Baltimore Orioles fans are riding the roller coaster at this point. And that’s a good thing. After an early season of INTENSE lows, we’re seeing a few highs now. Cade Povich got the start last night in game two in Seattle. Povich’s line: 5.1 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 5 K.
Povich surrendered a sac fly-RBI in the last of the fourth to Arozarena. However the Orioles weren’t about to go sleepless in Seattle. Pun intended! Adley Rutschman, originally of the Pacific Northwest, smacked a solo homer in the fifth to tie the game at one.
Seattle would get the lead back however in the home half of the sixth. Raleigh’s RBI-single gave them a 2-1 lead, with Raleigh out at second trying to extend it into a double. After Povich gave way to Yennier Cano, the Orioles registered perhaps one of the most unsung plays of the game. Rodriguez hit a ground ball to Gunner Henderson, who at first glance appeared to throw out the runner from third (Crawford) at home plate. However Crawford was ruled safe.
The Orioles challenged, and replays definitely showed it was close. Almost surprisingly, the call was overturned. And the Seattle lead remained at 2-1.
But not for long. Heston Kjerstad’s two-RBI in the seventh gave the Orioles the lead at 3-2. The ball appeared to be hooking foul, but it stayed fair at the last minute in the right field corner. Neither side threatened the rest of the way, and Felix Bautista closed it out in the ninth for a save. The Orioles, on the heels of sweeping Chicago, have now taken the first two games in Seattle.
Is it coming together? If a five-game stretch means anything, yes. But that’s only a five-game stretch. I said yesterday that Colton Cowser stabilizes the lineup. And I stand by that point. Kjerstad’s a guy who’s struggled this year, but suddenly now it’s coming together. Heck, even Adley Rutschman’s struggled, yet he’s coming out of it.
Many will say three runs generally won’t do it. And they’d be right. In general you’ll need more than that to win games. Especially in the AL East. But it was enough last night.
The series concludes this afternoon at T-Mobile Park. Zach Eflin gets the start for the O’s, and he’ll be opposed by Seattle’s Bryan Woo. Game time is set for just after 3:30 PM.
Birdland Crush 