Trevor Rogers gave the Baltimore Orioles another quality start this afternoon at Steinbrenner Field. The Birds of course had dropped the first two games of the series, and were looking to salvage one. If anything, Rogers’ outing may have been shortened by a seventh inning rain delay. Rogers’ line: 6.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 3 K.
Jackson Holliday hit the second pitch of the ballgame over the wall for a solo home run, giving the O’s a 1-0 lead. Two innings later catcher Alex Jackson would follow with a solo shot of his own. But the inning didn’t end there. Following a walk and a single, Gunnar Henderson’s two-RBI double gave the O’s a 4-0 lead.
True to form however, Tampa battled back. Camiero’s RBI-single on the home half of the third cut the lead to 4-1. One inning later Jansen smacked a solo homer cutting it to 4-2. Tampa also put some guys on behind that and continued to threaten. Which is par for the course for them, especially given that they tried to give the Orioles an out, and Alex Jackson’s errant throw to get the lead runner at second (on a bunt) ended up in center field at one point.
However Tampa made an unforced error. Simpson, who as we know has blinding speed, popped up a bunt to Trevor Rogers with one out and runners at the corners. It was an obvious attempt bunt for a base hit, but it seemed a little pointless. It didn’t appear to be a squeeze play, which means it’s possible that someone missed a sign. It could also be Tampa trying too hard to by overly cute or outside the box. But it didn’t work either way, and Kim ended the inning with a fly out.
But, Tampa still edged closer. Even when it seems the Orioles beat them, it’s as if they think they’re never out of it. Their stock and trade is to claw their way back into games. Luckily it appeared that the O’s were having none of that today.
Ryan O’Hearn’s solo home run in the sixth gave the Orioles a much-needed add-on run. And you need those against anyone. But especially against an opponent like Tampa. The Orioles needed a couple last night and couldn’t do it. They did today, and it paid.
Following a two hour and 36 minute rain delay, they resumed play. Tampa would score a third run on an RBI-single by Wall in the ninth. Tampa would then load the bases before Felix Bautista recorded the third out to end the game. Make no mistake, that tack on run mattered.
Ramon Laureano was ejected in the third inning – he also owns the team’s only other ejection this year. He clearly checked his swing on a two-strike count; if anything, he was closer to not taking the bat off his shoulders than he was at offering. He slammed his helmet down at home plate, and was ejected after being rung up on an appeal to first base.
Interim manager Tony Mansolino also earned his first ejection as a skipper in that sequence when he came out to protect Laureano. One prevailing thought was that Laureano thought he was the third out in the inning and was merely throwing his helmet at what he thought was the end of the inning. Either way it wasn’t a good call by the umpiring crew.
The Orioles now head to Cleveland to open a four-game set at Progressive Field. Tomoyuki Sugano gets the start for the Orioles, and he’ll be opposed by Cleveland’s Tanner Bibee. Game time is set for just after 6:30 PM.
Birdland Crush 