Tomoyuki Sugano and the Baltimore Orioles were in trouble after two innings last night at Camden Yards against Tampa. Sugano had an easy first inning, but surrendered six runs in the second – including three home runs. Given that last week Tampa overcame an 8-0 Oriole lead, this seemed insurmountable…then again, would you believe that Sugano was the winning pitcher?! Sugano’s line: 5.0 IP, 9 H, 7 R, 1 BB, 2 K.
The O’s immediately loaded the bases against Tampa starter Pepiot, bringing Coby Mayo to bat. And Mayo smacked a two-RBI double, cutting the lead to 6-2. But it didn’t end there. Ramon Urias’ two-RBI single cut it to 6-4. Tack on one more when Ramon Laureano scored after an errant throw on a stolen base attempt.
Urias was also a pinch-hitter. Jordan Westburg injured a finger on his left hand sliding into second base in the first inning. Yes, the same Westburg who was almost on the IL with a similar injury on Sunday. X-Rays were negative, and he’s day-to-day.
Tampa manager Kevin Cash lifted his starter Pepiot in favor of a reliever in the middle of that onslaught. Which I found fascinating. Win or lose, you’re in a series with a division rival on the road, and you’re blowing through your bullpen. Cash of course finds the smallest ways to get ahead in games, but I would submit he outthought himself a bit there. That said, Tampa also extended their lead to 7-5 in the third.
The O’s took the lead in the fifth after tying it on Colton Cowser’s RBI-double. Gary Sanchez came up behind him, and smacked a two-run home run. Again going back to Cash, he went to the bullpen because he saw this as a big game and he felt his starter wasn’t hacking it. And again, he’s now taxed his bullpen seemingly for nothing.
One inning later the Birds got an RBI-double by Cowser, and a two-RBI single by Sanchez. The game appeared over with the O’s leading 11-8 following Tampa tacking one back on. But Laureano’s two-RBI single and Sanchez’s fielder’s choice combined with an error combined to run it to 14-8. But wait…there’s more.
When the smoke cleared in the game overall, the Orioles went home…wait for it…22-8 winners. Jackson Holliday and Gunnar Henderson each homered. As did Coby Mayo in the last of the eight, a two-run shot. It was Mayo’s first major league home run,
The downside of course is Jordan Westburg, however again, he’s listed as day-to-day. In a year when the Orioles have lost a couple of games big, this was one where they returned the favor. Keep in mind that blowouts like this are anomalies on both sides. But you take it and move on when you’re on the good end of it.
The series continues this afternoon at Camden Yards. Zach Eflin gets the start for the O’s, and he’ll be opposed by Tampa’s Zack Littell. Game time is set for just after 4 PM.
Birdland Crush 