The Baltimore Orioles sent Trevor Rogers to the mound last night in Cincinnati to open a three-game series. If it begins and ends with starting pitching, it began and ended last night with Trevor Rogers setting the tone for the ballgame. He only went five innings, but that’s all the Orioles needed. Rogers’ line: 5.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 5 BB, 4 K.
As we’ve said previously, things happen when you put the ball in play or guys on base. With two on in the first, Pete Alonso was called out on strikes to record the second out of the inning – and of the game. The O’s attempted a double steal on the play, with Gunnar Henderson trying for third. As he slid in safely, he was also able to score on a throwing error with the ball going into left field.
Again, you never know what’s going to happen when you put people on base. In that instance it yielded the Orioles a run. With a runner at third and two outs in the third, it did the same. This time however, it came on a two-run homer by Samuel Basallo. And the Orioles led, 3-0.
As great as Rogers was, the bullpen equaled him. They put up zero’s across every inning. Most notably, with Ryan Helsley again on the IL, one question was who was going to close. Last night it was Tyler Wells, who put up zero’s just like the rest of his pitching brethren. And the Birds sailed to a 3-0 victory in the opening game in the Emerald City.
The series continues this evening at the Great American Ballpark. Brandon Young gets the start for the Birds, and he’ll be opposed by Cincinnati’s Hunter Greene. Game time is set for 7:10 PM.
Birdland Crush 