The Baltimore Orioles came into tonight’s game behind starter Cade Povich in what felt like a must-win game. Was the season going to spiral? Were they going to get it together? Ultimately it was a game and a series it felt like the Birds needed to have. Povich’s line: 4.2 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 3 BB, 2 K.
It started inauspiciously. Judge smacked a two-run homer in the first inning. And it felt like we were headed for a repeat of last night. But Povich doubled down, and got the Orioles out of the inning and back in the dugout.
Jackson Holliday led off the second with a single, and he scored on Ryan Mountcastle’s two-run homer. And before you knew it, the Orioles actually had the lead. Later in the inning Ramon Urias’ solo shot put them ahead 3-2. Adley Rutschman added on an RBI-single, and the O’s led 4-2.
New York closed to within one on a solo homer by Goldschmidt in the fifth. In the bottom of the frame the O’s began the inning by loading the bases. Jackson Holliday would drive in a fifth run as he grounded into a fielder’s choice-RBI.
Grisham would drive in a run in the seventh with a sac fly-RBI. However the key part of the game was delivered by reliever Bryan Baker. After a leadoff walk he retired New York 1-2-3 in the eighth, setting up Felix Bautista in the ninth. He also retired New York 1-2-3 to close out the game, the win, and the series win for the Orioles.
This game had drama between the lines and otherwise. Heston Kjerstadsrole second base in the fourth, and he didn’t like the way New York’s second baseman Reyes handled his part of the play. Replays seemed to indicate that Reyes gave Kjerstad an extra little shove at the end. The benches cleared briefly, and order was restored.
It’s tough to say a game in April is a must-win. But this felt like that sort of game. The Orioles did what they had to do to win this game. Yesterday was ugly. But the facts show that the Birds took two-of-three in this series. Heck of a way to go into an off day.
Birdland Crush 