Starter Zach Eflin was a superstar for the Baltimore Orioles last night in Detroit. The downside was that Oriole bats were quiet. And by that, I mean quieter than usual. Dangerously quiet. Elgin’s line: 6.2 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 3 K.
Eflin gave up a solo homer to Carpenter in the second at-bat of the game. At the time, you’re thought it was only one run. Obviously if Eflin could buckle down and and just shut Detroit down the rest of the way, the Birds should still win. Makes sense…right?
Eflin held up his end of the bargain. There were some innings in that mix that he retired the side in five minutes. But he stepped up when the team needed him tonight.
Detroit used an “opener” in tonight’s game, who was lifted in the second inning. I’m not a proponent of that sort of methodology, yet between Brieske (the starter/opener) and Hurter (the bulk pitcher), they stymied the Orioles. In reality the concept is a little too zaney for a traditionalist like myself.
The two pitchers were throwing what would have been baseball’s first combined perfect game into the eighth inning. Adley Rutschman drew a walk, giving the Birds their first base runner. That knocked Hurter out of the game, but Detroit was still twirling a combined no-hitter.
That continued until there were two outs in the ninth inning. Gunnar Henderson did what many other Orioles had done all game. He swung at the first pitch, only this time it landed in play. His sharp grounder down the right field line ended up with him on third base with a triple.
So Henderson ended the no-hit bid, AND put the tying run at third base in one fatal swoop. However Anthony Santander struck out to win the game, and the Birds fell 1-0. This wasting an outstanding effort by Zach Eflin.
Some of the Oriole at-bats were semi-lackluster over the course of the game. You can’t discount the fact that they’re at a severe disadvantage given the caliber of talent on the IL. However they’re also in the thick of a playoff chase, and teams below them, while not necessarily a threat to the Birds going to the postseason overall, are taking it seriously.
The series continues this evening at Comerica Park. Corbin Burnes gets the start for the O’s, and Detroit is yet to announce a starter (presumably going with another “opener”). Game time is set for just after 6 PM.
Birdland Crush 