The Baltimore Orioles had to feel like they were playing with house money last night at Fenway Park. They took two-of-three in Houston, and the first game of two in Boston on Monday night. Tomoyuki Sugano was on the mound last night for the finale of the short two-game series, and put the O’s in a spot to win. Sugano’s line: 5.0 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 3 K.
Sided by a Jackson Holliday error, Sugano put two runners on in the third. With two outs they were both in scoring position, with Wong on third. After two disengagements, it stood to reason that Wong wouldn’t creep too far off of third. There’s a difference between taking a lead and trying to cause a balk, and doing so when the implication is trying to steal home.
Yet Wong took a huge lead, causing Sugano instinctively to step off. That’s a third disengagement, and in alignment with the rules, a balk. Sugano was awarded home plate, and Boston took a 1-0 lead.
Conventional wisdom says you don’t creep that far off third. The Orioles, and everyone watching, assumed Wong would take a moderate lead and leave it at that. He caught us all by surprise, needless to say. Including Tomoyuki Sugano.
But two innings later the O’s put two runners on as well. And Ryan Mountcastle’s RBI-single tied the game at one. Colton Cowser followed with an RBI-double, giving the O’s the lead. He would later score on a wild pitch, and the Birds led 3-1. Put people on base and anything can happen.
Kade Strowd loaded the bases with nobody out in the eighth. He was lifted in favor of Rico Garcia, who was asked to do the impossible. Having Boston load the bases with nobody out at Fenway is almost asking for it. Yet Garcia struck out the side, preserving the lead.
However Lowe’s two-run homer in the last of the ninth against Yaramil Hiraldo tied the game at three. Hiraldo would also load the bases, and induce Story to ground into an inning-ending double-play. Getting us to extra innings.
The Orioles would also load the bases in the tenth – and got out of it. With the ghost runner getting to third with one out in the 11th, Samuel Basallo’s run-scoring groundout gave them the lead at 4-3. The game should have been tied before it ended.
With one out and the ghost runner on third, Anthony flied out to center. However the runner at third (Eaton) inexplicably didn’t tag up and run. If you combine that with the fact that the Orioles loaded the bases in the eighth, ninth, and tenth (and pitched out of it), it stands to reason that they pulled a rabbit out of a hat. As many times as they’ve lost despite conventional wisdom this year, this time they got one back.
Birdland Crush 