Baltimore Orioles’ starter Corbin Burnes started Tuesday’s All-Star game. He also started the next game that was played at Texas’ Globe Life Field, that being last night. Burnes’ line: 6.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 4 BB, 6 K.
That’s a bit of a statistical anomaly in a sense. The Orioles of course were playing their first series of the second half in the city where the All-Star game was being staged. And if we’re counting the All-Star game, Burnes was on very short rest, granted he only pitched the first inning on Tuesday. So look at it as a bullpen session.
As well as Burnes pitched last night, he was almost a sideshow. The Orioles’ offense, which had gone into hibernation as the first half ended, sprang to life. Adley Rutschman’s two-run homer in the first inning gave the Birds a 2-0 lead. In theory, that in and of itself would have been enough…
…but why allow people to talk about your stats with RISP, or how your bats are struggling? Why give the impression that you’re winning by de facto as opposed to in a legit manner? The Orioles made sure that wasn’t the case, and almost right after that two-run homer. Colton Cowser hit one of his own later in that first inning, and the Orioles led 4-0.
Texas would get one back on a solo homer by Lowe in the last of the second. But that was a blip on the radar. This although I’m sure people out there would have expected a shutout. However it’s tough to win a big league game. If you’re winning at all, you’re doing something right.
The reason I said above that Corbin Burnes was almost a sideshow last night is due to Anthony Santander. Remember, he was the lone Oriole who got on base in Tuesday’s All-Star game. And he picked up right where he left off last night.
Santander extended the lead to 6-1 in the fifth with a two-run homer. Two innings later he smacked a three-run shot, giving the Orioles a 9-0 lead. And the bullpen shut Texas down, as the Birds took game one of the series.
For those who care about such things, the O’s were 2-for-3 with runners in scoring position. Many will criticize the fact that all of the Orioles’ runs came off of homers. But again, if you’re winning you’re doing something right.
The series continues tonight at Globe Life Field. Grayson Rodriguez gets the start for the Birds, and he’ll be opposed by Texas’ Max Scherzer. Game time is set for just after 7 PM.
Birdland Crush 