How the Baltimore Orioles responded to all of the trades yesterday was always going to be a big question. However the answer to that question was simply Trevor Rogers. He was a stalwart on the mound for the O’s, pitching a complete game in the first of three at Wrigley Field in Chicago. Rogers’ line: 8.0 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 8 K.
Rogers allowed two runners in scoring position in the second inning. And Happ’s sac fly-RBI gave Chicago a 1-0 lead. Unfortunately the O’s couldn’t muster anything offensively. However aside from that, Rogers shut Chicago down.
Unfortunately that one run was all they needed. You can’t win if you can’t score. But on a day when it was unclear what the pecking order was in the Oriole bullpen, Trevor Rogers stepped up.
Many people will say that the lineup lost some pizzazz after yesterday’s trades. Maybe it did. But the moves made yesterday put the franchise in a better spot for the future. That’s what’s important.
We also saw what Adley Rutschman brings to the lineup today, as down to his final strike in the top of the ninth with two outs, he lined a double into the outfield. Tyler O’Neill then made a case for a two-run homer which would have put the Birds ahead, but Wrigley held it.
That’s important. It should symbolize to fans that the core of the team is still in tact. Rutschman was a 1:1 for a reason,
This was also one of the quickest games you’ll see. One hour and 49 minutes to be exact. A hard-luck loss for Trevor Rogers, yes. But one heck of a performance.
The series continues tomorrow afternoon at Wrigley Field. Tomoyuki Sugano gets the start for the O’s, and he’ll be opposed by Chicago’s Matthew Boyd. Game time is set for 2:20 PM.
Birdland Crush 