Tomoyuki Sugano turned in another solid start for the Baltimore Orioles. He didn’t go deep into the game, but he put the team in a spot to win. And he qualified for the win. And the bullpen held on, despite showing some signs of wear late/ Sugano’s line: 5.0 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 8 K.
After a Jackson Holliday single in the last of the second with two outs, Ramon Laureano hit a sharp liner to center field. New York Center fielder Grisham misjudged the ball, and it went over his head. Holliday was running on the pitch given that there were two outs, and the Birds led 1-0.
Sometimes that’s all you need to start something. Yes, a play probably should have been made in the field. But it wasn’t. And it put the Orioles in the lead. Again, sometimes it starts in a moment like that.
New York walked the first two Orioles in the third. That brought Ryan O’Hearn to the plate, and his three-run homer extended the lead to 4-0. Going back to a moment ago – sometimes all you need is a moment like that. Or along moment like a three-run homer such as O’Hearn’s.
Well after Sugano left the game, Judge would drive in a run on a fielder’s choice-RBI in the seventh. One inning later with a runner on, Gregory Soto uncorked a wild pitch – sending the runner to second. Back-to-back New York doubles would cut the Orioles’ lead to 4-3.
That one wild pitch started a rally for New York. Which illustrates why you have to be so careful. However while the bullpen bent, it didn’t break. And that’s the good news.
With one out in the ninth we saw perhaps the most dramatic moment in the game, with New York’s Judge striding to the plate against the Oriole closer, Felix Bautista. However Bautista struck Judge out swinging, recording the second out in the ninth. Bautista would also strike out Bellinger to end the game, and the Birds prevailed, 4-3. Ending a three-game losing streak.
This win changes nothing per se. The O’s were still 1-for-7 with RISP, and they had their share of hiccups. But it was a win, and one in the division at that. Not to mention that it ended a losing streak. In the division. That’s big.
The series continues tomorrow at Camden Yards. Kyle Gibson makes his first start of the season for the O’s, and he’ll be opposed by New York’s Carlos Rodon. Game time is set for just after 6:30 PM.
Birdland Crush 