Brandon Young is coming along for the Baltimore Orioles as a starter. He still has a ways to go, But he’s improving – which is the goal. He had a solid start last night against the New York Mets at Camden Yards; Young’s line: 5.1 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 0 BB, 6 K.
The game began in a 46 minute rain delay. But the Birds took the lead in the last of the third with Jackson Holliday’s RBI-single. Cedric Mullins scored all the way from first base to give the Orioles the lead.
One could argue that the fifth inning was Brandon Young’s crowning achievement as a pro. He pitched an immaculate inning, striking out the side. That’s a rarity in baseball, meaning that each hitter struck out on the minimum number of pitches (3). In many aspects it’s a made up stat. But it’s so rare it’s in fact very noteworthy.
However before leaving with one out in the sixth, Young would surrender the lead. A solo homer by Mauricio and an RBI-double by Nimmo put New York in control. But Oriole bats got Young off the hook – and he deserved that, as well as he pitched. The Birds loaded the bases in their half of the frame, and Ryan O’Hearn’s two-RBI double gave them a 3-2 lead.
Ramon Laureano followed with a two-RBI single to extend it to 5-2. One inning later in the seventh Jacksonville Holliday’s two-run home run ran things to 6-2. Then the eighth inning happened.
Bryan Baker’s pitched at a very high level for the Orioles out of the bullpen this year. Not anything, he’s become somewhat of a setup man. However the NYM appeared ready for him last night. Lindor smacked a two-run home run, and later in the inning Alonso did the same. That tied the game at six.
Occasionally pitchers are going to throw a clunker – even sure-handed relievers. You have to shake it off and come back to the ballpark the next day. Unfortunately the game which started late as it was needed an extra inning to get a result, and it was New York who came out on top. Soto&: run-scoring single in the tenth gave them a 7-6 lead – and a 7-6 win.
Yennier Cano got the loss, but of course that came as a result of the ghost runner. Soto swung at the first pitch and hit it. Sometimes you live or die by that ghost runner in extra’s.
The series continues this evening at Camden Yards. Tomoyuki Sugano gets the start for the Birds, and he’ll be opposed by Nee York’s David Peterson. Game time is set for just after 7 PM,
Birdland Crush 