Many fans thought last night’s game was over after Dean Kremer surrendered five runs for the Baltimore Orioles in the first inning. They may have been correct about the final result being a loss, but they were wrong about thr way it would happen. The game was far from over. Kremer’s line: 5.0 IP, 7 H, 7 R (6 earned), 1 BB, 4 K.
Following a leadoff walk, Kremer gave up a two-run homer to Correa. Then a solo home run to Sanchez, and later followed by another two-run shot by Caratini. When the smoke cleared, the Birds trailed 5-0.
Houston was swinging early. However one thing all of the pitches had in common was that they were on the fringes of the plate. They weren’t located in spots one would normally be able to hit the ball the way those balls were struck. And they weren’t just home runs – they were majestic shots.
Has Houston picked up on something Kremer was doing to tip his pitches? Or were they just expecting Kremer to pitch to the black of the plate? Either way, Kremer did settle down a bit. So again another question; did the ORIOLES pick up on Kremer tipping pitches?
For what it’s worth, Kremer continued to pitch to the fringes of the plate. Even on at-bats where he easily retired hitters. Presunably the analytics are telling them there’s a greater probability of victory using that modus operandi.
However as I said, the game was far from over. Gunnar Henderson’s seeing eye RBI-single in the last of the first got the O’s on the board. Henderson proceeded to steal second, and later in the inning he scored as part of Colton Cowser’s two-RBI single. In one half inning, the O’s were within two.
And one inning later, Ryan Mountcastle’s two-run single tied it at five. However Houston allowed the O’s to tie it a couple of times. But they could never quite make it over the hump. Caratini’s grounded into a fielder’s choice in the third with two runners in scoring position. Vimael Machin looked the runner back to third, and threw to first…
…and the rubber at third (Altuve) broke for home as soon as Machin started to throw the ball. Coby Mayo fired and errant throw to the plate, which allowed another run to score. And the O’s trailed 7-5.
That was risky. There’s a reason we use the term looked the runner back to third. Altuve basically mandated that either he was going to be out at home plate, a run was going to score, OR the bases would have been loaded with no out recorded. That sort of aggressiveness looks great on paper and so forth – but it’s risky. Yet it worked.
Jeremiah Jackson’s first big league home run came in the fourth, a solo shot. Colton Cowser would smack a long solo homer in the fifth, tying the game again at seven. But Walker once again hit the O’s hard in the seventh with a two-run home run, putting Houston over the top. Jeremiah Jackson would bring the O’s to within one with an RBI-single in the ninth, but the tying run remained on base.
The series concludes this afternoon at Camden Yards. Trevor Rogers gets the start for the Orioles, and he’ll be opposed by Houston’s Spencer Arrighetti. Game time is set for just after 1:30 PM.
Birdland Crush 