Chris Bassitt attacked the strike zone in game one of this afternoon’s doubleheader against Houston for the Baltimore Orioles. Brandon Young tried to live on the corners and outside of the strike zone in the second game. The Birds blew Houston out in the first game. Not so much in the second. Young’s line: 4.0 IP, 10 H, 10 R (7 earned), 2 BB, 2 K.
In short, Houston had two big innings in the ballgame. Those being the first and the fourth. Harris’ two-RBI single in the first set the tone, giving Houston a 2-0 lead. Later in the inning a three-run home run by Smith extended the lead to 5-0.
Alvarez would tack on a solo home run in the second, before Houston would tack on six in the fourth inning. They led 10-0 at that point, and sent nine to the plate in the inning. However the fourth inning was also noteworthy because Pete Alonso got the O’s on the board with an RBI-double, and Leody Taveras would cut the lead to 10-3 with a two-RBI triple.
Houston would tack on an additional run in the fifth on a wild pitch. But the O’s would tack on two more before all was said and done. Gunnar Henderson’s RBI-double in the seventh, and Coby Mayo’s sac fly-RBI in the ninth. But the O’s fell in the second game of two, 11-5.
I wrote this a lot last year; you HAVE to attack the strike zone. Whichever AI program the Orioles use which tells them to live off the plate isn’t working. We often hear that pitchers don’t want to give in and throw a fastball. Sometimes that’s how you make your living.
If you don’t attack the strike zone, firstly you’ll walk a lot of guys. But the second phase of this is that opposing teams seemingly know where the ball is going to be – BECAUSE they have the same AI/analytical programs. So they’re sitting on your cutter or sweeper off the plate, similar to how they might sit on a fastball. Which defeats the purpose.
You have to attack the strike zone. I’m not suggesting that you should live in the middle of the plate – BAD IDEA. But that’s why mixing your pitches is important. And we saw that contrast in game one vs. game two.
All of that said, fans should keep in mind that the Orioles did take two of three from Houston. They split a doubleheader, which is the law of averages. In fact, teams in generaly dislike doubleheaders – not because of the lack of rest, but because it’s all but accepted that you end up splitting it. Meaning it’s a guaranteed loss.
Again, two of three. That should be the goal in every series. So consider this a bounce back series after the Boston series over the weekend.
The O’s now head to New York to open up a four-game weekend set at Yankee Stadium. The Birds are yet to announce a starter for tomorrow night’s game, but whomever he is will be opposed by New York’s Will Warren. Game time is set for just after 7 PM.
Birdland Crush 