In the wake of losing yet another starter to injury last night (Grayson Rodriguez), the Baltimore Orioles reminded the division and the fans that they aren’t throwing in the towel. In fact, behind a solid outing by Trevor Rogers, they put the rest of the league on notice that they’re staying the course. One player and one game a season does not make. Rogers’ line: 5.0 IP, 7 H, 3 R (2 earned), 2 BB, 2 K.
Following a lead off walk, Anthony Santander’s two-run homer in the first inning gave the Birds a 2-0 lead. But weird things happen to the Orioles under that dome in Toronto. Kirk sent a grounder to Coby Mayo at third, and following a funny hop he was safe at first base. It was ruled a single, and Toronto would score on Horowitz’s sac fly-RBI.
Serven’s RBI-double in the second tied the game at two. However later in the inning Clement would ground into what should have been the final out. Coby Mayo made a great play in getting to the ball, but an errant throw allowed a third run to score, and the Orioles suddenly trailed 3-2.
The strike zone was an issue the entire game. Home plate umpire Larry Vanover never seemed to define a consistent zone. Eventually the Orioles had seen enough of Vanover’s “progressive strike zone,” and manager Brandon Hyde was ejected in the fifth inning. It was bound to happen, as Oriole hitters were going down left and right on pitches that weren’t even close.
But the O’s still trailed. That is until the seventh inning. Eloy Jimenez delivered an infield single with one out, and went to second on an errant throw. He later took third on an attempted pickoff attempt that yielded another errant throw. However while it was good to get a runner that close to home, it really didn’t matter…
…because Jackson Holliday sent a ball into kingdom come. His two-run home run put the O’s back in the lead at 4-3. That lead however was immediately challenged in the last of the seventh. With a runner on second and two outs, acting manager Freddi Gonzales opted to pitch to Guerrero – a heavy hitter.
In my gut I questioned that with first base open. And almost true to form, Guerrero sent a deep shot to right field. Needless to say, it appeared ticketed for a game-tying moment. Possibly a go-ahead moment once again for Toronto. For a split second it was all coming crashing down.
However at the 11th hour, Anthony Santander reached out and caught the ball smack against the wall on the run. Did it save the game? Needless to say, it was a heroic play that doesn’t get made nine times out of ten. And it also ended the inning, as well as the threat. Again needless to say, it was a key moment in the ballgame.
That preserved the Orioles’ one-run lead. But just a moment after that, Santander did his team one better. He led off the top of the eighth with a solo home run, which despite going the opposite way from Holliday’s, went almost just as far. That extended the Orioles’ lead to 5-3.
Later in that eighth inning Eloy Jimenez smacked a two-RBI double, giving the Orioles some insurance. The bullpen closed it out the rest of the way, and the Birds took home a 7-3 victory. And make no mistake, that was one of the biggest victories of the season to date.
Jackson Holliday became the youngest player to homer in three straight games. This in league history. He and Anthony Santander were the hero’s tonight, and once again this team reminded the competition that they still have a heartbeat.
Incidentally on Holliday, Toronto pitchers were taking advantage of Larry Vanover’s “progressive strike zone” by pitching outside the zone with four-seam fastballs. But they went to the well one too many times, and Holliday got a pitch that was up, but caught too much of the zone. If it’s high, let it fly. And he did.
The series concludes tomorrow night at Rogers Centre. Dean Kremer gets the start for the O’s, and he’ll be opposed by Toronto’s Kevin Gausman. Game time is set for just after 7 PM.
Birdland Crush 