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 extend Samuel Basallo

Prior to this evening’s game against Houston, the Baltimore Orioles extended their top prospect, Samuel Basallo. He signed an eight-year extension worth approximately $67.5 million dollars – could balloon up to $88 million. He’s played four games in the big leagues.

Which is why this move is curious. Boston extended Roman Anthony earlier this season after about a month. This is even less playing time than that. I’ll grant that Basallo looks as good as advertised. But there’s a huge risk involved for the team.

It goes without saying that the team assumes some risk in that Basallo could get injured. Granted, it also shows a level of commitment by the organization and by Basallo. So it goes both ways. You only hope it works out.

You also have to hope that this doesn’t start a trend in MLB. I think it’s a bad idea to give someone this young as much money as Basallo’s getting. I suppose the flip side is that it shows the organization is committed to winning in the future. Time will tell.

Baltimore Orioles, Brandon Young fall to Houston, and injuries

In his first start since chasing perfection, Brandon Young struggled early for the Baltimore Orioles. Ironically against Houston, the same team against whom he chased perfection last week. But despite giving up a plethora of runs early, Young steadied himself – which was good to see. What wasn’t good to see was how he left the game. Young’s line: 5.1 IP, 9 H, 7 R, 2 BB, 1 K.

Young gave up a two-run home run to Walker, a former Oriole, in the first inning. And seemingly the rout was on. Following a Caratini single in the second, the Orioles appeared to erase the base runner with a ground ball double play. But Houston challenged the call at first, which was easily overturned.

Following another walk, Correa’s two-RBI single gave Houston a 4-0 lead. That challenge call ended up being huge in the inning and in the game. That went from erasing the baserunners to being a fielder’s choice with one on and one out.

One Orioles’ highlight was Dylan Beavers’ first career home run, and it came in the last of the second. That cut the lead to 4-1, but Houston kept the pressure on. Sanchez added an RBI-single in the third, and Diaz a two-run homer which busted the game wide open.

However Brandon Young stopped the bleeding. He retired ten of the final twelve hitters he faced. Many will argue that the damage was already done, and it was. But he found a way to stabilize himself, and lasted until the sixth inning.

And he was lifted with one out in the sixth. He covered first on a routine ground ball in the infield, and pulled up lame after recording the out. My initial concern was an Achilles tendon, but when he limped off the field…needless to say at least he walked (gingerly). The Orioles later said he had hamstring discomfort.

So add Brandon Young to the list of injuries. You can also re-add Adley Rutschman, who went on the IL before the game with an oblique strain – the opposite side of his previous injury. This puts Samuel Basallo as the everyday catcher going forward – at least into September.

On top of that, Felix Bautista had season-ending shoulder surgery, and will miss at least twelve months. That’s devastating for Bautista AND the Orioles. But it’s been next man up literally since March, so they’ll have to find a way. Things are slightly better on the Jordan Westburg front; Westburg is day-to-day with a sore right ankle.

In the bottom of that sixth inning Dylan Beavers would ground into a force out which yielded a run, cutting the lead to 7-2. Luckily the Orioles’ bullpen was strong last night, despite being called into action abruptly. Kyle Bradish is expected to join the team next week for the Boston series, and it could very well be Brandon Young going to the IL as a corresponding move. Tyler Wells is expected back after September 1st,

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

Baltimore Orioles: A seemingly unlikely win and sweep

The Baltimore Orioles had to feel like they were playing with house money last night at Fenway Park. They took two-of-three in Houston, and the first game of two in Boston on Monday night. Tomoyuki Sugano was on the mound last night for the finale of the short two-game series, and put the O’s in a spot to win. Sugano’s line: 5.0 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 3 K.

Sided by a Jackson Holliday error, Sugano put two runners on in the third. With two outs they were both in scoring position, with Wong on third. After two disengagements, it stood to reason that Wong wouldn’t creep too far off of third. There’s a difference between taking a lead and trying to cause a balk, and doing so when the implication is trying to steal home.

Yet Wong took a huge lead, causing Sugano instinctively to step off. That’s a third disengagement, and in alignment with the rules, a balk. Sugano was awarded home plate, and Boston took a 1-0 lead.

Conventional wisdom says you don’t creep that far off third. The Orioles, and everyone watching, assumed Wong would take a moderate lead and leave it at that. He caught us all by surprise, needless to say. Including Tomoyuki Sugano.

But two innings later the O’s put two runners on as well. And Ryan Mountcastle’s RBI-single tied the game at one. Colton Cowser followed with an RBI-double, giving the O’s the lead. He would later score on a wild pitch, and the Birds led 3-1. Put people on base and anything can happen.

Kade Strowd loaded the bases with nobody out in the eighth. He was lifted in favor of Rico Garcia, who was asked to do the impossible. Having Boston load the bases with nobody out at Fenway is almost asking for it. Yet Garcia struck out the side, preserving the lead.

However Lowe’s two-run homer in the last of the ninth against Yaramil Hiraldo tied the game at three. Hiraldo would also load the bases, and induce Story to ground into an inning-ending double-play. Getting us to extra innings.

The Orioles would also load the bases in the tenth – and got out of it. With the ghost runner getting to third with one out in the 11th, Samuel Basallo’s run-scoring groundout gave them the lead at 4-3. The game should have been tied before it ended.

With one out and the ghost runner on third, Anthony flied out to center. However the runner at third (Eaton) inexplicably didn’t tag up and run. If you combine that with the fact that the Orioles loaded the bases in the eighth, ninth, and tenth (and pitched out of it), it stands to reason that they pulled a rabbit out of a hat. As many times as they’ve lost despite conventional wisdom this year, this time they got one back.

Baltimore Orioles: Samuel Basallo makes big league debut in Birds’ runaway win

The Baltimore Orioles and Dean Kremer joined their NFL counterparts in beating a Texas team. Granted if you go back to Friday night the O’s had already done that, prior to the Ravens beating the Dallas Cowboys last night. But nevertheless, Kremer out dueled Houston by shutting them out, and throwing the most pitches he’s thrown all year. Kremer’s line: 7.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 7 K.

This game was always going to be noteworthy once the Orioles opted to promote Samuel Basallo to the big leagues this afternoon. He was hit by a pitch in his first at-bat, and didn’t record a hit in the game. But he’s here, and he hit out of the DH role.

The Orioles loaded the bases in the third on three consecutive base hits. Gunnar Henderson then made a bid for a grand slam, but Houston right fielder Sanchez would rob him of that with an amazing leaping catch at the wall. However it went as a sac fly-RBI, giving the O’s a 1-0 lead.

Three straight fifth inning singles doubled the lead in the fifth, with Jackson Holliday’s RBI-single being the big one. Every Oriole who reached base in the inning would touch home plate, however. Jordan Westburg’s three-run homer broke the game wide open and gave the O’s a 5-0 lead.

Westburg would tack on an RBI-single in the seventh. Adley Rutschman would also add an RBI-groundout. Samuel Basallo also made a play for his first major league hit, and it would have been a home run. But Sanchez struck again in right field, making an incredible catch on the ball. In terms of winning and losing the game of course, it meant relatively little.

The O’s also exploded again in the eighth, in a sequence started by Jordan Westburg’s RBI-single. It also featured Samuel Basallo’s first major league hit. It was a two-RBI single, and it extended the Orioles’ lead to 12-0.

Kremer is reminding coaches and fans alike that he’ll have a big role on this team next year. He’s very quietly had a good season. That cemented itself this afternoon.

The O’s now head to Boston for the first of a two-game series at Fenway Park. Trevor Rogers gets the start for the Orioles, and he’ll be opposed by Boston’s Dustin May. Game time is set for just after 7 PM.

Baltimore Orioles: Soft contact and over-aggression sinks the Birds

Rico Garcia was slipped in as the opener for the Baltimore Orioles tonight. Cade Povich was still the pitcher of record, but Garcia started out of the gate. Garcia’s line: 1.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K.

I’m not a fan of openers. It’s too zaney, and personally I’m one who thinks starters should be going deep into games. But the Orioles did it, and the fact is that Houston still got to Povich. Dubon’s RBI-single in the second gave them a 1-0 lead. Two fourth inning RBI-singles ran it to 3-0.

But the O’s weren’t out of it. Dylan Carlson got them on the board in the fifth with a two-run home run. Houston would extend the lead with an Altuve solo homer in the seventh, but Jackson Holliday came through with a two-run shot in the ninth to tie the game at four. The runner in base when the home run was hit? Dylan Beavers, who got aboard in with a double for his first major league hit – in his first game in the bigs.

The game went to extra innings, which is where things got weird. Detrich Enns intentionally walked the first hitter with a ghost runner on second. But Enns pitched out of it. In the eleventh Ryan Mountcastle flied out to right, advancing Luis Vasquez (the ghost runner) to third with one out.

The next pitch was lined to Urias at second by Beavers. The contact play apparently was on, and Vasquez was picked off of third. I would question why the contact play was on, as a medium-depth fly ball was going to score a run with one out. But the contact play was on, and Vasquez was out.

I wouldn’t have had the contact play on. Tony Mansolino said after the game that when the contact play is on, a runner will be picked off on any line drive in the infield. That’s very true – so why put it on? That sort of over-aggression played the Orioles out of a run.

However Houston immediately made the same mistake with regard to over-aggression. Urias (the ghost runner) advanced to third on a wild pitch, and Enns immediately walked Pena on purpose. Runners at the corners with nobody out. If you get a base hit before they can record three outs, or a fly ball to the outfield before they can record two, you win the game.

Instead, Houston put a squeeze play on. Trammell laid down a bunt, which was fielded by Coby Mayo at first. He brilliantly flipped the ball towards home plate with his glove, nailing the runner. Again, why be that aggressive when you have the momentum behind you?

With the bases loaded and one out in the 12th, Urias (who of course was an Oriole a few weeks ago) grounded into a force out at second. However Jordan Westburg’s throwing error allowed the winning run to score, and the O’s fell 5-4. Entertaining game, but a loss.

Urias did that with a soft dribbler to third. End of the day despite all of the over-aggressiveness on both sides, it was a softly-hit roller in the infield that won the game. That’s the sort of thing that’s happened to the Orioles all year. Heck, it probably goes back to last year’s postseason. Interesting quirk, needless to say.

The series concludes tomorrow afternoon at Daikin Park. Dean Kremer gets the start for the Orioles, and he’ll be opposed by Houston’s Christian Javier. Game time is set for just after 2 PM.

Baltimore Orioles: Not perfect, but FOREVER YOUNG

Coming into tonight’s game in Houston, the Baltimore Orioles were focusing on Brandon Young continuing the string of quality starts of late. This in Houston, about 90 miles from Young’s hometown. With his entire family and half the town in attendance. The movie, The Rookie comes to mind. Young’s line: 8.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 6 K.

However come the end of the game, it was another baseball movie that was coming to mind, For The Love of the Game. Keep in mind, Young was coming off of perhaps his worst big league start last weekend against the Athletics, And in his hometown he followed that up perhaps the best start by an Oriole pitcher in years. And an unforgettable first major league win in the process. If you’re looking to next year and onwards, Young’s a keeper,

The O’s took a 1-0 lead on a solo homer in the third by Coby Mayo. Two innings later Gunnar Henderson plated a run on a sac fly-RBI. A third run scored on a throwing error.

Gunnar Henderson would add an RBI-single in the seventh, as would Jeremiah Jackson in the eighth. The O’s would also tack on two additional runs on a Dylan Carlson two-run home run. All of that combined for a 7-0 Orioles win in Houston.

But Brandon Young was the story. Anytime someone records their first big league win, he’s the story. Especially in his hometown, in front of his entire cadre of family and friends. But…wow.

Young came within four outs of a perfect game. With one out in the eighth inning, Young’s former teammate, former Oriole Ramon Urias, got aboard with a swinging bunt. He ended up on second base as a result of Young’s throwing error.

So in his first big league win, Brandon Young tossed eight innings of one-hit baseball, surrendering one hit and committing a throwing error. Included in that was a perfect game bid, and in his hometown none the less. Again needless to say, that was the best start for this franchise in several years.

Outstanding. Not perfect, but outstanding. It really shows you how difficult it is to toss a perfect game or no-hitter. You can’t under any circumstances think that Brandon Young is going to have outings like this the rest of his career. That isn’t sustainable. But hopefully he takes this momentum onward. He silenced one of the most potent lineups in baseball tonight in his first major league victory.

The series continues tomorrow night at Daikin Park. Cade Povich gets the start for the O’s, and he’ll be opposed by Houston’s Jason Alexander. Game time is set for just after 7 PM.

Baltimore Orioles: “Action Jackson’s” rule the night

The motif last night for the Baltimore Orioles was better late than never. That’s said in the context of the hour and forty minute rain delay to kick things off before Trevor Rogers could start the game. And he spun a gem for the O’s last night – the O’s who to date hadn’t had a walk off win all year. Rogers’ line: 7.0 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 6 K.

Dean Kremer went eight on Tuesday and gave up one run, and then Rogers’ outing last night. This against one of the hottest lineups in baseball. Unfortunately for Rogers, Oriole bats were once again quiet – early, that is.

The lone run that Rogers surrendered came in the seventh when Naylor slapped an RBI-single following a leadoff triple. But that was okay given that Ryan Mountcastle sent the first pitch he saw in the home half of the inning over the wall for a home run that tied the game at one.

Later in the inning after a single by Ryan Noda, Jeremiah Jackson’s RBI-triple gave them the lead. Jackson would also score on a throwing error, pushing it to 3-1. Also known as a “little league homer.” For what it’s worth, Jackson was also a pinch hitter.

Yennier Cano came on in the closer’s role in the ninth. He gave up a single and a walk, putting two runners on, and then Seattle executed a double steal. An RBI-groundout and a sac fly-RBI would tie the game at three, with Keegan Akin replacing Cano in the middle of the inning.

Yet, the home team bats last. The O’s recorded two quick outs in the inning, before Dylan Carlson got aboard with a single. Keep in mind, the O’s hadn’t won a game in walk off fashion yet this year, this with Jackson Holliday striding to the plate.

That Carlson single may have been the key. That turned the order over to get to Jackson Holliday. In a 2-1 count he sent a liner into the right field corner for an RBI-double that won it for the Birds. In a game that was wayward from the get go due to the weather, the O’s were able to record their first walk off win of the year.

The Jackson’s of course pushed in the big runs. Jeremiah Jackson and Jackson Holliday. But again the biggest play may have been Dylan Carlson getting on base. In that situation if you’re Seattle, you have to look at the scoreboard and recognize that if that guy gets aboard, you turn over the order. Some days you win, some days you lose, and some days it rains. Yesterday two of those things were true for the Birds.

The series concludes this afternoon with Seattle at Camden Yards. Tomoyuki Sugano gets the start for the O’s, and he’ll be opposed by Seattle’s Logan Evans. Game time is set for just after 1 PM.

Baltimore Orioles: Just barely not enough

From the immediate outset it appeared that it was going to be a long night for Dean Kremer and the Baltimore Orioles. Kremer allowed a run and some traffic on the bases in the first inning. But he pitched out of it. And that may have set off the best start of his career. Kremer’s line: 8 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 6 K.

After leading off the game with a single, Arozarena stole second base. He would later score on Naylor’s RBI-single. Again, it appeared that it might be a long night at that point. But that was the nadir of Kremer’s outing. Unfortunately it’s all that was needed.

That 1-0 lead stood the entire game. The best shot the Orioles had was in the ninth inning when Seattle closer Munoz appeared to take an elongated rest on the mound. With a runner on and two outs, trainers brought out hydration fluids, and he seemed to take a blow smack in the middle of the inning.

He would later compose himself, but his velocity was down. However Ryan Mountcastle grounded out to end the game, and the Orioles fell, 1-0. Dean Kremer deserved better…

…he really did. It’s no exaggeration to say this may have been the best start of his career. And it goes down as an eight inning loss. You can’t win if you can’t score. That much is a fact.

The sequence at the end of the game was curious. Was Munoz dehydrated? Was he in pain? Tough to say, but the game was allowed to be delayed for a time.

The series continues tomorrow night Zar Camden Yards. Trevor Rogers gets the start for the Birds, and he’ll be opposed by Seattle’s Logan Gilbert. Game time is set for just after 6:30 PM,

Baltimore Orioles “MacIver” their way out of a win

Cade Povich pitched to a quality start for the Baltimore Orioles in this afternoon’s series finale with the Athletics at Camden Yards. Needless to say, he put the O’s in a spot to win the game – which is a starter’s job. And make no mistake that he deserved to win the game, as he was outstanding. Povich’s line: 6.0 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 3 BB, 5 K.

The Athletics’ starter Morales was shaky. He didn’t last long, and walked four of the first seven Orioles hitters. But the Orioles couldn’t scratch out a hit against him. He only lasted two and two thirds of an inning.

Neither side could scratch out a run. Jeremiah Jackson led off the fourth with a triple, but was tagged out trying to score on a squeeze bunt by Greg Allen. To top it off, Allen was thrown out trying to steal second base a moment later, ending the inning.

But the Orioles eventually broke through. Jordan Westburg smacked a solo home run in the fifth. However the Athletics were able to push one through in the sixth as well. Thomas smacked an RBI-single, tying the game at one.

That was the lone run that Cade Povich surrendered. He was lifted after six, in favor of Yennier Cano. He retired the side in the seventh, and then the Orioles got a break in the bottom of the inning.

Catcher Alex Jackson popped a ball foul on the first base side, which was dropped by the Athletics’ first baseman Kurtz. They challenged the call, claiming the ball was foul – but it was upheld. And rightfully so. It was debatable whether it was fair or foul. But the call on the field was fair, and there wasn’t sufficient evidence to overturn the call. So it stood…meanwhile, Allen ended up at second with a double.

Following an Allen strikeout, Tony Mansolino pinch hit Coby Mayo. Following a passed ball, Mayo smacked an RBI-double to center field, giving the O’s a 2-1 lead. Mayo was immediately removed for a pinch runner. But he served his purpose.

The O’s had an opportunity to add on in the eighth when Gunnar Henderson got to second with nobody out. But they allowed the Athletics to get out of the inning. And the Athletics seemed to take that personally.

Keegan Akin allowed a leadoff walk in the closer’s role, and then a base hit. That brought catcher Willie MacIver to the plate, and he responded. His two-RBI double gave the Athletics a 3-2 lead.

Remember that sequence where the Orioles tried to squeeze their way into a run and then ran out of the inning? It was MacIver who tagged the runner out, and threw out the other one ending the inning. He beat the Orioles both in the field and at the plate.

As I said yesterday, you have to put people away. In the biggest moment of the game perhaps, they couldn’t do that. Granted the O’s are playing for next year, but you can’t let that happen.

Baltimore Orioles: Can’t close them out

Brandon Young didn’t have it tonight for the Baltimore Orioles. Then again, neither did the bullpen relievers that followed him. And save for a brief moment, neither did Oriole bats. Young’s line: 3.0 IP, 6 H, 6 R, 2 BB, 2 K.

Before the game of course MASN broadcaster Tom Davis, former outfielder Joe Orsulak, and of course former outfielder Adam Jones were inducted into the Orioles’ Hall of Fame. Needless to say, the Orioles do things such as their Hall of Fame Induction correctly. Nostalgia is a huge part of sports, and this is a very traditional fan base. The O’s are the masters at what you might call Field of Dreams style moments.

But that was perhaps the biggest highlight for the O’s. Maybe not – after the Athletics smacked a two-run home run in the first inning, Gunnar Henderson hit a three-run shot in the home half of the frame, a homer that was set up by Jordan Westburg butcher boying his way on base. So the Orioles did lead the game for a moment. However in the wake of that Henderson homer, 15 consecutive Orioles were retired.

One thing Young and other Orioles pitchers had in common tonight is they couldn’t get out of at-bats. With two strikes guys would find a way to get on base. That began in the first at-bat of the game when Young started out 0-2, and walked the hitter. The two-run homer ensued. You have to get out of at-bats.

Similarly, Rooker’s three-run home run in the third gave the Athletics the lead back. And that came after the precious hitter was in a two-strike hole. Hernias would add a sac fly-RBI to extend the lead to 6-3 before the inning ended.

The fifth inning was the killer. The Athletics put up five runs. And it could have been worse had Adley Rutschman not picked a runner off third. And again, the O’a couldn’t put the capper on. With two outs Hernaiz grounded back to the pitcher, Yaramil Hiraldo. Hiraldo muffed the ball, allowing the runner to reach,

Four of the five runs that scored in the inning came on the heels of that play. Which happened on another two-strike count. Obviously in that instance the pitcher (Hiraldo) in theory did get out of the situation. That would have been the third out. Until it wasn’t. The Athletics may be at a reduced power level, but you can’t give them multiple chances.

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