Zach Eflin was the unfortunate Baltimore Orioles’ pitcher who got the start at Tampa’s makeshift home – Steinbrenner Field. End of the day, Tampa seemed to deal with with the conditions well. Eflin and the Orioles did not. Eflin’s line: 5.0 IP, 12 H, 7 R, 2 BB, 2 K.
The heat and humidity was harsh in Tampa today. Luckily the game was a night game, but Tampa seemed right at home. As well they should have been – because they were at home. Their makeshift home. The Orioles on the other hand – struggled. This despite being semi-familiar with the ballpark, playing there in spring.
Lowe led off the game for Tampa with a solo home run. It was only 334 ft to right, and barely made it over the wall. But it counted. Morel’s RBI-single in the second, and Mangum’s in the third extended the lead to 3-0.
Adley Rutschman led of the fourth with a solo homer – which was shorter than Lowe’s. The right field wall is short in this park, so in that sense both teams took advantage. For what it’s worth, I think this is fine in spring. But to have a park like this in play for the regular season? Poor form on the part of baseball.
With two outs in the fourth Eflin walked Lowe. But he did so on a pitch that was way outside. And I mean it slipped, and the Oriole trainer came out to check on him as a result. That shows how humid it was tonight, yet it only played into Tampa’s success.
Lowe would later score on a two-run homer by Lowe (same spelling, different pronunciation). For the record, the two Tampa home runs came off of off speed pitches. And Eflin threw a lot of them tonight. Which is only a problem if they’re being hit. And they were being hit.
Tampa would add one additional two-RBI double by Mangum in the last of the fifth. One positive note was the Orioles’ bullpen, which successfully stemmed the tide. This especially includes Colin Shelby, who was recalled before the game when the O’s put Cade Povich on the IL (shoulder inflammation). What that does to the rotation remains to be seen.
The series continues tomorrow at Steinbrenner Field. Dean Kremer gets the start for the O’s, and he’ll be opposed by Tampa’s Zach Littell. Game time is set for just after 7:30 PM.
Birdland Crush 