St. Louis came to Ed Smith Stadium this afternoon, with Chris Bassitt on the bump for the Baltimore Orioles. Bassitt of course was the Orioles’ big off season signing in pitching, and he had a semi-successful outing today in anticipation of the regular season. Bassitt’s line: 3.0 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 2 K.
The lone run that Bassitt surrendered actually crossed home plate after he exited. With runners at the corners in the top of the fourth, Walker grounded into an out, scoring the runner from third. The O’s would tie the game at one in the bottom of the inning on Ryan Mountcastle’s RBI-single.
Two RBI-singles by St. Louis in the fifth gave them a 5-1 lead. Velazquez would smack a solo home run in the sixth to extend that to 4-1 all this off the Oriole bullpen, who’s expected to be without and injured Andrew Kittredge at the start of the regular season. St. Louis would tack on a ninth run in the ninth inning on a GIDP, and a tenth on a wild pitch.
St. Louis would also drive in two in the seventh on a two-run homer by Baez. The Orioles didn’t get much going in the way of offense today, but you have to keep in mind that it’s only spring training. There’s no game plan per se. But the Birds did tack one back on before it ended. Willy Vasquez’s RBI-double cut the final to 10-2.
The O’s have a split squad day tomorrow with most of the regulars taking on Minnesota at Ed Smith Stadium. Cade Povich gets the start for the Orioles, and he’ll be opposed by Minnesota’s Mick Abel. Game time is set for just after 1 PM.
Birdland Crush 