The Baltimore Orioles traded for Corbin Burnes in the offseason for today’s game. To start game one of a postseason series. And he proved to be the ace the Birds thought they were getting, in the moment he was meant for. Burnes’ line: 8.0 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 3 K.
Many fans walk away from a game such as this in a circumstance like this and question if it was worth the while to make the trade. It didn’t matter, they still lost. Either that, or some other baseball mind of consequence will argue he was the losing pitcher so your point is just wrong. No serious baseball fan would think of this game in that context. Yet, loudmouths are loudmouths, and they always know best – right?!
The Orioles unfortunately ran up against a starter in Kansas City’s Ragans today who was almost just as good. Actually, Burnes pitches a slightly better game. So go figure that one.
Ragans still shut the Birds down, however. Save for one moment, where they almost got to him. Cedric Mullins smacked a one-out double in the last of the fifth in a scoreless game. It was an odd ball that took a funny turn before hitting in the outfield. Ramon Urias followed with a single, which yes technically was a hit with RISP. However Mullins had to hold up at second to ensure the ball fell in, and only got to third.
James McCann and Gunnar Henderson struck out to end the inning. That was a golden opportunity, which Oriole bats let go by the wayside. And predictably, it bit them.
Burnes issued a one-out walk in the sixth to Garcia, who promptly stole second base. Witt Jr’s RBI-single would give Kansas City a 1-0 lead. Burnes has struggled to hold runners on all season. He’s been better of late, but it happened when the Orioles could least afford it.
Both sides rumbled a bit down the stretch, but that’s the only run that crossed the plate all game. And the O’s now find themselves in a 1-0 hole in a best-of-three series. I don’t need to mention how important tomorrow’s game is…
…because tomorrow’s all the Orioles have. You can’t say there’s “no tomorrow,” because that isn’t true. They do have tomorrow. Beyond that is in question. But tomorrow is there, and the Orioles need to to do whatever they can to maximize it.
In an elimination game, the series continues tomorrow at Camden Yards. Zach Eflin gets the start for the O’s, and he’ll be opposed by Kansas City’s Seth Lugo. Game time is set for just after 4:30 PM.
Birdland Crush 