For the second consecutive night, the Baltimore Orioles got a great start out of their starter. Kyle Bradish didn’t surrender an earned run. And yet he was haunted by defensive miscues, earning the loss. Bradish’s line: 6.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R (zero earned), 0 BB, 4 K.
Jackson Holliday’s solo homer in the first put the O’s ahead, 1-0. Duran got on board for Texas in the second on an infield hit. The ball was perfectly placed, and Christian Encarnacion-Strand had to eat it.
Bradish would attempt a pickoff, and an errant throw would send Duran to third. Carter would drive in the run on a fielder’s choice, tying the game. To make matters worse, Gunnar Henderson fielded the ball that Carter put in play, and threw home to try to cut off the run. The run scored, and the runner was safe at first base.
I suppose it’s fair to say that if he nails the runner, it was a good decision. But he didn’t; so it wasn’t. It would have made more sense to take what the offense is giving you – an out at first base.
Bradish would surrender another single, and the runner would go to second on a wild pitch. That runner would later come around to score on an E5. Bradish allowed two runs, both unearned.
To make matters worse, Oriole bats weren’t coming through. The Birds were only 0-for-3 in the game with RISP. They couldn’t get guys on, over, or in. Which is a huge problem.
Seager would smack a three-run homer in the eighth to cement the game for Texas. Again, when you barely threaten over nine innings. And when you do threaten, you allow the opposing team to get themselves out of it.
The series concludes tomorrow at Globe Life Field. Cade Povich gets the start for the Orioles, and he’ll be opposed by Texas’ Kumar Rocker Game time is set for 1:30 PM.
Birdland Crush 