Author Archives: Domenic Vadala

Welcome to Birdland Crush! Yes folks, for the record it's a spin off of the popular summer beverage native to the Mid-Atlantic Region - "orange crush." Nevertheless, I've been covering Orioles' baseball since 2009 in some capacity, and it's basically the greatest gig of all time so far as I'm concerned! But for those who aren't familiar with my work or bio, I'm familiar with pretty much every sport out there. But baseball is king - we all know that. So my hope is that you come back and check in after every Orioles' game, and throughout the off-season. I'm always on duty!

Baltimore Orioles: Don’t let guys on base

Shane Baz was good last night for the Baltimore Orioles in Kansas City. He also had his starting catcher, Adley Rutschman, back from injury. Baz didn’t get a quality start, but he pitched well enough to win. Baz’s line: 6.1 IP, 8 H, 4 R, 2 BB, 4 K.

The Birds put two on base in the second, and Coby Mayo smacked a three-run home run. The Orioles led 3-0, and appeared to be off to the races. However Kansas City chipped away. Massey’s sac fly-RBI in the bottom of the frame cut the lead to 3-1. That was aided by a Baz wild pitch, advancing the runner to third.

Garcia’s RBI-double in the fifth would cut the lead to 3-2. he would later steal third base, and then score on a sac fly-RBI by Pasquantino. That tied the game in the fifth.

Kansas City took a brief lead in the seventh on Witt’s sac fly-RBI. Aldo a derivative of a stolen base. However one inning later it was the Orioles who got the lead back – albeit also briefly. Adley Rutschman’s two-run homer gave them a 5-4 lead.

But again, a brief lead. Massey’s solo home run in the last of the eighth tied it back up at five. Ryan Helsley came in to pitch the ninth in a tie game, and walked the first two hitters. He did buckle down and strike out the next hitter, but the two runners advanced into scoring position on a wild pitch. Yes, a strikeout and a wild pitch in the same moment. Helsley would later uncork another wild pitch which ticked away from Rutschman, allowing the winning run to score.

The scoring in this game was consistent with how both teams do things. The Orioles relied on the home run ball. Kansas City took advantage of runners getting on base, and advancing on base. Every runner is a potential run. And when you allow those runners to advance, you come closer and closer to allowing that.

The series concludes this afternoon at Kauffman Stadium. Chris Bassitt gets the start for the Birds, and he’ll be opposed by Kansas City’s Michael Wacha. Game time is set for just after 2 PM.

Baltimore Orioles: Biggest win of the season

The Baltimore Orioles and Kyle Bradish were reminded last night of why baseball is such a great game. Oriole bats couldn’t do much until late. But neither could Kansas City. Bradish’s line: 5.1 IP, 10 H, 1 R, 3 BB, 7 K.

Bradish was good last night. Plain and simple. They say that solo home runs won’t hurt you. That is assuming you can muster a single run preferably more. If you can’t do that, yes solo home runs will very much hurt you. As we moved through the game, the solo homer by Caglianone in the third seemed to stand up for Kansas City.

Gunnar Henderson led off the game by being picked off at first base. It happened again in the ninth. Those may have been the Orioles’ best shot to get on the board.

Until it wasn’t. Samuel Basallo’s RBI-single in the top of the ninth drove in a run, tying the game at one. Basallo was down to his final strike – as were the Orioles. The teams couldn’t score in the tenth, but with the ghost runner being a factor, Dylan Beavers’ run-scoring single in the eleventh gave the Birds a 2-1 lead.

Down to his final out and strike in the bottom of the inning, Witt smacked a run-scoring single. Also the result of the ghost runner. And we played on.

You have to work hard to win a game at the big league level. It isn’t easy. Luckily the Orioles have guys who are gamers as well.

The ghost runner of course is in play in every inning of extra’s. Samuel Basallo led off the twelfth for the Birds, and smacked a run scoring single putting the O’s back in the lead at 3-2. A single and a walk later, the bases were loaded with nobody out.

Leody Taveras came to the plate with the O’s smelling an insurance run or two. Taveras didn’t deliver that – an insurance run or two. He didn’t better than that. He smacked a grand slam, propelling the Orioles deep into the lead at 7-2.

And they needed all of those runs in a sense. Kansas City loaded the bases also, and Loftin’s bases-clearing double cut the lead to 7-5. But the O’s closed it out after that, to take game one in Kansas City.

The season is young. But this is the biggest win of the year to date. The O’s struggled at the plate all night. But every time it really mattered, they found a way. It may have been at the eleventh hour, but they found a way.

The series continues this evening at Kauffman Stadium. Shane Baz gets the start for the O’s, and he’ll be opposed by Kansas City’s Kris Bubic. Game time is set for just after 7:30 PM,

Baltimore Orioles: Failed by inside-out strategy?

The Baltimore Orioles put runners on base today in Cleveland from the get go. You almost expected Trevor Rogers to come into the game with a lead. But that wasn’t to be the case. Rogers’ line: 5.0 IP, 6 H, 6 R (5 earned), 2 BB, 5 K.

Rogers committed a fielding error in the third, failing to tag first base on what should have been a routine put out. The runner would later score in Kwan’s sacrifice fly. That’s always been what AL Central teams do – you give them a slight amount of daylight and they find a way to make you pay.

Ramirez would continue his dominance of the Orioles with a fourth inning solo homer. Later in the inning Brito’s two-RBI double would double the lead to 4-0. Rocchio would add an RBI-single, and the Orioles trailed 5-0.

But the Orioles battled back. They would put two on in the fifth and Taylor Ward would smack a three-run home run to cut the lead to 5-3. The Birds would proceed to load the bases later in the inning. Dylan Beavers would ground into a fielder’s choice, which should have been an inning-ending play. However Jeremiah Jackson slid in safely at second instead of recording an out, allowing the O’s to cut the lead to 5-4.

But Cleveland was too much. They did the small things, and the big ones. Ramirez would hit a second solo home run in the last of the fifth, abd Rocchio’s two-RBI single in the eighth gave Cleveland some insurance. And they went home 8-4 winners over the Birds.

The Orioles swing for the fences every pitch – this in a figurative manner. Teams like Cleveland try to do the small things. That makes it all the more difficult to accept when extra-base hits get taken away by fielders making diving and outstanding plays – which happened several times today.

The two solo homers by Ramirez – they were on pitches that were either on the fringes of the plate, or off the plate entirely. And that was true of almost every pitch in the game. It’s been true most of the season, and it was true last year.

Obviously you don’t want pitches to be right down broadway. But what whichever computer program the Orioles are using to chart pitches can’t quite seem to grasp is that you have to attack the strike zone. Sometimes you have to overpower hitters. Obviously if you throw pitches off the plate, you’re going to eventually have runners on base. And eventually (as we’ve been seeing), opponents are going to actually know to look for pitches off the plate – and they’re going to go out or down to get them.

Offensively, if you prove you’re going to swing at balls, they’re going to throw you balls. The Orioles don’t want to work counts – they want to sit on a fastball and hit it a long way. To be clear, home runs do win you games. But that can’t be the only way in perpetuity.

The Orioles now head to Kansas City to open up a three-game set at Kauffman Stadium. Kyle Bradish gets the start for the O’s, and he’ll be opposed by Kansas City’s Seth Lugo. Game time is set for just after 7:30 PM.

Baltimore Orioles: Jeremiah Jackson leads the Birds to an unlikely win

After dropping a few games, the Baltimore Orioles needed a win last night at Progressive Field in Cleveland. Starter Chris Bassit walked a tightrope throughout his outing, but remained clean in the runs box. Bassit’s line: 5.0 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 4 BB, 2 K.

Bassit pitched himself into a few jams, namely loading the bases. But he also pitched out of those jams. The same was true on the other side as well. The Birds were able to put runners on, just not get them in. They would square balls up and hit them hard, but they would either be right at someone or the fielder would make the play of his life to get to it.

The O’s loaded the bases again in the last of the seventh, with the final runner being out on by an intentional walk. Grant Wolfram entered the game, and immediately struck out a hitter for the second out. But the Birds couldn’t walk the tightrope again, as Wolfram surrendered a grand slam to Schneeman, and the O’s trailed 4-0.

After dangling by a thread the entire game, it appeared that the O’s wouid fall to their fourth straight loss. But baseball can be funny. Especially when there’s still an inning or two left.

The Orioles turned around and loaded the bases in the eighth with nobody out. This on two walks and a hitter batsman. Jonathan Rodriguez’s sac fly-RBI cut the lead to 4-1. Following a walk, Weston Wilson slugged the O’s back into the game with a two-RBI double, cutting the lead to 4-3.

That in and of itself was something, right? In a tie game if you give up a late grand slam, you probably feel like it’s over. Not this team. Jeremiah Jackson came to the plate with two runners still on in the eighth. And…

…his three-run homer propelled the Orioles into the lead. In the sequence of events leading to Cleveland’s grand slam, Jackson’s error helped to load the bases. I’d say he more than made up for it.

Cleveland went relatively quietly after that.. And how could they not?! They had their moment. Then it was the Orioles’ turn. And behind a mammoth shot by Jeremiah Jackson, they seized their opportunity.

The series continues this evening at Progressive Field. Dean Kremer gets the start for the Orioles, and he’ll be opposed by Cleveland’s Gavin Williams. Game time is set for just after 6 PM.

Baltimore Orioles: Tough loss in Cleveland opener

The Baltimore Orioles didn’t get their first hit in tonight’s game in Cleveland until the 9th inning. Shane Baz surrendered four runs, but also put his team in a spot to win. Oriole bats just didn’t cooperate until the end. Baz’s line: 6.0 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 3 BB, 6 K.

Following a first inning walk, Baz surrendered a two-run homer to Ramirez to give Cleveland a 2-0 lead. However as the game wore on the O’s couldn’t even muster a hit. Cleveland would tack on two more as the game wore on, taking a 4-0 lead into the ninth.

The question is, how could the O’s not even get a hit to that point? This against a starter in Cleveland’s Messick, who’s a rookie? The answer is that Oriole bats were impatient this evening. Very impatient.

You have to work counts. You can’t swing at the first halfway decent pitch you see. Furthermore, keep in mind that the league knows that the Orioles adhere only to analytics. Do we think that even a rookie pitcher isn’t going to know to pitch them a certain way, inducing outs?

However luckily, even Messick tired. Leody Taveras’ single in the ninth broke up the no-hitter. One thing led to another, and the Birds had the bases loaded with nobody out. Gunnar Henderson would get the O’s on the board with a sac fly-RBI. Pete Alonso would then smack an RBI-double, and the O’s were in business. However Cleveland would close it out, and the O’s fell, 4-2.

On a side note, if you follow me on Twitter, I’ve been hacked! I’m not sure I can recover my account, but I’m trying – if possible at all, it may take a few days. But you can follow me on Threads at a similar handle: @@domenic_vadala.

The series continues tomorrow at Progressive Field. Chris Bassitt gets the start for the O’s, and he’ll be opposed by Cleveland’s Tanner Bibee. Game time is set for just after 6 PM.

Baltimore Orioles’ win streak snapped at three

Trevor Rogers suffered his first loss of the season this evening at Camden Yards against Arizona. Also a game which snapped the Birds’ three-game winning streak. But you know what that means; time to start a new streak tomorrow. Rogers’ line: 4.2 IP, 9 H, 4 R, 1 BB, 6 K.

The Orioles seemed to pick right up where they left off last night. Samuel Basallo smacked a solo homer in the second to give the O’s a 1-0 lead. The Orioles would also load the bases in the third, and tacked on a second run when Leody Taveras walked.

However that was all they got out of that inning. When you load the bases you need to yield more than one run. Only getting the one is a win for the defense.

Rogers would surrender a three-run homer to Vargas in the fifth, putting Arizona in the lead, 3-2. Fernandez would tack on an RBI-double, and Arizona extended their lead to 4-2. That stemmed from a single and a walk. Remember folks, nothing good happens after a walk.

The O’s did try to battle back. Leody Taveras’ RBI-single in the eighth cut the lead to 4-3. But Arizona closed out the Birds the rest of the way, ending their winning streak.

You have to take advantage of opportunities with runners on base. Arizona did tonight. The O’s didn’t. That’s the story of this game. But again, there’s always tomorrow, and a chance to win the series.

The series concludes tomorrow at Camden Yards. Kyle Bradish gets the start for the O’s, and he’ll be opposed by Arizona’s Eduardo Rodriguez. Game time is set for just after 12:30 PM.

Baltimore Orioles: “Action Jackson” for the win!

The Baltimore Orioles called Dean Kremer up from triple-A Norfolk for his first start of the season tonight. In short, “Deano” needs to prevent the long ball. That’s what plagued him tonight. Luckily his teammates picked him up. Kremer’s line: 5.0 IP, 6 H, 4 R (2 earned), 0 BB, 9 K,

Kremer and the Orioles trailed from the first pitch. Marte hit it over the wall for a solo homer. Arizona appeared poised to make contact, and Kremer was pitching to contact. Not a good combination. The zero walks also indicates that. To prove he wasn’t kidding, Marte smacked another solo shot in the third to extend the lead to 2-0.

The O’s tried to battle back against Arizona starter, Nelson. Gunnar Henderson’s RBI-triple in the last of the third cut the lead to 2-1. However Arizona issued what they felt was a coup de grace with a two-run homer by Arenado in the fourth. To make matters worse, he would smack a three-run shot in the sixth, and the Birds trailed 7-1.

Needless to say, you don’t want to spot someone a 7-1 lead. That much goes without saying. However this is a group of Orioles who over the past few seasons have learned a thing or two about coming back. That’s one of the good parts about having a core group that’s played together for awhile. That and becoming new talent.

With two on in the last of the sixth, Leody Taveras smacked an RBI-single in the last of the sixth. A walk would then bring Jeremiah Jackson to the plate with the bases loaded. The rest, as they say, is history.

Keep in mind, Jackson wasn’t always going to be on the roster. At least to start the year. But due to injuries, he’s here. And it’s a darned good thing he is.

With the bases loaded in the last of the sixth, Jackson sent a deep fly ball to left. Bear in mind also that at one time the O’s trailed 7-1 – overall a fairly safe lead. But when Jackson’s shot in the sixth went over the wall, the comeback was on. Jackson’s grand slam cut the lead to 7-6.

One inning later the struggling Pete Alonso smacked a two-run home run to give the Orioles the lead at 8-7. But to show he wasn’t kidding, Jackson came back up in the eighth and smacked a solo home run. The Birds would close out Arizona in the ninth, and went home 9-7 winners.

Make no mistake, that’s the biggest and most surprising win of the young season. It’s the kind of game that fans saw in 2023. Despite Jeremiah Jackson being the MVP by far, this was also a big game for Pete Alonso. We may well look back on him stealing that base on Saturday night as the catalyst for a big season.

The series continues tomorrow night at Camden Yards. Trevor Rogers gets the start for the Orioles, and he’ll be opposed by Arizona’s Merrill Kelly. Game time is set for just after 6:30 PM.

Baltimore Orioles: Cade Povich gifts a win on his birthrst

The Baltimore Orioles sent Cade Povich to the mound in this afternoon’s series finale with San Francisco at Camden Yards. The twist? It was his 26th birthday. Also the Oriole Bird’s birthday. And Povich didn’t back down on his special day. Povich’s line: 6.2 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 5 K.

Povich you’ll recall began the season in triple-A. He came up and last weekend gave the Orioles good innings to save the bullpen in Pittsburgh. As a result he was tabbed to start today. And on his birthday, he didn’t disappoint.

The two guys in the lineup who have been struggling the most, Pete Alonso and Samuel Basallo, may have attempted to break out today also. Mirroring last night( Alonso drew a walk in the last of the first. Which is good – despite the power outage, he’s getting on base.

Basallo followed, and smacked a two-run home run into the Orioles’ bullpen. With a 2-0 lead, Povich didn’t allow his first hit or base runner until the fifth. That runner would later score on an RBI-single by Susac. But he buckled down and closed out the inning.

That part’s big. You aren’t going to retire every batter. But you can attempt to limit damage when guys to get on. Povich stayed out of a big inning, and got back in the dugout.

In the home half of that fifth inning it was Alonso’s turn. With two runners on base, his two-RBI double extended the lead to 4-1. One inning later it was Coby Mayo’s turn, who followed through with an RBI-single to extend it to 5-1. Colton Cowser would tack on an infield RBI-single in the seventh, and San Francisco a solo homer by Schmidt in the ninth to run the final to 6-2.

Conventional wisdom says that Povich might be ticketed to go back to the minors. And in fact, the O’s need a starter tomorrow. But after this outing, who knows. He saved the bullpen, and steadied the ship even further.

As did Alonso and Basallo. Are things coming together more, despite the injuries? The future will tell us that. However that may have been the best start of Cade Povich’s career.

The Orioles are set to welcome in Arizona tomorrow night for the first of three at Camden Yards. The Orioles are yet to announce a starter, but Arizona will be throwing Ryne Nelson. Game time is set for just after 6:30 PM.

Baltimore Orioles: Costly win, spearheaded by Jeremiah Jackson

Chris Bassitt needed a good start for the Baltimore Orioles this evening against San Francisco. He got that in a way, but he didn’t stick around long enough to be in line for the win. Manager Craig Albernaz decided to match up in the fifth. Luckily it worked; Bassitt pitched well, just not the requisite five innings. Bassitt’s line: 4.2 IP, 7 H, 2 R (1 earned), 1 BB, 2 K.

Perhaps a harbinger, Adley Rutschman was sent to the IL before the game. He was in the starting lineup, was scratched with an inflamed ankle before the game, and just moments before first pitch the Orioles announced he was going to the IL. Shades of last year, once again.

And that in a sense haunted the Orioles early. With Devers on first, Samuel Basallo allowed him to go to second on a passed ball. Ramos’ RBI-single gave San Francisco a 1-0 lead. But the O’s would immediately tie it at one with an RBI-groundout in the bottom of the inning by Colton Cowser.

It was Dylan Beavers who scored the run. He was originally on the bench, but Ryan Mountcastle took the DH role after Rutschman was scratched (and later IL’d). Mountcastle led the second off with a solid double to center. Good piece of hitting; however Mountcastle appeared to stumble after hitting first, and slid head-first and injured into second. It was all but immediately apparent that he would have to leave the game. The Orioles later said he had ankle soreness.

Despite the mounting injury concerns, the Orioles took the lead an inning later on a solo home run by Gunnar Henderson. Yet they would load the bases in the fourth, and San Francisco tied it at two on an RBI-groundout by Ramos. It was softly hit, and approximately 42 MPH off the bat. But it tied the game.

A Colton Cowser single in the last of the fourth put runners at the corners. Coby Mayo would ground into a fielder’s choice-RBI, giving the Orioles the lead back at 3-2. Mayo would later score himself on an RBI-double by Jeremiah Jackson. Incidentally Mayo appeared to injure his knee sliding into home plate on that play. But mercifully he came back out to play third base and appeared to be fine. It might have been the only break the Orioles have caught with injuries since the first half of 2024. Coby Mayo would add an insurance run in the form of an RBI-single in the eighth, and the O’s won it 6-2.

Jeremiah Jackson may have had the best game of his career, incidentally. On top of the RBI-double above, he added a solo home run in the last of the seventh. He’s proving to be an important and key member of this team. And maybe a very sleek pickup from last year.

The win puts the Orioles back at .500 for the season, with a chance to win the series tomorrow. Which is good. But the injury bug is adding up again. At the time last year the O’s had nine players on the IL. Now they have 11. Could be 12, depending on Ryan Mountcastle’s situation.

It almost takes your breath away if you think about it. Before the game even started the Orioles had players dropping like flies. But as Buck Showalter used to say, other teams don’t care about your problems. They’re just glad you have them.

The series concludes tomorrow at Camden Yards. Cade Povich gets the start for the O’s, and he’ll be opposed by San Francisco’s Adrian Houser. Game time is set for just after 1:30 PM.