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: Insurance wasn’t enough

Baltimore Orioles’ fans have to tip their caps to Tomoyuki Sugano today. The guy battled – and dominated. And after getting hit with a comebacker early in the game against Toronto, he left with the lead. Sugano’s line: 6.0 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 4 K.

A first inning RBI- double by Gunnar Henderson and a subsequent RBI-groundout by Tyler O’Neill gave the O’s a 2-0 lead. The bottom of that first inning was tough for Sugano given the aforementioned comebacker. But he got out of it. Albert Suarez briefly warmed in the bullpen in the top of the second, but Sugano stayed in. And again, he was fairly dominant.

Susan would surrender solo home run to Berger in the fifth. That got Toronto on the board, and cut the lead to 2-1. For most of the game the tenor seemed to be that the Orioles were holding on for dear life. However the got an insurance run in the eighth on an RBI-double by Samuel Basallo. Incidentally that was set up by an astute Gunnar Henderson stealing a base after two disengagements, and a swinging bunt for a base hit.

Yet, Toronto threatened on the eighth. And big time at that. Kirk’s pinch-hit RBI single cut the lead to 3-2. Suddenly the O’s needed more insurance….and they got it. Coby Mayo’s solo homer on the ninth extended the lead to 4-2.

However insurance only gets you so far. One thing led to another, including a Keegan Akin throwing error, snd Toronto loaded the bases in the ninth. Back-to/back RBI-singles tied the game at four. Kirk’s subsequent sac fly-RBI won it for Toronto, 5-4.

As I said, insurance only gets you so far. If you’re up 10 and the opponents gets 11, that wasn’t enough. On top of that, the O’s are appearing to be making tomorrow’s series finale a bullpen game.

The series concludes tomorrow afternoon at Rogers Centre. Albert Suarez gets the start for the O’s, and he’ll be opposed by Toronto’s Shane Bieber. Game time is set for just after 1:30 PM

Baltimore Orioles: Trevor Rogers exits early in loss

The Baltimore Orioles went north of the border last night for the second and final time this year. Trevor Rogers got the start, and was semi-effective – while in the game. Rogers’ line: 5.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 4 BB, 6 K.

Samuel Basallo led off the third with a double, and would later score on Jackson Holliday’s RBI-single. This gave the O’s a 1-0 lead, and the Birds appeared to be cooking. However Toronto pitching held them off the board the rest of the way.

Rogers recorded two quick outs in the fifth before issuing a walk. Nothing good ever happens after a walk of course, and Guerrero followed with a single to Colton Cowser in center. The ball got by Cowser, allowing the runner to score and tie the game,

However Rogers left the game after completing that fifth inning with the game tied. We later found out that he had toe discomfort – a blister under the toenail, Given all the other injuries this year, you hear that and you think to yourself, because of course he had something like that!

Toronto would take the lead in the sixth in Rogers’ absence on a run-scoring double by Straw. One inning later Clements’ RBI-single extended the lead to 3-1. Before the game ended Toronto would push it to a 6-1 final with three in the last of the eighth.

The series continues this afternoon at Rogers Centre. Tomoyuki Sugano gets the start for the O’s, and he’ll be opposed by Toronto’s Max Scherzer. Game time is set for just after 3 PM.

Baltimore Orioles: Another walk off win

Tyler Wells and the Baltimore Orioles came into tonight’s game against Pittsburgh having won three of four games straight in walk off fashion. On a cool and misty night at Camden Yards, the goal was to win it in nine this time around. The Birds would fail at that, but big deal. Wells’ line: 6.2 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 6 K.

The O’s fell behind 1-0 on a fourth inning solo home run by Horowitz. – a Baltimore-area native, by the way. Apparently his family is unable to attend this series due to being out of town for a wedding. Tough pill to swallow!

The Orioles would tie the game in the eighth with two runners on and runners at first and second. Jackson Holliday would dump in a flare that fell for an RBI-single. That tied the game at four.

The game went to extra innings, which wasn’t a surprise. As sure as grass is green, the O’s had to win yet another in walk off fashion. With two runners on in the tenth and nobody out, Daniel Johnson laid down a sac bunt. Not only that, but he placed it perfectly and legged out a bunt single. That loaded the bases, and the O’s eventually walked Pittsburgh off with a run-scoring single by Dylan Beavers.

The Orioles have now taken the first two from Pittsburgh. It’s also the fourth walkoff in five games for the Orioles. Needless to say, they’re feeling it.

The series concludes tomorrow afternoon at Camden Yards. Cade Povich gets the start for the O’s, and he’ll be opposed by Pittsburgh’s Johan Oviedo. Game time is set for just after 1 PM.

Baltimore Orioles: A strange walk off is still a win

Kyle Bradish was phenomenal for the Baltimore Orioles tonight against Pittsburgh at Camden Yards. Bradish of course has been strong since his recent return to play, and he’s shown that he’ll be the Orioles’ ace going into 2026. Bradish’s line: 7.0 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 6 K.

The lone run that Bradish surrendered was an RBI-single by McCutchen in the first. However the Birds put a few runners on base in the hole half of the inning, and they tied it with a sac fly-RBI by Ryan Mountcastle. They would later take the lead in the last of the sixth on a solo home run by Jeremiah Jackson.

That lead held up until the eleventh hour. Yennier Cano came on the close the game in the ninth, and surrendered a solo home run to Pham in the top of the ninth. The Orioles got out of the inning with no further damage, however that sent the game to extra innings tied at two.

One thing; the Orioles should take something forward from this game, in terms of how NOT to do things. Teams get a ghost runner in extra innings, so Pittsburgh led off the tenth with a walk – putting runners at first and second. Conventional wisdom says that you move the runners over there. Instead Horowitz swung away, and grounded into a double-play. That was instrumental in the Orioles getting out of the inning.

I’m not sure if there’s some stat which said that they had a chance at getting Horowitz out that was less than other guys, but either way Pittsburgh went against conventional wisdom. And it almost bit them there.

Going into the last of the eleventh the O’s started with the ghost runner at second. Following a base hit, Pittsburgh walked Ryan Mountcastle to load the bases for Samuel Basallo. To be clear, there is an advantage to having a force at every base. But is it worth loading the bases with nobody out in extra innings?

Pittsburgh felt it was a risk worth running, because they did it. That brought Samuel Basallo to the plate with the bases loaded and nobody out. He sent a soft flair down the left field line. Pham made a diving attempt at the ball, but it ticked off his glove and rolled foul…

…or did it? The Orioles were out of challenges, but they asked for a crew chief review. Replays were conclusive in my view; the ball hit Pham’s glove, and hit the foul line. That means the ball was fair, and the umpire overturned the call. Since the bases were loaded, the lead runner was given home plate. And the Orioles walked off as 3-2 winners.

Analytics probably told Pittsburgh to load the bases there. And again, there’s an argument to be made for it. But had there not been a force at every base, the umpires would have had to place the runners. Now odds are the lead runner still would have been awarded home plate. But that’s at the umpire’s discretion. And you never know how that will go.

The series continues tomorrow evening at Camden Yards. Tyler Wells gets the start for the O’s, and he’ll be opposed by Pittsburgh’s Paul Skenes. Game time is set for just after 6:30 PM.

Baltimore Orioles: A Holliday 30 years in the making

Nobody does nostalgia like the Baltimore Orioles. We’ve seen it time and again, including tonight with Cal Ripken Jr, and the anniversary of 2131. After which Trevor Rogers took the mound for the Birds. Rogers’ line: 5.1 IP, 8 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 6 K.

The problem is, the Orioles were facing Los Angeles’ Yoshinobu Yamamoto. No easy task. This despite the pomp and circumstance of the pregame ceremony. Los Angeles took a 1-0 lead on an RBI-groundout by Ohtani in the third inning.

With two runners on in the fifth, Betts smacked a harsh liner to Gunnar Henderson at short, and Henderson climbed the ladder to get it. Unfortunately, it dropped out of the glove on the way down. It was ruled an RBI-single. Two innings later Betts would follow with an RBI-triple, and the O’s trailed 3-0.

Yamamoto was also throwing a no-hitter. And as the game wore on, it seemed he was getting stronger. Oriole hitters couldn’t do anything against him. Balls that were put in play were outs.

In a way it felt like Los Angeles was saying you can have your nostalgia, we’re here now and that’s more important. They made it to 26 outs in the game. Two outs in the ninth…

…and Jackson Holliday smacked a solo homer to right field. That broke the shutout, and more importantly it broke up the no-hitter. But the game wasn’t over.

A double, a HBP, and a walk later, the Orioles were looking at possibly WINNING the game. Colton Cowser then walked in a run, cutting the lead to 3-2. That brought Emmanuel Rivera to the plate after LA changed pitchers…and you know the rest.

Rivera’s two-RBI single won it 4-3. So in a flash, the Orioles went from having the 30 year anniversary of 2131 having an unfortunate twist, to the latest installation of Orioles Magic. And it should go as no surprise that Cal Ripken Jr. played a role. In a flash, the game changed. That’s baseball. And that’s part of what makes baseball great.

The only downside to this game for the Birds was catcher Samuel Basallo left the game after getting nic’d by a foul ball. Tony Mansolino said after the game that X-Rays were negative. He also said that Dean Kremer’s MRI came back with nothing serious, but he’ll skip his next start.

The series concludes tomorrow at Camden Yards. Tomoyuki Sugano gets the start for the O’s, and he’ll be opposed by LA’s Clayton Kershaw. Game time is set for just after 1:30 PM.

Baltimore Orioles: The Ripken Way

Pending the weather, the Baltimore Orioles will celebrate the 30th Anniversary of Cal Ripken Jr breaking the consecutive games played streak before tonight’s game against Los Angeles. We all know what’s going on; throngs of former Orioles, dignitaries, and even former Oriole play-by-play man John Miller will be in attendance for the festivities. This to mark the moment that saved baseball across multiple generations.

First off, has it really been 30 years?! I was a freshman in high school, and I didn’t know a world without Cal Ripken Jr on the Orange & Black. Or in the lineup. When you think of everything that’s happened between then and now, it’s sort of crazy – both in and outside of baseball.

The numbers on the Warehouse counting the consecutive games played are an iconic sight to many people of a certain generation – certainly my generation. But personally, the part I’ll always remember more than anything else is the image of Cal Ripken Sr applauding and waving from the skybox. The Orioles have always had that Field of Dreams sort of feel about them. And put in that context in terms of baseball being a game between fathers and sons…that “Ripken moment” was perhaps the most meaningful of that entire sequence of events.

People think of a lot of things when the concept of The Oriole Way comes up. I suppose it’s fair to say that the guy who ties that into a beat bow is Earl Weaver. However The Oriole Way in truth begins and ends with the Ripken’s. And I would submit that there’s no city like Baltimore and no family that means as much to it than the Ripken’s. And we saw it that night.

For his part, both Cal Ripken’s would probably say that it’s more about the team than anything else. And it is. But there are certain moments and certain people who always rise to the occasion – birds of a certain feather. The Ripken’s are just that. And it was that bond between father and son which made the image of the numbers on the Warehouse possible.

On the day of my death, Cal Ripken Jr will still be baseball’s Iron Man. I’m sure there’s some analytic which would say I’m mistaken. But the human element of baseball says I’m correct. Nobody’s ever playing in 2,633 consecutive games. The same is true with Joe DiMaggio’s hitting streak – nobody’s hitting in 57 straight games. I say that as sure as crabs and beer are to the shores of the Chesapeake, and to the state of Maryland.

I’ve had people ask me, why is it such a big deal? So the guy shows up everyday – he’s PAID to do that. But as we know, it is a big deal. Because Maryland itself is a blue collar and hard-working state. So the Ripken Way is truly a symbol of that. Do the Orioles do everything right? No. But that moment 30 years ago showed the rest of the country that you can call it what you will…The Oriole Way, The Ripken Way, etc. But the value system of showing up and giving it all you have everyday? Those are Maryland Values. And it was never symbolized better in the form of the Orange & Black than it was in that sequence of events 30 years ago.

Baltimore Orioles best LA, maybe lose Dean Kremer

The Baltimore Orioles beat the LA Dodgers this evening at Camden Yards. Dean Kremer looked sharp early coming off of a couple of bad starts. It wouldn’t last – but not how you might think. Kremer’s line: 3.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 4 K.

Dietrich Enns spent the entire top of the fourth inning warming up in the Orioles’ bullpen. He entered the game in the last of the fourth, relieving Kremer. The Orioles later said that Kremer was yanked for right forearm discomfort.

You don’t want to speculate on anything. However needless to say, Dean Kremer is hugely important to the O’s in 2026. I think most fans would take him being shut down now and thus being ready for Spring Training next year. But we’ll just have to see.

The O’s put two runners on in the fifth, and Jackson Holliday stole second base. Funny thing though; LA pitcher Casparius uncorked a wild pitch at the same moment. It was a pretty close play at the plate, but Holliday came in to score on the wild pitch, giving the Orioles the lead.

But it was short-lived. Freeman ambushed the first pitch of the sixth over the wall. That tied the game at one, and we. Had a new ballgame again.

And through the later innings the game remained tied at one. That was until there were two outs in the ninth. Samuel Basallo picked a great moment to hit his first Oriole Park home run. It was a solo shot, and a walk off at that. The Birds went home winners against the defending champion LA Dodgers, 2-1.

That’s almost a footnote if you factor in the Dean Kremer situation. This season has been tough or numerous levels, but none moreso than then the injuries. And now this.

The series continues tomorrow night at Camden Yards, as the O’s celebrate 30 years since 2131 and Cal Ripken Jr. Trevor Rogers gets the start for the Birds, and he’ll be opposed by LA’s Yoshinobu Yamamoto. Game time is set for just after 7 PM.

Baltimore Orioles hold on to sweep San Diego

Cade Povich was strong early for the Baltimore Orioles in today’s series finale in San Diego. He fell apart a bit in the end of his outing, but he had room to spare. Barely, that is – as it ended up. Povich’s line: 5.0 IP. 7 H, 4 R, 3 BB, 3 K.

The O’s led from the very beginning today. Jackson Holliday hit the third pitch of the ballgame out of the ballpark, giving them a 1-0 lead. However it was the third inning that was the big catalyst to victory.

The Orioles led off with a walk and a single. Following a strikeout, Colton Cowser came to the plate. And he broke the game wide open with a three-run home run, giving the Birds a 4-0 lead.

But they weren’t done. Coby Mayo and Alex Jackson followed, giving the O’s back-to-back-to-back home runs. Before the inning ended, Ryan Mountcastle would add an RBI-single, and the Orioles led 7-0 after three. And they needed most of those seven runs.

San Diego figured Povich out after five, however. Machado’s two-run home run cut the lead to 7-2. Following a single and two walks, Cronensworth’s softly-hit infield RBI-single cut it to 7-3. Iglesias would ground into a double-play scoring a fourth run, but that was good news for the Birds. Because it gave them two quick outs and helped them out of the inning.

San Diego would get a fifth run off a solo home run in the seventh. But to me one of the biggest plays of the game was perhaps the most unsung. Representing the tying run, Sheets struck out swinging in the eighth. Sheets swore the ball hit the ground. Replays said otherwise.

But what the replay also showed was that catcher Alex Jackson picked the ball so it didn’t touch the ground. It was definitely fouled off, but Jackson stopped it from hitting the ground. Who knows how the game ends if not for that play.

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.