Cade Povich had a better outing last night than in his last start for the Baltimore Orioles. However it wasn’t enough, as the Birds fell to New York at Camden Yards. Povich’s like: 5.1 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 5 BB, 6 H.
Povich only gave up three earned runs by a technicality. Volpe got on base with a single in the second inning, however it was misplayed by Anthony Santander in right field. It ended up a single two-base error, with Volpe stopping at third. Given that Volpe followed with a double, the runs are earned.
Volpe would score almost immediately on Jones’ RBI-single. However the Birds would break their scoreless innings streak in the last of the inning with an RBI-triple by Ramon Urias. Which is good to see, but New York got their two-run margin back in the third with a solo homer by Judge.
Soto would add an insurance run in the form of an RBI-single in the ninth, and New York took game one, 4-1. However none of that is what has people talking this morning.
Heston Kjerstad was hit in the batting helmet in the last of the ninth by New York closer Holmes on an 0-3 count. For the record, I don’t think that was intentional, meaning it had nothing to do with the antics that went on three weeks ago in the Bronx. And the Orioles know that. However that situation (involving Judge and Gunnar Henderson) was certainly a backdrop to what happened last night.
Brandon Hyde and the Orioles’ trainers came out to check on Kjerstad, who left the game and is undergoing tests. Hyde, as he was leaving the field turned around and “charged” at the New York dugout while gesturing aggressively – in perhaps the MLB equivalent of “Pickett’s Charge” (Civil War reference there for you).
The dugouts and bullpens emptied, and Hyde was ejected. For his part, Hyde said he didn’t appreciate some of the comments that were directed at him from the New York dugout (quote courtesy of Steve Melewski, MASNsports):
“I was walking back and I hear stuff from their dugout. So, I just reacted the way I did. Saw what they were pointing at me and the whole thing, so, just reacted the way I did.
I’m reacting to their coaches, so, just reacted the way I did.
Holmes, for his part offered his best to Heston Knerstad (quote courtesy of the YES Network):
You know it was one of those things unfortunate. You are never trying to hit someone in the head. I hope Heston is okay from that.
The game situation indicates that this wasn’t intentional. And as Aaron Judge said after the game on YES, pitches have gone back and forth all year from these teams. Again, I don’t think Holmes was targeting anyone, and even if he were, I doubt he was throwing intentionally at anyone’s head.
However you’d be just as naive to suggest that the Orioles should take this lying down. Especially if the New York dugout was “sneering” at Brandon Hyde. It wasn’t let on as to what was being said specifically or who it was, but Hyde wasn’t having it,
I’m reminded of a game years ago when first baseman Chris Davis had been hit several times. He was hit again by the Kansas City Royals, and manager Buck Showalter was ejected demanding that the pitcher be ejected. After the game Kansas City inferred that the Orioles started it and the record showing that only Showalter was tossed reflects that.
Now for the record, nobody in the New York clubhouse said anything like that. However the record shows that in a bench-clearing brawl, only Brandon Hyde was tossed. The hope of course is that we look back on this as an inflection point that drove a fire under the Birds.
The series continues this afternoon at Camden Yards. Grayson Rodriguez gets the start for the O’s, and he’ll be opposed by New York’s Luis Gil. Game time is set for just after 4 PM.
Birdland Crush 