The Baltimore Orioles sent Brandon Young to the mound late last night in game one of three against the Athletics in Sacramento. AndYoung didn’t disappoint, pitching to a quality start. Yojng’s line: 7.0 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 4 K.
The O’s struck first, with Dylan Beavers driving in a run in the second with an RBI-single. Carlos Narvaez would later reach on a fielding error, extending the lead to 2-0. That inning began with a walk to Coby Mayo to lead off the inning. Nothing good happens after a walk – unless you’re the team at bat.
Young pitched valiantly, only surrendering a solo home run in the last of the seventh. Craig Alberbaz pulled him after that, however that cost Young the win. Rico Garcia allowed a HBP and a single, followed by a sacrifice bunt. That put two runners in scoring position, and the Athletics immediately took advantage. Butler’s RBI-single tied the game at two.
Luckily for the O’s, the second runner was out at home plate. So the game was still tied, however the O’s did surrender the lead. Then or at all.
The game went to extra innings, and the Birds immediately took advantage of the ghost runner. The Athletics wanted nothing to do with Pete Alonso, so they intentionally walked him in the top of the tenth. However Coby Mayo’s run-scoring single gave the O’s a 3-2 lead. Christian Encarnacion-Strand would immediately follow with an RBI-single To pad the lead at 4-2.
And it’s a good thing he did, as Gelof’s run-scoring single in the last of the tenth cut the lead to 4-3. But that was the best that the Athletics could muster, sending the Birds to a 4-3 victory. The Orioles now stand two games out of a postseason spot.
The series continues tonight at Suter Health Park. Shane Baz gets the start for the O’s, and he’ll be opposed by the Athletics’ Jack Perkins. Game time is set for just after 10 PM.
Birdland Crush 