Tomoyuki Sugano wasn’t quite as sharp as he normally is for the Baltimore Orioles this afternoon against Anaheim. I’ve said it a million times – sometimes pitchers are just “off.” Today was one of those days for Sugano, who in general has been strong. Sugano’s line: 4.2 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 2 BB, 4 K.
Sugano appeared off from the beginning. He surrendered a walk on four straight pitches to start the game, and later in the inning Trout smacked a two-run homer off the left field foul pole. However the O’s would also look to make a run of things with a couple of base runners in their half of the frame, followed by an RBI-groundout by Jordan Westburg.
Adley Rutschman got aboard in the third with a base hit, and got into scoring position on a wild pitch. Gunnar Henderson’s RBI-single scored him and tied the game at two. Following a stolen base, Jordan Westburg’s RBI-single gave the Birds their first lead of the game at 3-2.
Anaheim would tie the game back up at three on Ward’s RBI-single in the fifth. One inning later they would have the lead back on a solo homer by Rengifo. But that was short lived. Ramon Laureano led off the Orioles’ half of the sixth with a walk, and he would score on a Cedric Mullins two-run home run. And the Birds had the lead back at 5-4.
Before the game the Orioles reinstated backup catcher Gary Sanchez from the IL, optioning Maverick Handley back to Norfolk. And Sanchez’s bat provided instant results, with a solo homer later in the sixth inning. Sanchez of course had battled injuries through April before finally hitting the IL. Hopefully this is a sign of things to come.
And it’s a good thing he hit that homer, because Renfifo hit his second of the game in the eighth. Luckily just a solo shot, and the Oriole bullpen closed out a 6-5 lead. The O’s have now taken the first two games of this series.
Sanchez may only be the backup catcher, but he isn’t the poor hitter we saw at the beginning of the season. Now we know he wasn’t healthy. In the past week plus, the Birds have started to get some people back. Which is a good sign.
You can’t do anything about having the Westburg’s, Samchez’s, Cowser’s, et al, on the injury list at the beginning. Just like you can’t help the fact that three pitchers and a first baseman are still there. But you can go forward stronger as they start to come back.
The series concludes tomorrow at Camden Yards. Cade Povich gets the start for the Birds, and he’ll be opposed by Anaheim’s Yusei Kikuchi, Game time is set for just after 1:30 PM.
Birdland Crush 