In his first start since chasing perfection, Brandon Young struggled early for the Baltimore Orioles. Ironically against Houston, the same team against whom he chased perfection last week. But despite giving up a plethora of runs early, Young steadied himself – which was good to see. What wasn’t good to see was how he left the game. Young’s line: 5.1 IP, 9 H, 7 R, 2 BB, 1 K.
Young gave up a two-run home run to Walker, a former Oriole, in the first inning. And seemingly the rout was on. Following a Caratini single in the second, the Orioles appeared to erase the base runner with a ground ball double play. But Houston challenged the call at first, which was easily overturned.
Following another walk, Correa’s two-RBI single gave Houston a 4-0 lead. That challenge call ended up being huge in the inning and in the game. That went from erasing the baserunners to being a fielder’s choice with one on and one out.
One Orioles’ highlight was Dylan Beavers’ first career home run, and it came in the last of the second. That cut the lead to 4-1, but Houston kept the pressure on. Sanchez added an RBI-single in the third, and Diaz a two-run homer which busted the game wide open.
However Brandon Young stopped the bleeding. He retired ten of the final twelve hitters he faced. Many will argue that the damage was already done, and it was. But he found a way to stabilize himself, and lasted until the sixth inning.
And he was lifted with one out in the sixth. He covered first on a routine ground ball in the infield, and pulled up lame after recording the out. My initial concern was an Achilles tendon, but when he limped off the field…needless to say at least he walked (gingerly). The Orioles later said he had hamstring discomfort.
So add Brandon Young to the list of injuries. You can also re-add Adley Rutschman, who went on the IL before the game with an oblique strain – the opposite side of his previous injury. This puts Samuel Basallo as the everyday catcher going forward – at least into September.
On top of that, Felix Bautista had season-ending shoulder surgery, and will miss at least twelve months. That’s devastating for Bautista AND the Orioles. But it’s been next man up literally since March, so they’ll have to find a way. Things are slightly better on the Jordan Westburg front; Westburg is day-to-day with a sore right ankle.
In the bottom of that sixth inning Dylan Beavers would ground into a force out which yielded a run, cutting the lead to 7-2. Luckily the Orioles’ bullpen was strong last night, despite being called into action abruptly. Kyle Bradish is expected to join the team next week for the Boston series, and it could very well be Brandon Young going to the IL as a corresponding move. Tyler Wells is expected back after September 1st,
The series continues this evening at Camden Yards. Cade Povich gets the start for the Orioles, and he’ll be opposed by Houston’s Lance McCullers. Game time is set for just after 7 PM.
Birdland Crush 