For the second time in a week, the Baltimore Orioles won a game thanks to a big inning. Last night in Toronto, starter Chris Bassitt was the beneficiary. Granted, you would rather a more balanced attack across the entire game, but whatever gets the job done and wins the game. Bassitt’s line: 5.0 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 3 BB, 5 K.
Dylan Beavers hit the second pitch of the ballgame out of the park, giving the O’s an early lead. Toronto threatened in the bottom of the inning, but Bassitt pitched out of it. Perhaps with an assist from a pickoff at first base by Samuel Basallo. Also a bizarre (non) challenge on what ended up being strike three to end the inning – also by Basallo.
The O’s used three base hits to load the bases to lead off the second. Keep in mind that over the course of the season, we’ve seen this happen and the O’s ground into a double-play, netting one run. But Heston Kjerstad broke that mold, lining an RBI-single to right field – and the bases remained loaded.
In the immediate aftermath, Colton Cowser’s two-RBI double extended the lead to 4-0. That brought Beavers back to the plate, and he complimented his first inning home run with a two-RBI single. All of that before the Orioles recorded an out in the second inning.
Bassitt pitched out of a few other jams along the way. He did give up a solo home run to Okamoto in the fourth. He began to tire in the sixth, putting a couple of runners in base. He left the game before recording an out, and reliever Josh Walker allowed on run to score – on an RBI-groundout. But he closed the inning down, and the O’s lead stood at 6-2.
Coby Mayo gave them what amounted to an insurance run with a solo homer in the seventh. They didn’t totally need that run, but it always helps. Toronto got an eleventh hour two run homer from Bateman in the last of the ninth, which needless to say made the Orioles nervous. But the closed out a 7-4 win north of the border.
The series continues this afternoon at Rogers Centre. Kyle Bradish gets the start for the O’s, and he’ll be opposed by Toronto’s Spencer Miles. Game time is set for just after 3 PM.
Birdland Crush 