The Baltimore Orioles squeaked one out in Atlanta late this afternoon. Dean Kremer was so-so out of the starting gate today. But solid enough to keep his team in the ballgame. Kremer’s line: 4.1 IP, 8 H, 5 R, 1 BB, 3 K.
Kremer gave up a two-run homer to Riley in the first inning. But that set the tone for the game, as that’s the sort of day it was shaping up to be. Tyler O’Neill got the Birds on the board with a moon shot of a split home run in the third. Later in the inning Jordan Westburg gave them the lead with a two-run homer, continuing his hot streak since returning to the lineup.
However Atlanta had some tricks up their sleeve as well. Olson smacked a solo shot in the third to tie the game. Olson’s had a good series thus far. Something to watch going into tomorrow.
One inning later the O’s got the lead back. Colton Cowser’s two-run homer put them ahead 5-3. Olson would strike again in the home half of the inning with an RBI-single, and Riley tied the game with a subsequent RBI-double. It could have been worse with two on and two out; Atlanta sent the trail runner, but Cowser-to-Henderson-to-Sanchez nailed him at home plate to end the inning.
However that was costly, still. Gary Sanchez left the game with an injured knee on the play. The Orioles replaced him with Jacob Stallings, but this could be yet another injured catcher. It’s almost laughable at this point.
Atlanta would take a 6-5 lead on an RBI-groundout in the sixth. But the Birds hung in. Jackson Holliday tied the game with an RBI-single in the seventh. And the score remained tied at six, so the game went to extra innings. And remember, the Orioles start the tenth with a runner on second…
…and they took advantage. Ramon Laureano’s one-out run-scoring double gave the O’s a 7-6 lead. Following an intentional walk Jacob Stallings came to the plate with two on and two out. And the .135 hitter came through with a two-RBI double, extending the lead to 9-6. Yennier Cano sent Atlanta down 1-2-3 in the bottom of the inning, and the O’s have taken the first two of this series.
The big concern of course is Gary Sanchez. Stallings will probably catch tomorrow, and odds are he would have already. The O’s have an off day Monday. So if the injury is minor, maybe he avoids the IL. But we can’t say for sure yet.
The series concludes tomorrow at Truist Park. Trevor Rogers gets the start for the O’s, and he’ll be opposed by Atlanta’s Grant Holmes. Game time is set for just after 11:30 PM.
Birdland Crush 