Brandon Young is still looking for his first major league win for the Baltimore Orioles. Not a terrible outing at Wrigley Field this afternoon, but he had to labor. Despite neither of the runs he gave up being earned. Young’s line: 4.2 IP, 5 H, 2 R (0 earned), 2 BB, 4 K.
Jeremiah Jackson committed a two-base error in the first inning, dropping a pop fly. That was followed by Suzuki’s RBI-single, and Chicago led 1-0. Happ’s subsequent run-scoring double multiplied the lead by two.
That’s the argument against a youth movement. You have to eventually bring young guys up, especially in the situation in which the Orioles find themselves now. But you also have to subsequently live with errors like that. Incidentally Jackson somewhat redeemed himself at the end of the inning when a third run tried to score on the Happ double (in the form of Kelly), and he got an assist on the putout at home plate.
Gunnar Henderson would get the O’s on the board in the third with a fielder’s choice-RBI. One inning later it was tied on an RBI-single by Colton Cowser. The Orioles may be at a disadvantage due to various reasons right now, but they don’t give up either.
Chicago would put two runners on in the last of the sixth, the second of which coming on a fluky play. The ball deflected off the base of the pitcher’s mound, and went into the outfield. That’s very typical of the 2025 Orioles. If it’s fluky and it could happen, it has happened. The same is true of the subsequent RBI-single by Swanson which gave Chicago a 3-2 lead.
I’ve said this a million times – the Orioles are playing their outfield slightly too deep. I understand that analytics say that’s what to do, but when you have softly hit balls such as that of Swanson, the outfielders can’t make the play. Soft contact has killed this team this year. And we saw it again today.
The Orioles trailed 3-2 down to their final out. Colton Cowser was on second base after a double, and the Birds sent up Ryan Noda as a pinch hitter. Noda was picked up on waivers yesterday. He’s bounced around with various teams and in various teams’ farm systems. He’s an Illinois native, and he was coming to bat in Wrigley Field with the game on the line…
…and he delivered. His RBI-single tied the game at three. Unfortunately however, Turner’s two-run homer in the last of the ninth won it for Chicago. Valiant effort on the Orioles’ part, but the home team bats last.
The O’s now head to Philadelphia to open up a three-game set at Citizen’s Bank Park. Cade Povich returns to the majors after a rehab to make the start, and Philadelphia is yet to announce a starter. Game time is set for 6:45 PM.
Birdland Crush 