers Centre. And it wasn’t even close.
Anthony Santander smacked a two-run homer in the second inning, and the O’s led 2-0. Toronto would get a run back in the second, as Varsho smacked a run-scoring double. That goes as an unearned run, as the runner was on base due to an error.
But Oriole bats picked back up in the fourth. Colton Cowser’s RBI-double extended the lead to 3-1. That brought Austin Hays to the plate, and all he did was smack his first home run of the season. This of the two-run variety, and the O’s led 5-1.
Guys are going to have to step up going onward due to injuries. Jorge Mateo going onto the concussion IL today being the most recent. Austin Hays personified that point tonight. Toronto would draw to within 5-2 on a solo homer by Guerrero in the last of the fourth. But that didn’t deter the O’s…
…as Hays would come back up in the seventh. And he responded with his second home run – both of the season, and of the game. Ramon Urias would top things off in the ninth with a solo home run of his own, capping off a 7-2 win for the Orioles over Toronto. In doing so, they picked up a half game on the idle NY Yankees.
If Austin Hays starts getting hot, opposing teams should watch out. The Birds needed that power surge this evening, and they may need it going forward. But for one night at least, Hays’ name shone on the marquee.
The series continues tomorrow night at Rogers Centre. Corbin Burnes gets the start for the O’s, and Toronto is yet to announce a starter. Game time is set for just after 7 PM.
Birdland Crush 