To be clear, tonight’s game wasn’t “revenge” for the Baltimore Orioles against Texas. This from last year, when Texas beat the Orioles in the ALDS. However it did do a few things for this season, behind starter Corbin Burnes. And needless to say, Oriole bats followed suit. Burnes’ line: 7.0 IP, 9 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 5 K.
The Orioles led from the beginning. Heston Kjerstad’s bat came to life, both in the first inning and later. His RBI-single in the first inning gave the Orioles a 1-0 lead. That was followed by a two-RBI double later in the inning. And the O’s led 3-0. Ryan Mountcastle’s sac fly-RBI gave the Birds a 4-0 lead.
But that wasn’t the end in the third inning. There was more to come. As I said, Heston Kjerstad’s bat came to life. He smacked two-run homer later in the fourth inning, busting the game wide open.
Texas would get a run in the fourth on a solo homer by Garcia. But they could have afforded a run or two. Especially given that Cedric Mullins smacked a two-run homer in the last of the fourth. Adley Rutschman added on a solo shot in the seventh.
Texas would tack on a run in the eighth, but the Birds weren’t blinking. Colton Cowser added a solo home run in the last of the eighth and Adley Rutschman a sac fly-RBI. Capping off an 11-2 victory over Texas.
Again, this has nothing to do with last year. But everything to do with this season. The Orioles were in a lull, until yesterday. The fact that they won the way they won tonight cemented that. This for 2024. Not 2023.
The series continues tomorrow at Camden Yards. Al Suarez gets the start for the O’s, and he’ll be opposed by Texas’ Max Scherzer. Game time is set for just after 7 PM.
Birdland Crush 