The Baltimore Orioles’ margin for error got a bit thinner tonight. Albert Suarez was far from stellar, but more importantly San Francisco starter Snell was. And despite the fact that things did stabilize, the damage was done early. Suarez’s line: 3.1 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 2 BB, 3 K.
Suarez surrendered a homer to Yastrzemski in the first at-bat of the game. The third pitch, in fact. And when you can’t score as it is, that’s all that’s necessary. Snell struck out 12 Orioles over six innings. This by mixing his pitches and hitting the corners.
And that might be one of the keys to this game – and others. The Orioles throw a lot of pitches in the strike zone. They want the opponent to put the ball in play. Sometimes it works out – in fact, there were a few middle innings even in this game that were quick.
However other times it doesn’t work out, and the ball gets hit. And the fact is that Oriole hitters have the same philosophy; they’re expecting pitches in the zone. Instead, they’re being deceived into thinking that’s what they’re getting. And when they do get one, they look at it.
And many times, when the ball gets out in play strange things happen. Bailey nicked a ball and in essence reached on a swinging bunt with one out in the second. I’m not sure that’s what he meant to do, but it was the result and he reached base. He would later score after two walks loaded the bases, followed by a sac fly-RBI. Yastrzemski would later add an RBI-single.
San Francisco would tack on a fourth one in the fourth inning on an RBI-single by Walton. And that came following a single and a stolen base by McCray. Again, put the ball in play, good things can happen. Get on base, additional good things can happen.
That was also true in the ninth. Craig Kimbrell gave up a softly hit base hit, allowed the runner to steal second, advance to third on a wild pitch, and score on an RBI-bunt single by Wisely. Zero hard contact. But a run scored. So did four more that inning, totaling a 10-0 loss.
I really do think there’s something to the point about the corners. Not only are opposing teams using the entirety of the plate, but the Orioles are all but begging for them to do so. That, combined with the fact that the O’s aren’t using the entirely of the plate is what’s killing them. The Birds are looking for balls in the zone. Technically they’re getting them; they’re just so well-placed that they look like balls.
End of the day, the odds of the Orioles missing the postseason are very slim. However end of the day, we know what injuries have done to this roster. Would three pitchers not having undergone Tommy John’s, another being on the DL, losing their starting and backup third baseman, losing a utility infielder, and several relievers have made a difference? I’ll let you decide.
The series continues tomorrow night at Camden Yards. Dean Kremer gets the start for the Birds, and he’ll be opposed by San Francisco’s Hayden Birdsong. Game time is set for just after 6:30 PM.
Birdland Crush 