To be clear, the Baltimore Orioles have a massive amount of breathing room in terms of a playoff spot. Their inclusion in the postseason (despite their numerous injury issues) is all but a foregone conclusion. Cade Povich had his struggles tonight at Fenway Park, but wasn’t awful – despite his numbers. Povich’s line: 4.2 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 2 BB, 5 K.
The killer for the Orioles was stranding the bases loaded twice. Especially early on, when they had a chance to take control. Following a Hunnar Henderson double, Anthony Santander smacked an RBI-double in the first inning, and the O’s led 1-0. They would proceed to load the bases, but they let Boston off the hook.
You can’t do that – let your opponent off the hook. It’s the old adage of when your opponent is embarrassing themselves, let them. By letting Boston off the hook, the O’s emboldened them. O’Neil’s RBI-groundout would tie the game at one in the last of the first.
Refsnyder’s two-run homer on the third would give Boston the lead. Immediately after that, O’Neil would follow with a solo shot – back-to-back. And it wouldn’t be the last time tonight.
The Birds would load the bases again in the fourth. This time however, at least they would score. Anthony Santander would walk, and the O’s cut the Boston lead to 4-2. However two sixth inning RBI-singles by Rafaela and Refsnyder would extend the lead to 6-2.
But big Oriole highlight however was from Anthony Santander. He smacked a solo home run in the top of the seven, cutting the Boston lead to 8-3. That was Santander’s 40th homer of the season. A nominal number in a loss; but it means something. Hopefully he can now relax at the plate and focus on finishing the season strong.
Boston would tack on four more runs, including back-to-back homers once again by Refsnyder and O’Neil in the eighth. However the tone was set by the Birds leaving the bases loaded in the first. And onward. You can’t leave runners on base en masse.
The series continues tomorrow at Fenway Park. Albert Suarez gets the start for the Birds, and he’ll be opposed by Boston’s Kutter Crawford. Game time is set for just after 7 PM.
Birdland Crush 