Brandon Young was only the most recent victim of the defensive miscues committed by the Baltimore Orioles. Not even necessarily on the field – although the stat line would disagree. But more so by whomever works out the lineup before the game. Young’s line: 3.2 IP, 8 H, 6 R, 2 BB, 2 K.
That’s not a good stat line. But Cleveland’s the sort of team who puts the ball in play and sort of plays things out. This as opposed to always trying to hit the ball hard.
Kwan led the game off with a double, and he scored on an RBI-single by Adell. One inning later Martinez led off the second with a triple. But it probably should have been a double; it was misplayed by Leody Taveras in the right field corner.
Martinez would score on an RBI-single by Bailey. Taveras would also misjudge a line drive later in the inning, leading a base hit. Bazzana’s three-run homer would extend the lead to 5-0. One inning later in the third Halpin’s RBI-single would extend the lead to 6-0.
Taveras is a center fielder by trade. The Orioles almost internally insert people anywhere they can if it helps their stats on offense. Defense matters also. And because the O’s didn’t pay attention to that, they found themselves in a 6-0 hole.
Samuel Basallo would ground out with the bases loaded in the fourth, cutting the lead to 6-1. In fairness to Taveras, he would bounce back in the fifth. His RBI-double in the fifth cut the lead to 6-2. Later in the inning Pete Alonso would cut it to a one-run lead with a three-run home run.
However a four-run seventh would seal the Orioles’ fate. To make matters worse, Gunnar Henderson would leave the game in the eighth after fouling a pitch off his food. If he misses time, the Orioles will find themselves in a world of trouble.
The series concludes tomorrow at Camden Yards. Shane Baz gets the start for the O’s, and he’ll be opposed by Boston’s Foster Grittin. Game time is set for just after 6:30 PM.
Birdland Crush 