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 win opener in San Diego

Kyle Bradish only went four innings in his second start of the season for the Baltimore Orioles last night at Petco Park in San Diego. It wasn’t the start that Bradish and the O’s would have wanted, but he put the team in a spot to win. Bradish’s line: 4.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 5 K.

The Orioles put two runners in scoring position in the second inning following a single, a walk, and a wild pitch. Samuel Basallo’s, two-RBI double gave the O’s a 2-0 lead. However in the home half of the frame San Diego would get on the board with an RBI-single by Johnson.

The leadoff walk is what hurt Bradish in that inning. Especially this year and especially for the Orioles, those leadoff walks usually are seeming to find a way to trickle in to score. Arraez’s RBI-single later in the inning would tie the game at two.

However Jeremiah Jackson would give them the lead back in the fifth with a solo home run. In the home half of the inning Dietrich Enns committed a throwing error on a bunt, which in effect is the same as a leadoff walk. True to form, that run came around to score – on Laureano’s run-scoring single which tied the game at three.

However on Labor Day Monday, the O’s weren’t going to be denied. Dylan Beavers’ RBI-single in the seventh game them the lead back at 4-3. And the Oriole bullpen shut San Diego down the rest of the way, headlined by Keegan Akin in the ninth.

The series continues this evening at Petco Park. Tyler Wells gets the start for the Orioles and will make his season debut following injury, and he’ll be opposed by San Diego’s Yu Darvish, game time is set for just after 9:30 PM.

Baltimore Orioles: Soft contact and sloppy defense

Tomoyuki Sugano didn’t pitch well today for the Baltimore Orioles. But his numbers look worse than they actually were. He didn’t get any help from behind him, or at the plate. Sugano’s line: 3.1 IP, 10 H, 7 R, 1 BB, 4 K.

Officially all seven of his runs surrendered were earned. But were they? Needless to say, San Francisco came out swinging aggressively in the same manner as they did in the first two games of the series. Devers smacked a solo homer in the first inning, and an RBI-single in the third. Adames added a sac fly-RBI later in the inning, and the O’s trailed 3-0.

Many of those base runners came on infield hits and soft contact. The Orioles on the other hand scalded a few balls – most of which found fielders’ mitts. That’s been part of the story of this season for the O’s, and it’s really not something on which one can put his finger.

In fact, it dates back to well before this season. I’m not sure if there’s a way to induce soft contact. I would submit that there isn’t. But if there is, opposing teams have it down pat. In fact, San Francisco recorded another infield hit in the fourth, followed by a walk. Koss followed that up with an infield hit to Jeremiah Jackson at third…

…Jackson double-clutched the ball, and made an errant throw. That scored a run, and the Birds trailed 4-0. That’s scored as an infield hit and a run scored on the error. That brought Gilbert to the plate, who responded with a two-run triple.

It’s ruled a triple. But it was a soft liner to Daniel Johnson in left field. As he was making his way to the ball (which I suspect he would have caught for an out), he tripped and fell. Read that again: he tripped and fell – and the ball fell as well, scoring two. That goes as an extra-base hit, but that’s not something that can happen. It’s the price you sometimes pay for having inexperienced people in the lineup.

Before the game ended San Francisco would run it to 13-0. Several of those runs came as a result of Oriole errors. The last three came off of position player Alex Jackson. Again, that’s the price you pay for youth and inexperience in the lineup. The O’s would get on the board in the ninth with an RBI-double by Jackson Holliday, and an RBI-single by Gunnar Henderson.

The O’s now head to San Diego to open a three-game set at Petco Park. Kyle Bradish gets the start for the Orioles, and he’ll be opposed by San Diego’s Dylan Cease. Game time is set for just after 6:30 PM.

Baltimore Orioles: Samuel Basallo leads the parade

Trevor Rogers finished August with yet another outstanding start for the Baltimore Orioles this evening in San Francisco. Rogers has been the closest thing the Birds have had to an ace this year, most poignantly from June or so onwards. Rogers’ line: 7.0 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 5 K.

Rogers gave up a solo homer in the last of the first to Adames. That‘s it. While in the moment it appeared that on the heels of a rough game last night this one would be similar, it ended up being just a blip in the radar. The difference between last night’s game and tonight’s? The bats stayed hit after last night. But the pitching improved leaps and bounds.

The Orioles did actually squander an opportunity or two early on. But they took the lead at 2-1 on Jeremiah Jackson‘a two-run homer in the third. Ryan Mountcastle followed suit later in the inning with a two-run shot of his own, and the O’s led 4-1.

In a game full of offensive highlights however, it was Samuel Basallo in the fourth who made headlines. His solo homer extended the lead to 5-1. However it was the first home run of his career, which by default is noteworthy. Is it the first of a long line of home runs by Basallo in the Orange & Black? One hopes.

The O’s would add a run on an RBI-triple by Jackson Holliday, and a sac fly-RBI by Gunnar Henderson before the inning ended. The Orioles would take a couple of innings off, and the onslaught continued in the seventh with Dylan Beavers’ RBI-single. That extended the lead to 8-1 – did the O’s have some insurance in them?

It’s fair to suggest that eight runs are enough when you’ve only surrendered one. To be clear the Orioles did call off the dogs. They became a station-to-station team, but runs still trickled through. Jeremiah Jackson’s two-RBI double extended the lead to 10-1. Jacksonville would later score on a wild pitch, and the O’s took it 11-1.

Big win for sure, as that snapped a five-game losing streak. Not to mention, the Orioles surrendered 15 runs to this same team last night. However it was also noteworthy for Samuel Basallo’s first major league home run. You only get one first time at something – anything, really. Needless to say, Basallo won’t soon forget Oracle Park.

The series concludes tomorrow afternoon at Oracle Park. Tomoyuki Sugano gets the start for the O’s, and he’ll be opposed by San Francisco’s Justin Verlander. Game time is set for just after 4 PM.

Baltimore Orioles: Giveth and taken away

The Baltimore Orioles used Dietrich Enns as an opener this evening against Boston. I’ve said it before – I’m not a fan of the concept of an “opener.” It’s too quirky and against the traditional grain of baseball, the most traditional of sports. Enns’ line: 2.2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 3 K.

Enns’ loan run surrendered was a solo homer by Anthony in the first at-bat of the game. If you think an opener is a fine way to go, fact is it didn’t work. Many will say it did given that they only surrendered one run. But my point would be that the opener is supposed to in essence do what a closer does, save for it being in the first inning. Closers traditionally throw heat.

In the last of the second the Orioles tied it on an RBI-double by Dylan Beavers. I can understand the ruling, but my personal opinion is it should have been an E8. He flared a ball to center, and Rafaela made a diving attempt at the ball. He actually appeared to get it, but he dropped it. Nevertheless that play tied the game at one.

It was another misplay by Rafaela in the seventh that gave the Orioles the lead. Dylan Beavers lined a ball to center, and Rafaela and the left fielder Duran let it fall between them and lodge under the wall. It’s not an error, but it is a miscue by Rafaela (and Duran), and it gave the Orioles the lead.

Boston would put two runners on base with nobody out in the eighth. Tony Mansolino brought in Keegan Akin from the bullpen, who got the O’s out of the inning. He struck out two and induced a ground ball in the infield for a third out.

However he allowed a softly-hit bleeder into left field to start the ninth. He then allowed Rafaela to redeem himself with a two-run homer, which gave Boston the lead and a 3-2 win. This despite Coby Mayo’s epic at-bat on the ninth in an attempt to get on base.

Akin relied too heavily on his changeup in that eighth inning. The home run pitch was a changeup which stayed too far up. He had lived on the corners, so presumably he was aiming for the bottom of the zone. However that’s dangerous, as if you miss like Akin did…you see the result.

The series with Boston concludes tomorrow afternoon at Camden Yards. Cade Povich gets the start for the #Orioles, and he’ll be opposed by Boston’s Garrett Crochet. Game time is set for just after 1 PM.

Baltimore Orioles: Kyle Bradish a hard-luck loser in his return

The big story for the Baltimore Orioles tonight is the return of Kyle Bradish. Perhaps the biggest injury of the season for the Orioles (save for Colton Cowser), and he finally made his debut on August 26th. And it was as good as advertised. Bradish’s line: 6.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 0 BB, 10 K.

Bradish gave up solo homers in the second and third. Those came off the bats of Story and Hamilton. Other than that, he was outstanding.

Ten strikeouts is a noteworthy number. In short, Bradish’s return was as good as it could have been. Solo home runs aren’t going to hurt you – unless your offense doesn’t produce. And that was the case tonight.

Boston’s Navarez reached on a fielder’s choice in the eighth, scoring a third run. Boston would score two more in the ninth on Hamilton’s two-RBI double. It was ruled a hit, but it probably should have been an error. Dylan Beavers misplayed the ball in left field, allowing it to drop. It was a hit by default, but it was a routine play.

That’s the risk you run with youth at various positions. Luckily for Beavers he’s been very good over the course of his short time here. But if you’re going to have young guys in the lineup, you have to live with those sorts of plays.

The series continues tomorrow at Camden Yards. The Orioles are yet to announce a starter, and Boston with throw Brayan Bello. Game time is set for just after 6:30 PM.

Baltimore Orioles: Bit by instant replay?

Tomoyuki Sugano was solid (ish) for the Baltimore Orioles tonight against Boston at Camden Yards. He put the Birds in a spot to win the game, which is the goal of a starter. Could he have been better? Yes. But he sufficed. Sugano’s line: 6.0 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 2 BB, 6 K.

Boston took an early lead when Anthony smacked a pitch out of the ballpark during the first at-bat of the game. But Sugano seemed to settle, despite being thrown off kilter early on. Luckily Colton Cowser tied the game in the second with a solo homer of his own.

Cowser would come to the plate again an inning later in the third, and he would do so with the bases loaded. His two-RBI single would give the Orioles. 3-1 lead. However Boston wasn’t finished either.

Duran would come up in the fifth with two on, and would deliver. His three-run home run gave Boston a 4-3 lead. And the Orioles had no response – save for one thing.

Dylan Carlson and the O’s caught a break on his lead off double in the seventh. The ball hit third base umpire Nick Mahrley, and Carlson ended up at second base. Luis Vasquez promptly laid down a bunt back to the pitcher, who threw to third to get Carlson, who was ruled safe.

However Boston challenged the play. Unequivocally, it was a close play – a bang-bang play. The call on the field was safe, which would have given the Orioles runners at the corners with nobody out.

Replays appeared to show that the runner could be out. But was it conclusive? Needless to say, the umpiring crew thought it was. The call was overturned, and the O’s were out of their best chance at evening the score.

My personal opinion is that the runner was probably out. But was there enough evidence to overturn the call on the field? That’s the real question regarding instant replay. It’s not necessarily whether the call should be safe or out. Everything else be damned, it’s supposed to be whether or not the call on the field was overturned.

In my assessment, NO, in this instance there WAS NOT sufficient evidence to overturn the call on the field. So the call should have stood, despite me in the same breath saying that the runner was out. Yes folks, this stuff isn’t easy. We do ourselves a disservice by suggesting that it is, and if the right call is made that’s the goal. Everything else be damned.

If there’s not enough evidence to overturn the call on the field, the call needs to stand. The way we’re supposed to do things is that these are the rules and regulations, and you can’t make exceptions. Yet Boston seemed to get the benefit of the doubt on the call. It was no guarantee that the Orioles would have scored in that sequence of events. But every little bit helps.

The series continues tomorrow night at Camden Yards. Kyle Bradish will make his season debut and make the start for the Birds, and he’ll be opposed by Boston’s Lucas Giolito. Game time is set for just after 6:30 PM.

Baltimore Orioles salvage one in Trevor Rogers’ outstanding start

Trevor Rogers was tasked with being the Baltimore Orioles’ stopper this afternoon in the series finale against Houston. The O’s had dropped the first three games of the series in pretty wild fashion. Today was different all around. Rogers’ line: 7.0 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 3 BB, 9 K.

Save for an elevated pitch count, you can’t really go wrong striking out nine. Yet Roger’s still lasted seven innings. And the O’s led early today. Gunnar Henderson’s solo home run in the first gave them a 1-0 lead.

Houston’s speed and aggressiveness would manifest in the third inning. Following a Smith walk he was sacrificed to season and stole third. He would later score on an RBI-single by Pena. That shows how important Houston thought today’s game was.

However Oriole bats couldn’t get much going after that for some time. At one point Houston retired 14 straight Orioles. However Gunnar Henderson’s single with two outs in the last of the sixth broke that up. He would then steal second, as well as third – with nobody covering the bag.

Ryan Mountcastle’s RBI-single would then give the O’s the lead back. Which after a 3-1 pitch that was out of the zone and called a strike, seemed like a long time coming. One inning later in the seventh, Luis Vasquez smacked a solo homer to extend the lead to 3-1. It was Vasquez’s first career home run. And it ended up being huge.

Rico Garcia came in for the eighth, and loaded the bases with one out. He would be replaced by Keegan Akin, who recorded the second out on a sac fly-RBI by Caratini. But he also got the O’s out of the inning, sent Houston down 1-2-3 in the ninth, and recorded the save.

The Vasquez home run was obviously the big play. But the X-factor was Trevor Rogers. He had a slow start with the O’s when he was traded here last year. But he returned to form in 2025. He needs to remain an Oriole going forward.

The O’s open up a four-game set with Boston tomorrow night at Camden Yards. Tomoyuki Sugano gets the start for the O’s, and Boston’s starter is TBD. Game time is set for just after 6:30 PM.

Baltimore Orioles: #RIPFlanny

On this day in 2011 the Baltimore Orioles lost former pitcher Mike Flanagan. We all know the story – Flanny was an Oriole through and through. He was beloved by fans of a certain age, including me.

I’ll never forget the day he passed. It was uniquely personal to this fanbase, which treats its star former players as royalty. And rightfully so. May he rest in peace. And as the last Oriole to stand on the mound at Menorial Stadium, mat time never dim the honor of his deeds.

Baltimore Orioles: Another wild loss

Many fans thought last night’s game was over after Dean Kremer surrendered five runs for the Baltimore Orioles in the first inning. They may have been correct about the final result being a loss, but they were wrong about thr way it would happen. The game was far from over. Kremer’s line: 5.0 IP, 7 H, 7 R (6 earned), 1 BB, 4 K.

Following a leadoff walk, Kremer gave up a two-run homer to Correa. Then a solo home run to Sanchez, and later followed by another two-run shot by Caratini. When the smoke cleared, the Birds trailed 5-0.

Houston was swinging early. However one thing all of the pitches had in common was that they were on the fringes of the plate. They weren’t located in spots one would normally be able to hit the ball the way those balls were struck. And they weren’t just home runs – they were majestic shots.

Has Houston picked up on something Kremer was doing to tip his pitches? Or were they just expecting Kremer to pitch to the black of the plate? Either way, Kremer did settle down a bit. So again another question; did the ORIOLES pick up on Kremer tipping pitches?

For what it’s worth, Kremer continued to pitch to the fringes of the plate. Even on at-bats where he easily retired hitters. Presunably the analytics are telling them there’s a greater probability of victory using that modus operandi.

However as I said, the game was far from over. Gunnar Henderson’s seeing eye RBI-single in the last of the first got the O’s on the board. Henderson proceeded to steal second, and later in the inning he scored as part of Colton Cowser’s two-RBI single. In one half inning, the O’s were within two.

And one inning later, Ryan Mountcastle’s two-run single tied it at five. However Houston allowed the O’s to tie it a couple of times. But they could never quite make it over the hump. Caratini’s grounded into a fielder’s choice in the third with two runners in scoring position. Vimael Machin looked the runner back to third, and threw to first…

…and the rubber at third (Altuve) broke for home as soon as Machin started to throw the ball. Coby Mayo fired and errant throw to the plate, which allowed another run to score. And the O’s trailed 7-5.

That was risky. There’s a reason we use the term looked the runner back to third. Altuve basically mandated that either he was going to be out at home plate, a run was going to score, OR the bases would have been loaded with no out recorded. That sort of aggressiveness looks great on paper and so forth – but it’s risky. Yet it worked.

Jeremiah Jackson’s first big league home run came in the fourth, a solo shot. Colton Cowser would smack a long solo homer in the fifth, tying the game again at seven. But Walker once again hit the O’s hard in the seventh with a two-run home run, putting Houston over the top. Jeremiah Jackson would bring the O’s to within one with an RBI-single in the ninth, but the tying run remained on base.

The series concludes this afternoon at Camden Yards. Trevor Rogers gets the start for the Orioles, and he’ll be opposed by Houston’s Spencer Arrighetti. Game time is set for just after 1:30 PM.

Baltimore Orioles drop a wild one too Houston

Cade Povich wasn’t the only Baltimore Orioles pitcher who struggled in last night’s game against Houston at Camden Yards. Heck, he wasn’t the only pitcher on either side who struggled. It was just one of those games in a sense. Povich’s line: 4.2 IP, 4 H, 6 R (4 earned), 2 BB, 5 K.

Houston took a 1-0 lead in the second as a result of two errors – one of which was on Povich. McCormick tried to sacrifice two runners into scoring position, and Povich overthrew him at first allowing a run to score. To make matters worse, Pena smacked a three-run homer in the aftermath, and the Orioles trailed 4-0.

And that really shows that you can’t allow mistakes to balloon. That inning started with a walk, and then a second runner got on by way of an error, before that aforementioned sequence with Povich. And the Orioles were held accountable.

But they also fought back. Alex Jackson’s RBI-single in the fourth inning cut the lead to 4-1 But Houston wasn’t above mistakes either. With two on later in the inning, Jeremiah Jackson sent a deep fly to right, and Houston’s right fielder Smith misplayed the ball. In short, it was in his glove and popped out, allowing two runs to score and cutting the lead to 4-3.

That was ruled a double, but my personal opinion was that it should be an error. The ball was in his glove. It was a tough play, but it seemed more routine than extraordinary. Either way two runs scored.

Povich was lifted in the fifth with two on and one out. Interestingly, Tony Mansolino went to a leverage reliever early, that being Yennier Cano – who surrendered a three-run home run to Walker. Houston had its four-run lead back at 7-3.

But the O’s chipped back. They loaded the bases in the sixth, and Jackson Holliday’s fielder’s choice-RBI cut it to 7-4. Similar results with Jeremiah Jackson, cutting it to 7-5. One inning later Colton Cowser smacked a very loud solo homer which went a long way, and the Orioles were back to within one at 7-6.

However Houston would add three more in the eighth. Two of them came on a two-RBI double by Caratini, a pinch hitter, which was just barely out of the reach of Jeremiah Jackson in right field. Every button Houston pushed last night worked. But needless to say, the Orioles are never out of a game like this. And they came close.

The series continues this evening at Camden Yards. Dean Kremer gets the start for the Orioles, and he’ll be opposed by Houston’s Cristian Javier. Game time is set for just after 7 PM.