The Baltimore Orioles sent Trey Gibson to the mound this afternoon against San Diego, this in lieu of the injured Chris Bassitt. The young Gibson turned in a so-so outing, which is fine for a young pitcher. But he also set the tone early in the ballgame. Gibson’s line: 4.1 IP, 3 H, 6 R, 5 BB, 7 K.
Gibson gave up two two-run homers in the first inning. One off the back of Merrill (a Baltimore native), and the other off the bat of Taylor. Both came on the heels of walks. And nothing good ever happens after a walk.
But the Orioles immediately got back into the game. Pete Alonso smacked a solo home run in the last of the first. Samuel Basallo immediately drew a walk, and then scored on Leody Taveras’ RBI-triple. Nothing good ever happens after a walk (for the team in the field).
On top of that, Gibson stabilized. He started mowing hitters down with strikeouts. Again, it was a so-so outing for Gibson. It wasn’t disastrous. So he has a few things on which to hang his hat in this outing.
In the fifth however something good DID at least appear to happen after a walk for Gibson. He induced a nifty double-play…which on review was overturned. The runner at first was safe, so San Diego had one on and one out in lieu of two outs and nobody on. Big difference, especially when Gibson hit Bogaerts in the head in the next at-bat.
It was obviously not intentional. A littbit down the line in the game, Bogaerts would come out. However San Diego would also plate two runs in the wake of that with the bases loaded. Taylor sent a bloop RBI-single that was very softly hit into center, and Solak added a sac fly-RBI.
As I’ve said before, the O’s play their outfield very deep. Which in general is risky, but especially when you induce as much soft contact as the O’s do. It seems the last two years each time they’ve turned around someone else was hitting a bloop into the outfield – and getting on base.
San Diego would extend the lead in the seventh on a solo home run by Sheets – also an area native. But the O’s did try to rally. Pete Alonso’s RBI-double in the last of the seventh got the Birds to within 7-3. But San Diego wasn’t going to be stopped on this day. Duran would hit a solo home run in the eighth and they went home 9-3 winners. The ninth run coming on a solo home run by Machado in the ninth.
The sad thing about the Duran home run probably should have never happened. Duran’s. Their backup catcher, and he entered the game because the starting catcher Fermin got crossed up warming up a new pitcher, and had to leave the game. Depending on his and Bogaerts’ status’ San Diego may be playing with a short bench tomorrow.
The end of the game wasn’t without controversy, however. San Diego seemed to purposely target Gunnar Henderson in the wake of Bogaerts being hit – which seemed like nothing more than a tragic mistake. They threw at him twice, and missed both times.
Then with two out in the last of the ninth reliever Maranaccio drilled him. Henderson and manager Craig Albernaz were visibly upset, and the umpires huddled up. After a short discussion, Maranaccio was ejected.
Answer Craig Stammen wasn’t far behind, as he vehemently argued that the ejection was unwarranted given the lack of a warning. Gibson hitting Bogaerts wasn’t intentional, but if you want to retaliate, fine. They made their point in brushing Henderson. In short, they had their chance. They couldn’t do it. When they went back to the well again and in garbage time at that…needless to say it was intentional and the ejection was well-warranted.
The series concludes tomorrow at Camden Yards. Trevor Rogers gets the start for the O’s, and he’ll be opposed by San Diego’s Walker Buehler. Game time is set for just after 1:30 PM.
Birdland Crush 