Zach Eflin came off the IL this evening to make the start for the Baltimore Orioles. And the Birds got a decent outing out of Eflin, who did his job. He put the team in a spot to win. Eflin’s line: 5.0 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 5 K.
The Orioles almost set the tone for the game in the first inning. Jackson Holliday drew a leadoff walk, but Jordan Westburg immediately grounded into a double-play. On the first pitch.
The O’s would then put runners at second and third in the third inning with nobody out. Jacob Stallings grounded into a fielder’s choice, leaving one out and runners at first and second. Subsequently, Cedric Mullins was picked off of second. What began as a promising inning, had two quick outs.
The Orioles would manufacture a run in the fourth and take a 1-0 lead on a sac fly-RBI by Ryan O’Hearn. However Cleveland would strike back in their half of the frame on a two-RBI single by Mazardo. In theory to that point, the Orioles had outplayed Cleveland. But Cleveland took advantage of the opportunity they had. The O’s did not.
On the flip side, that Mazardo two-run single was a very softly hit bloop. The Orioles hit several scathing liners this evening, and Cleveland made great plays in the field. Only to get burned again on balls that were hit and placed with soft contact. So far as I know, there isn’t a computer program or AI app that can defend against that as of yet.
But the O’s did tie the score. Jackson Holliday smacked a solo home run in the sixth, and the game was knotted at two. The O’s brought Colin Selby in from the bullpen in the last of the eighth, and he recorded two quick outs.
But rallies start against the Orioles with two outs. Throw in the fact that the bottom of the order is up, and you could have a problem. Naylor’s two-out double put a runner in scoring position. It also split the defenders and went all the way to the wall. It would stand to reason that the Orioles’ analytics told them how to best position their outfielders. Naylor just found a way to beat the computer.
That would bring Kwan to the plate, and his RBI-single T gave Cleveland a 3-2 lead. To make matters worse, when the O’s came to bat in the ninth the Cleveland closer was given multiple close pitches. The pitches were in the zone, but on the fringes. And Cleveland hitters had similar pitches called balls.
What the Orioles are doing with two outs that’s leading them astray is beyond me. But opposing teams have taken advantage all year. That could be coincidence for sure. But odds are there’s something facilitating opposing teams’ ease with Oriole pitching with two outs. Especially the bottom of orders.
The O’s will try to salvage one in the series finale tomorrow at Progressive Field. Charlie Morton gets the start for the O’s, and he’ll be opposed by Cleveland’s Logan Allen. Game time is set for just after 1 PM.
Birdland Crush 