With today’s 2-1 loss to Kansas City at Camden Yards, the Baltimore Orioles were eliminated from the postseason, ending their 2024 season. It was another game of inches, and one that was there for the taking. Starter Zach Eflin probably would have gone deeper had this not been a postseason game. Eflin’s line: 4.0 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 3 K.
The lone run surrendered by Eflin came in the first inning on an RBI-single by Pasquantino. And that came following a double and a groundout. That’s how Kansas City plays.
Despite pitching fairly strong, Eflin was pulled after four innings. I found that curious, as Eflin seemed like he was shutting them down after a giving up the one run. But the fact is you have to manage postseason games differently than you do regular season ones. Brandon Hyde made the decisions he did, and for his own reasons.
And say what you will, but somehow that did spark something in the Birds – sort of. Kansas City did load the bases in the fifth following Eflin’s departure. But the Oriole bullpen pitched out of it, with Jacob Webb recording a strikeout for the final out. A few pitches into the last of the fifth, it was tied due to a Cedric Mullins solo homer.
The O’s would load the bases later in the inning with nobody down. Not only did they look to take the lead, but they were poised for a big inning. However Anthony Santander popped out softly on the infield, and Colton Cowser struck out – technically.
I say that, because he was hit on the hand. With the bases loaded. However in getting out of the way, he swung the bat. Strike three. Adley Rutschman would ground out to end the inning.
The Cowser strikeout was especially tough to fathom. Cowser was later lifted from the game. Unfortunately if you swing, it’s a strike. Even if it hits you also.
Detroit would put two on in the sixth; one on an infield hit that was legged out, and a second on an infield hit resulting from a Baltimore chop. The irony. Witt’s subsequent RBI-single gave Kansas City a 2-1 lead.
Maybe it’s fitting the game turned out that way. What should and could have been an RBI-HBP ends up a strikeout. And two infield hits which otherwise would have probably resulted in outs put the opponent in a position to win. There are a million things that could be said about this game and this season. And I suspect it will be. But it’ll have to wait.
I’ll leave it at this; the O’s won 91 games this year. That can’t be discounted, and it can’t be forgotten. That, along with the low moments are part of the overall season story. You’re hard-pressed to say a team that won 91 games underachieved. Especially with the injuries they had. But needless to say, many will.
End of the day, you win with class and lose with dignity. This team did both of those things. Always. Everyday. That should mean something. Most will say it won’t. But to the true blue fans of this franchise, it does. Make no mistake, the O’s made the playoffs for a reason. And they will do so again.
Birdland Crush 