Albert Suarez was “gritty” today for the Baltimore Orioles. He was lifted needing one out to leave the game in line to be the winner. However manager Brandon Hyde thought it more important to piecemeal an effort by the bullpen if that was what it was going to take to win. Suarez’s line: 4.2 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 3 BB, 2 K.
One interesting thing; the Orioles’ rally started while they were in the field in the third inning. You read that correctly. With a runner on second, Gunnar Henderson caught a line drive that was destined for the outfield. James McCann threw the runner out trying to steal a moment later. That could have gone south quick, but it didn’t.
And Oriole bats would follow suit in the bottom of the inning. They would load the bases with nobody out, and Gunnar Henderson would draw a walk to give the Orioles a 1-0 lead. Ryan O’Hearn would then drop a flare RBI-single into left field for an RBI-double. The bases remained loaded, and the runners had to wait to see if it would drop in…
…and Ryan Mountcastle would drive in two with a two-RBI single. Cedric Mullins would follow with a two-RBI double, and the Orioles would lead 6-0. However would it be enough?
In theory, yes. But San Diego would put three across in the fifth, chasing Suarez. The runs came on a run-scoring single, a double, and a GIDP. And the plot slightly thickened.
But it thickened further down the line. Bogaerts’ two-run homer in the sixth tightened it up to 6-5. And the momentum appeared to be on San Diego’s side. With a doubleheader in the division tomorrow, the O’s needed this game.
And it appeared that San Diego was going to make some noise in the eighth. Machado sent a deep liner to dead center field. I’m not sure it was destined to go out, but it appeared to be at least a triple. Cedric Mullins went on a dead sprint towards the wall, which was the only chance the Orioles had…
…at the 11th hour he lunged out, and caught the ball. It was perhaps the best catch in MLB all year. And it came in a moment where the Orioles desperately needed it. It’s a play that should rightfully appear on highlight reels this season.
But the O’s still needed insurance. And they got it in the last of the eighth. Ryan Mountcastle’s two-RBI double extended the lead to 8-5. Yennier Cano ran into some bad luck in the ninth when he loaded the bases due to an error and a couple of infield hits. And then…
…it was over. Or was it? Profar appeared to GIDP to end the game. However the runner took out Gunnar Henderson on the base paths. And it was called a double-play. However San Diego challenged, and the call was overturned. The second out was awarded, but so was San Diego’s sixth run.
Brandon Hyde was ejected arguing the call. And rightfully so. Needless to say, it was a curious call. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen a defender taken out, interference called, and then reversed – with the game on the line like that. However end of the day, you win and move on.
The same is true with the Gunnar Henderson errors in the past few games – including today. You chalk it up as an anomaly. His overall body of work speaks for itself. If you scrutinize over a ln admittedly poor stretch of five games in the field, nobody will ever be a franchise player.
Toronto now comes to town tomorrow for a four-game set, starting with a doubleheader tomorrow at Camden Yards. The Orioles are yet to announce a starter for game one (however it’s expected to be newly-acquired Zach Eflin), but whomever starts will be opposed by Toronto’s Yariel Rodriguez. Game time is set for just after 3 PM.
Birdland Crush 