The Baltimore Orioles found themselves in a vastly different game in Toronto this evening as opposed to the previous two nights. Al Suarez battled, and he did his job as a starter. That being that he put the O’s in a spot to win. Suarez’s line: 5.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 4 K.
The O’s got a solo homer by Anthony Santander, followed by an RBI-double by Ramon Urias in the second. Combined with Suarez looking fairly strong, you felt good about where the Orioles were. However as opposed to the previous two games, Toronto shut the O’s down the rest of the game. This as opposed to the Birds being able to put insurance runs.
Toronto would push two across in the bottom of that second inning, on a sacrifice fly by Kirk followed by an RBI-single by Kiner-Falefa. However from that moment onward the Oriole bullpen was strong also. Danny Coulombe and Yennier Cano especially. Yennier Cano in fact left Toronto begging for mercy after he blew through them in the last of the eighth.
The Orioles brought Craig Kimbrel in to pitch the ninth, and he gave up a leadoff single to Turner. Toronto quickly pinch ran Biggio, who appeared to be picked off at first when Kimbrel threw over. However it was an errant throw, and that allowed Biggio to get to second.
Kiner-Falefa would follow with a walk off single, sending the O’s down to defeat by the score of 3-2. It’s easy to blame Kimbrel, who’s been pitching very well. And the fact is he took the loss (which in effect is a blown save in effect). But everything’s a team effort. Oriole bats were held quiet for most of the game. That can’t happen if you’re going to win games.
The series concludes tomorrow at Rogers Centre. Cade Povich has been called up from Norfolk and will make the start for the O’s (his big league debut), and he’ll be opposed by Toronto’s Yusei Kikuchi. Game time is set for just after 1 PM.
Birdland Crush 