You can’t pitch better than Shane Baz did tonight for the Baltimore Orioles. Sadly tonight’s game against Philadelphia was also par for the course, as the Orioles don’t seem to score runs in games when Baz pitches. Beginning and ending with tonight – where they put up zero. Baz’s line: 6.1 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 4 K.
Philadelphia’s starter Sanchez matched Baz. Both were outstanding. The Orioles lost a challenge in the third inning, on a pitch that was outside the strike zone by over an inch and a half. In the moment however it was a non-issue because Baz got out of the inning. In the moment being a key phrase there.
Philadelphia would take a 1-0 lead in the fifth on an RBI-single by De La Cruz. This with two outs in the inning, and on the heels of a walk. The only walk of the game that Baz issued. Which was followed by the only run of the game that he allowed.
Remember that bit above about that missed challenge not hurting the Orioles in the moment? It began to hurt them in the seventh when Taylor Ward missed their second and final challenge of the game. On a pitch that was clearly a strike. Putting them out of challenges for the game.
I fundamentally disagree with computers calling balls and strikes. But the system is what it is; the O’s haven’t been good with challenges this year – either offensively or defensively. They either challenge the wrong pitches or let bad calls go unchecked. Or, they shoot their wad early and often.
With Philadelphia still leading 1-0 in the top of the eight, Schwarber walked on a full count with one out. Ball four was CLEARLY in the strike zone to the naked eye. A fact that was backed up by pitch track. But the Orioles couldn’t challenge. Grant Wolfram tapped his hat, but the Birds were out of challenges. Everyone in the ballpark knew thatwas strike three. But it went as ball four.
Following a second walk and a wild pitch, Bohm’s RBI-single extended the lead to 2-0. After Bohm’s RBI-single it was 3-0. Crawford would tack on a two-RBI single later in the game, extending the lead to 5-0. Most of the runs in that sequence came off of walks…
…and nothing good happens after a walk. Walks may only equal one base, but they’re runners on base. Philadelphia took advantage of their opportunities once those runners got on. Meanwhile the Orioles were 0-for-3 with RISP. You can’t win games like that.
You also can’t win games by challenging pitches that you have no business challenging, leading to you being out of challenges. Again, that system isn’t something in which I believe. But it’s there, and you have to utilize it correctly. When the Orioles were faced with a pitch that was an OBVIOUS strike three, they couldn’t enforce it.
It’s easy enough to say that it’s nobody’s fault but their own that they allowed the inning to balloon after that. AND that they couldn’t put a run on the board, losing 5-0. And that’s true. However does nobody on and two outs not sound better than one on and one out? Do we think that inning still balloons the way it did if that’s a strike three instead of a ball four? And make no mistake, IT WAS a strike three.
The series concludes tomorrow afternoon at Camden Yards. Kyle Bradish gets the start for the O’s, and he’ll be opposed by Philadelphia’s Zack Wheeler. Game time is set for just after 1:30 PM.
Birdland Crush 