Shane Baz went to the bump at “the Fens” for the Baltimore Orioles this evening. If something turned in terms of the direction of the season over the just-completed home stand, it continued to turn tonight in game one of three against Boston. Baz’s line: 7.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 6 K.
Earlier in the season the Orioles didn’t necessarily try to strike guys out. It seemed that they wanted teams to put balls in play, and they were. Something seems to have shifted, because as strikeouts have piled up, so have wins.
Baz actually started in an inauspicious manner tonight, giving up a leadoff triple. Boston would then take a 1-0 lead on Abreu’s sac fly-RBI. However Baz limited the damage, and got himself and his team back in the dugout. You can live with that – most games aren’t going to end 1-0. Especially at Fenway Park.
And Baz was rewarded for limiting the damage. Coby Mayo smacked a solo homer to tie the game at one in the second. A home run that was reviewed, for the record. It appeared to clear the green monster, yet it was called a double. Upon review, Mayo was awarded home plate and a home run.
Following an Adley Rutschman single in the third, Pete Alonso smacked a two-run homer that didn’t need to be reviewed. It was a no-doubter, and the O’s led, 3-1. And Shane Baz followed the lead of his teammates from there. He mowed down hitter after hitter throughout his start.
Blaze Alexander would tack on a sac fly-RBI in the fourth, as would Boston’s Mayer in the fifth. Incidentally, that Alexander sacrifice fly was set up by Leody Taveras sacrifice bunt. Needless to say, the O’s are starting to manufacture runs, which is a good thing.
Whether it’s intended or not, Taveras has begun making bunting more and more a part of his game. Later in the game he bunted for a base hit. This is a welcome addition to the lineup, as it gives the Orioles and old school element of their offense. More than just hitting the ball hard.
With the 4-2 win, the Orioles now have their fourth three-game winning streak of the season. Tomorrow night they’ll go for their first four-game win streak. Needless to say, the season appears to be turning around – for now.
The series continues tomorrow night at Fenway Park. Chris Bassitt gets the start for the Birds, and he’ll be opposed by Boston’s Payton Tolle. Game time is set for 6:45 PM.
Birdland Crush 