Everyone with the Baltimore Orioles remembers last weekend’s series against New York in the Bronx. Needless to say, the O’s sent Brandon Young out there this evening at Camden Yards in the first game of three against New York. Young wasn’t stellar, per se. But not awful either. Young’s line: 5.1 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 3 BB, 5 K.
New York, despite what they did to the Orioles last weekend, came into the game having been swept over the weekend in Milwaukee. And Young, despite having a long first inning, seemed to play on that for awhile. He did issue a walk in the third with one out, followed by a two-run homer by Rice. And the O’s trailed, 2-0.
But that was Young’s only real blip in the radar. He did keep the Orioles in the game. Oriole bats, that is, who couldn’t even muster a hit for some time. NY starter Weathers threw low changeups all night. And the Orioles swung through many of them.
However with Weathers tiring in the last of the seventh, Adley Rutschman hacked away at yet another changeup down low. But this time he made contact, and muscled the ball into right field. At the very least, the Birds wouldn’t be no-hit on this night.
Tyler O’Neill walked, giving the O’s two on. New York lifted Weathers, and Coby Mayo strode to the plate. Mind you, Mayo has been much maligned of late – and perhaps rightfully so. He also wasn’t in the original lineup – one hour before game time Craig Albernaz inserted him into the lineup in lieu of Samuel Basallo – who’s knee was injured after the play at the plate yesterday.
What could have been expected of Mayo in the moment is beside the point. He sent a high drive towards the left field foul pole. It was a matter of whether it stayed fair…as it wrapped itself around the pole for a three-run home run, Coby Mayo sent Camden Yards into a frenzy. And the hometown team led, 3-2.
That’s as big a moment in a game as you’re going to see. Especially for a guy who’s struggled mightily in games to this point. And for one who wasn’t supposed to be in the game at all. Needless to say, he played a crucial role in bringing it home this evening.
Rico Garcia replaced Detrich Enns (who pitched well in relief, and was credited with the win) for the eighth. And he was thrown right into the fray, but sent New York down 1-2-3. He struck out Rice and Bellinger, and in between he induced a Judge fly out on the second pitch. That in and of itself might have been the most important moment of the game.
It also meant that Anthony Nunez was through the heart of the order in taking the ball in the ninth. That doesn’t necessarily mean anything, however. With one out McMahon sent a deep shot to right, which appeared to be out at first glance. However Tyler O’Neill felt he had a shot. And he caught the ball jumping right up against the wall. A game-saving catch.
New York did get a runner on however, in the form of Goldschmidt. New York pinch-ran Caballero, who’s about to go back to NY tomorrow for an MRI on his finger. But they used him in that capacity for his speed. After two throw-overs by Nunez, Caballero tried to steal second. He was called safe, but the Orioles challenged. The replay clearly showed Blaze Alexander fielding Adley Rutschman’s throw and just glazing Caballero’s jersey, meaning he was out and the game was over.
That’s a big win. This on the heels of last weekend’s series. But as many individual plays and players combined to win this game, none was bigger than Coby Mayo. He’s had a tough go of it lately. Many fans and analysts alike have called him out both at the plate and in the field. For one game at least, he played the hero.
The series continues tomorrow at Camden Yards. The Orioles are yet to announce a starter, but whomever he is will be opposed by New York’s Will Warren. Game time is set for just after 6:30 PM.
Birdland Crush 