Strange game this afternoon for the Baltimore Orioles, in game on of a doubleheader. Zach Eflin was strong – but not at first. Better than the stat line indicates, that is. Eflin’s line: 5.0 IP, 5 H, 5 R, (4 earned), 2 BB, 1 K.
The Orioles took an early 2-0 lead in the first inning on Ramón Urias’ two-RBI double following a 30 minute rain delay. Almost true to form for this series, storm clouds gathered as the game was beginning. As Boston’s Duran stepped up to the plate in the home first, it was pelting rain. And Duran smacked a solo home run.
Conditions deteriorated fast. The umpiring crew obviously didn’t want to delay the game, which angered Tony Mansolino. He tried to pull his team off the field, however the umpiring crew wouldn’t allow that. A few moments later as the grounds crew had been summoned to apply drying agent on the field, the rain subsided.
Something like that can spook a pitcher. And in fact, Abreu later hit another solo homer, tying the game at two. It was unfortunate, but the fact is that only one pitcher had to endure that. Only one team had to play in wet uniforms. On the flip side, calling for a rain delay also could have cost the Orioles Zach Eflin depending on how long it would have been. So there’s that also. Unfortunate situation.
Both starting pitchers settled in, however. But the Birds got the lead back in the fifth when Jackson Holliday grounded into a fielder’s choice with a runner on third. Later in the inning Gunnar Henderson’s RBI-double extended the lead to 4-2. It would extend to 5-2 when Adley Rutschman scored on a wild pitch.
Toro would lead off the last of the fifth with a solo homer, the third of the day off of Eflin. one inning later the O’s still held a two-run lead. Devers blooped a pop fly to right, with Heston Kjerstad being played well off the line. Due to the placement of Kjerstad, he had no choice but to pull back and let it drop in. It was only a base hit…
…only it took a funny hop and bounced into the stands. Had the ball bounced to Kjerstad as the law of averages says it should have, yes it’s a base hit. But by bouncing into the stands, it gave Devers a ground rule double. And it gave Boston a runner in scoring position.
Following a walk, Narvaez reached on a ground ball in the infield to Jackson Holliday. He tried to get the out at second to keep the double-play in order, but the throw was errant and the runner was safe. That allowed a run to score, cutting the lead to 5-4. Sogard would later tie the game with an RBI-groundout.
That’s highly indicative of how the Orioles’ season has gone to date. Holliday, while legitimately trying to keep the double-play in order, couldn’t do the most important part: getting the force out. Is that indicative of over-managing? Perhaps. End of the day you have to get to point A before you go onto point B.
Luckily however, the Oriole bullpen was pretty solid. Both Bryan Baker and Yennier Cano had outstanding outings. As did Felix Bautista in the ninth inning. The game went to extra’s, and the Orioles went down 1-2-3 in the 10th. However keep in mind that in extra innings you start innings with a runner on second. Gregory Soto recorded one out, which brought the heavy-hitting Devers to the plate.
Tony Mansolino opted to pitch to Devers. This despite having first base open. After the game he said he’s going to bet on our guy everytime. That didn’t work, however. Devers’ run-scoring single won it for Boston, 6-5.
It seemed like a no-brainer for me to put Devers on. After the game Mansolino said it would have gotten “messy.” I would disagree, as the runner at first is meaningless in that circumstance. In fact, you also set yourself up for a ground ball double-play. Which with one out would have ended the inning.
Whether that’s over-managing or not is up to the beholder. Many would argue that walking Devers would have been over-managing. But again, if analytics are going to be such a thing in modern baseball, the probability of getting out of the inning unscathed is actually slightly higher with a runner on first base there (and one out). And most importantly, you take the bat out of the hands of Boston’s best hitter.
These series continues this evening at Fenway Park. Trevor Rogers will make his 2025 debut and get the start for the Orioles, and he’ll be opposed by Boston’s Lucas Giolito. Game time is set for just after 6:30 PM.
Birdland Crush 