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 sweep a series for the ages

I suppose the question for the Baltimore Orioles is which win in Toronto this weekend was bigger? Which was the seasons’s “signature win” (to date, at least)? Was it yesterday’s slow slog, or today’s game, started by Dean Kremer? Dean Kremer, who incidentally put the O’s in a spot to win today. Kremer’s line: 5.1 IP, 9 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 7 K.

Similar to yesterday, today’s game seemed to have a late-season or post-season big game feel to it. The air was thick all day, and neither side was seemingly ready to blink. Toronto took a 1-0 lead in the second with a solo homer by Chapman. But solo homers rarely beat you.

The O’s would tie the score in the third on an RBI-groundout by Adley Rutschman. Anthony Santander would then reach on a fielder’s choice, scoring Cedric Mullins from third. And the Orioles led, 2-1.

A downside to this game (following yesterday’s) for the Orioles was that the bullpen was taxed. They potentially had only three or four relievers available – short of an emergency, that is. In fact, I might even argue that there could have been consideration of using a starter out of the ‘pen had it been necessary. Luckily, that didn’t happen. And the O’s have an off day tomorrow.

One of the fresh relievers was Mychal Givens, who came off the IL before the ballgame. Givens of course was an Oriole for many years, and has now returned after three years away. He showed some rust, however overall it was a good outing – save for letting Toronto tie the score at two on a sac fly-RBI by Chapman in the seventh.

And just like that, we went to extra innings again, tied at two. As the title states, this was a series for the ages. So it was only fitting that the game went to extra innings. Cedric Mullins opened the extra frame(s) with a run-scoring single, and suddenly the Birds had the lead back at 3-2. However Merrifield added a run-scoring single of his own in the bottom of the inning, and we played on.

Those runs of course were courtesy of the ghost runner rule. As was the first run the Orioles scored in the 11th, off a single by Austin Hays. However all things being the same (which is always a tough argument to make), the O’s still would have taken this game. Terrin Vavra went up with two runners in scoring position as a pinch hitter, and smacked a two-RBI single. Cedric Mullins followed with a two-RBI double, and suddenly the Orioles walked out with an 8-3 win.

It goes without saying that this is a huge sweep of a division rival. Not to mention that it happened at their place. However as I said yesterday and I said above, the entire series was played with tension. Toronto’s a team that thrives off of controversy, and they “wanted the Orioles” all weekend.

And the good news for them is that they got them. They got the best that the Orioles could give them. And by series’ end, I think everyone in both organizations, and across baseball, were put on notice as to who the better team is. Let there be no mistake.

Baltimore Orioles: Don’t be made into the villains

The Baltimore Orioles won perhaps the biggest game of the season to date yesterday in Toronto. It had everything – high drama, disagreements, etc. And by disagreements, I mean controversy.

Toronto starter Alex Manoah barked at the Orioles’ Adam Frazier following a strikeout S he walked back to the dugout. There was seemingly no basis for the rift, and it left a lot of people wondering what happened. I would say this: don’t even ask the question.

The situation from earlier last week with Toronto and the NY Yankees is well documented. And there are plenty of other cases of Toronto players getting in the faces of opponents. Remember the 2015 postseason – Jose Bautista with the bat flip? They’ve had their share of run-in’s with the Orioles over the years also. If you remember, Toronto seemed intent on throwing at Oriole hitters on the night the Birds were trying to clinch the 2014 AL East title. Determined to insert themselves into the story.

That’s no different than Manoah and Frazier yesterday. Or the entire Toronto team against Aaron Judge last week. For years, that team has basically tried to play the heel. They want you to hate them. And they don’t mind fighting if it comes to that. They’re aggressive, and that’s purposely done.

So this is a word of caution to the Orioles, if anything. You know how the saying goes; never get into a fight with a pig, because he’ll beat you with experience and you’ll get dirty. Make no mistake, these are concerted efforts by the Toronto Blue Jays to get under people’s skin.

At a certain point, you have to defend yourself. However Toronto’s always been a team that tries to get under people’s skin. Chirping on the field and in the media about New York stealing signs is a perfect example. But how many bench-clearing brawls are they involved in?! And if they are, is it not convenient that it comes across as they’re the ones defending themselves?

Jose Bautista flips his bat at the Texas Rangers in the post season. The next year he gets slugged in the face. Believe me, both Bautista and his superiors were THRILLED with that result. The other guy gets the perception of causing the problem, and they got under their skin. That’s their modus operandi.

Make no mistake, Manoah was planting a seed yesterday. Their goal is to chirp and scream so much that eventually someone has to do something. And then they get to go into victim mode.

So the O’s should beware of this. Don’t be shocked if someone tries something or says something in today’s game. Toronto’s the schoolyard bully who levies insults at you and when you retaliate, says you threw the first punch. And the sad thing is they’re good at it. THEY caused the bad blood with the Yankees earlier this week. THEY caused the situation with Adam Frazier yesterday. Their hope is that it boils over, potentially causing suspensions to the other guy.

So the Orioles need to remain focused. Unless Toronto does something outlandish, don’t take the bait. Because it’s all part of a plan on their part.

Baltimore Orioles: Ryan O’Hearn says ‘O YES!’

Today’s game was the epitome of a “team win” for the Baltimore Orioles. They got a solid start out of Grayson Rodriguez in Toronto this afternoon, however the fact is that the wheels really started turning after Rodriguez had left the ballgame. Rodriguez’s line: 5.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 6 K.

Literally everyone who played today contributed. Now the down side of that is the fact that the Birds used five relievers, including closer Felix Bautista (who actually recorded the win); he pitched two innings. It would stand to reason that he won’t be available tomorrow, but keep in mind that the O’s are also off on Monday. Time will tell.

The Birds led 2-0 early after the first couple of innings. Ryan O’Hearn smacked an RBI-single in the second, and Cedric Mullins a solo homer in the third (umpire reviewed and ruled a home run). However Toronto tied the game at two on a two-run homer by Springer in the fifth. Jansen sent a solo shot out in the last of the sixth, and the Birds suddenly trailed.

Toronto would put two more runs on the board in the seventh, and it stood to reason those were insurance runs. However never count this crop of Orioles out. They fully buy into the legacy of the spirit of Orioles Magic that hovers over top of this franchise. Especially late in games.

The O’s put two runners on in the top of the eighth, with Ryan O’Hearn coming back to the plate. Remember, O’Hearn started the scoring this afternoon back in the second inning. O’Hearn of course had a great spring, which is why he’s a big leaguer now, but little did we know that he also had the “clutch gene” that so many of his teammates seem to have.

O’Hearn sent a deep shot toward the right field grandstand at Toronto’s Rogers Centre. Many in the crowd thought the game was basically over, and that the home-standing Jays had won. But O’Hearn and the O’s had other ideas. His three-run homer gave the Birds new life, and tied the game.

The game went to extra innings, this following Felix Bautista pitching out of a jam in the last of the ninth. He had two on and nobody out, the lead runner of course being the winning run. But NONE of them crossed the plate, and we played on.

The O’s took advantage of the ghost runner rule, and immediately moved Ryan Mountcastle to third. Austin Hays plated him with a fielder’s choice, giving the O’s a 6-5 lead. Bautista closed out the game in the last of the tenth, giving the O’s a 6-5 win – and a series victory.

This recap doesn’t do the heaviness of this game justice. It was seemingly played with the intensity of an elimination game in October. Maybe it was Toronto who brought that intensity, drama, etc. For whatever reason. Drama and controversy seems to make them tick. But make no mistake that it was the Orioles who had the last say.

The series concludes tomorrow at Rogers Centre. Dean Kremer gets the start for the O’s, and he’ll be opposed by Toronto’s Kevin Gausman (former Oriole). Game time is set for just after 1:30 PM.

Baltimore Orioles: Rogers Centre ruled by a “Mounty“

This was always set up to be a big series in Toronto for the Baltimore Orioles. Kyle Gibson took the ball to face off against a team that seems to enjoy beating the O’s – and everyone else in the league. Against a team who found themselves once again and as usual, steeped in controversy just this week when New York was in town. And for starters, Gibson showed up tonight. Gibson’s line: 7.0 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 5 K.

Gibson gave up an RBI-single to Jansen in the last of the second. And that was it for him. He was solid all night. And he pitched seven innings in a game where the Orioles could have afforded to rest their bullpen a bit. And that point right there bodes well for the Orioles going into tomorrow.

However Toronto didn’t hold the lead for long. Ryan Mountcastle came up in the third with two runners on base. As much as we’ve talked in past years about certain players “owning” the Orioles, Mountcastle’s had his way with Toronto. Big time.

He smacked a two-run homer in the top of the third, giving the Birds a 3-1 lead. That was Mountcastle’s 15th home run against Toronto in his career. “Mounty’s” also in his third season. And needless to say, while the sheer number of homers against one team is impressive in and of itself, Mountcastle’s homer was huge in the grand scheme of the game itself.

Anthony Santander would smack a home run of his own (a solo shot) in the sixth. Following Gibson, Yennier Cano would enter the game in the eighth. While Cano committed the rare act of surrendering a run (on Bichette’s RBI-groundout), he only allowed that one run. And he pitched the Orioles’ way out of a jam.

And on top of that, the O’s got two insurance runs in the ninth inning. Adam Frazier’s two-run homer extended the lead to 6-2. And thanks to Felix Bautista in the last of the ninth, that was your final score.

However make no mistake that it was Ryan Mountcastle back in the third inning who got the Orioles over the hump in this one. Offensively, that is. Gibson and Cano’s heroics we’re almost equally as important. For whatever reason, Ryan Mountcastle always hits Toronto hard. Needless to say, he ruled the roost at Toronto’s Rogers Centre tonight.

The series continues tomorrow night at Rogers Centre. Grayson Rodriguez gets the start for the Birds, and he’ll be opposed by Toronto’s Alek Manoah. Game time is set for just after 3 PM.

Baltimore Orioles: Kyle Bradish wins in pitcher’s duel

You really can’t script out a better way to win games if you’re the Baltimore Orioles. Give up fewer runs than the opponent, that is. Kyle Bradish afforded Los Angeles one run tonight at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. That’s tough to beat. Bradish’s line. 6.2 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 5 K.

Last night you may remember I said Dean Kremer had an in between start. While the Orioles still won, contrast that with Bradish being spot on this evening. For what it’s worth, Bradish pitched to a quality start.

The Birds got on the board in the last of the third with Ryan Mountcastle’s RBI-single. However one inning later they found it tied again, as Trout smacked a solo homer. It was perhaps the only bad pitch Bradish threw. But either way it landed in the seats and tied the game up at one.

However it wasn’t tied for long. Cedric Mullins’ RBI-single gave the O’s the lead back in the bottom of that fourth inning. Austin Hays would take that base hit and raise it with a solo homer in the last of the fifth. And the Orioles took a 3-1 lead into the later innings.

And at that point, the Oriole bullpen shut things down by way of Cionel Perez and Yennier Cano. And remember folks, that’s how you win games in 2023. A stellar bullpen. The 2023 O’s will go as far as their bullpen takes them. So far, so good.

The series concludes tomorrow at Camden Yards. Tyler Wells gets the start for the O’s, and he’ll be opposed by Los Angeles’ Tyler Anderson. Game time is set for just after 12:30 PM.

Baltimore Orioles: Ryan Mountcastle’s clutch homer helps lift the Birds

Dean Kremer turned in one of those in between starts for the Baltimore Orioles this evening against Anaheim at Camden Yards. Most starting pitchers will have ten great starts, ten poor, and ten that are in between. And therein lies the success or failure of your season. Kremer’s line: 5.2 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 0 BB, 4 K.

In short, Kremer wasn’t stellar. But he was far from awful either. If more guys’ in between starts were like this, their teams would be in the World Series annually. You can also refer to it as gutting one out. Either way, he pitched well enough to win.

Kremer gave up a solo homer to Moniak in the first, but the O’s almost immediately took care of that. Ryan O’Hearn, who got the start as the designated hitter, shot a solo homer of his own out of Camden Yards in the second, tying the game. For the record, O’Hearn DH’d while Anthony Santander played first base and Ryan Mountcastle sat. Keep that in mind.

The Birds took the lead in the last of the fourth when Terrin Vavra and Jorge Mateo smacked RBI-singles. Cedric Mullins would also ground out with a rubber on third, and the O’s led, 4-1.

But Los Angeles fought back. They put two runs across in the fifth, both on RBI-singles. And suddenly we were in a one-run game. But not for long.

Jorge Mateo’s sac fly-RBI in the last of the sixth gave the Birds some breathing room at 5-3. Following that, Brandon Hyde sent the previously resting Ryan Mountcastle up as a pinch hitter (with a runner on base) for Ryan O’Hearn. Keep in mind, one could argue that O’Hearn was taking Mountcastle’s spot in the order (in a roundabout manner). So perhaps his appearance in the game at that moment was ironic in and of itself…

…definitely afterwards, however. Because Mountcastle came through in the clutch, smacking a two-run homer. This extended the Orioles’ lead to 7-3, and the bullpen closed Los Angeles out the rest of the way.

Whatever Brandon Hyde’s methodology was for resting Mountcastle and later bringing him in when he did, it worked. Those are intangible things and moments in games that you can’t predict. You just have to feel them as they come. However he arrived at the decision(s), Hyde was right.

The series continues tomorrow night at Camden Yards. Kyle Bradish gets the start for the O’s, and he’ll be opposed by Los Angeles’ Griffin Canning. Game time is set for just after 7 PM.

Baltimore Orioles fall in series finale with Pittsburgh

The Baltimore Orioles can’t win them all. Neither can any other team. But I digress. Today’s game almost felt anti-climactic before starter Kyle Gibson even took to the mound. Gibson’s line: 5.0 IP, 7 H, 4 R, 3 BB, 5 K.

Gibson’s outing wasn’t awful. He did struggle with some command, but he battled. However as I said, it was almost anti-climactic. And I may say that partially because the Orioles had already won the series. 

Pittsburgh put runners on base right away, and Santana yielded them a run with a fielder’s choice-RBI in the first inning. For what it’s worth, that play originally wasn’t an RBI. At first it was a double-play (Pittsburgh had runners at the corners). However they challenged, saying that Santana was safe at first base. The challenge was upheld, and Santana had an RBI.

Pittsburgh extended their lead in the third on an RBI-single by Hayes. Bae later tacked on a two-RBI single. Pittsburgh led 4-0, which was going to be all they needed.

The Orioles ran into a buzzsaw in terms of pitching today. Pittsburgh’s Keller was masterful all day. We talk a lot about hitting with RISP in games; the O’s we’re 0-for-6 today. This meaning that they only got runners into scoring position six times. That’s how good Keller was.

I always say that if you take two-of-three in a series, you should never make the finale the one game you lose. Obviously you still took two-of-three. However it almost feels like you lost the series, given that it’s sort of a moment of finality – given that the series is over. However make no mistake, one of the hottest teams in the league won this series.

The O’s open up a series at home tomorrow night against the Los Angeles Angels (of Anaheim). Grayson Rodriguez gets the start for the O’s, and he’ll be opposed by LA’s Shohei Ohtani. Game time is set for just after 6:30 PM.

Baltimore Orioles: Tyler Wells pitches a gem as Birds win another series

Another quality start for a starter, and another win for the Baltimore Orioles. Tonight it was Tyler Wells – again. As we know, these games are all team efforts; win or lose. But it all begins and ends with starting pitching. Wells’ line: 7.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 8 K.

The one hit obviously stands out. Wells attacked the strike zone with aggression tonight. And it showed in the results. Pittsburgh hitters were consistently behind, and in truth they nary had a chance.

Offensively the story was two home runs. Both solo shots. Adley Rutschman hit one right off the bat in the first inning. Gunnar z Henderson followed in the second. And those two runs stood up and lifted the O’s for the rest of the game.

They say solo homers don’t beat you. But when you get a couple of solo homers and your starter’s dealing the way Wells was tonight, they do beat you. Pittsburgh, that is. Great pitching and a pair of solo homers. That’s the story of this game for the O’s.

And with that, the Orioles have won another series. And against another good team. First Tampa this past week. Now this. And the ceiling may not have been reached yet.

The series concludes tomorrow afternoon at Camden Yards. Kyle Gibson gets the start for the Birds, and he’ll be opposed by Pittsburgh’s Mitch Keller. Game time is set for just after 1:30 PM.

Baltimore Orioles cycled to victory by Cedric Mullins

I’ll get to Cedric Mullins – but the Baltimore Orioles got another great outing by a starter last night against Pittsburgh at Camden Yards. Kyle Bradish may have turned in his best start of the season. Definitely one of them; he mixed his pitches and mowed down Pittsburgh hitters. Bradish’s line: 6.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R (0 earned), 1 BB, 6 K.

That lone run surrendered was on a botched fielder’s choice by Jorge Mateo in the third inning. The Birds trailed 1-0 in what quickly unfolded as a pitcher’s duel. However the Orioles tied it in the last of the sixth. Ryan Mountcastle led off the inning with a triple, and he later scored on a wild pitch which tied the game.

As I’ve said a lot, get on base. However you can. When you get guys on base and/or into scoring position things can happen. And that modus operandi benefitted the O’s last night.

Pittsburgh took the lead back in the seventh on a solo homer by Joe. But Adley Rutschman’s RBI-double in the bottom of the inning tied it back up at two. But it was the eighth inning when things really got cooking.

Cedric Mullins already had a single, a double, and a triple. He came up in the last of the eighth with the ballgame tied at two and two runners on base. And being the clutch player that he is, he delivered with ice water in his veins.

With the count even up at one, Mullins sent a deep shot towards right field. When it cleared the wall onto the flag court, Mullins had given the Birds a 6-3 lead in a game that was previously close. And previously a pitcher’s duel. And he became the seventh player in franchise history to hit for the cycle.

Pittsburgh would tack an extra run on in the ninth, but the game ended on Mullins’ homer. And as he himself said after the game, things just fell in line:

You obviously know that you’re a single swing away from the cycle, and at the same time you’re trying to do your job. Drive some runs in. Everything fell in line.

Quote courtesy of Roch Kubatko, MASNsports

It’s tough to say which part of that moment was bigger. I always err on the side of the team aspect, and that home run broke the tie. Not only that, but it broke the tie and broke the game wide open. It effectively ended the game.

However Mullins in that same moment became the seventh Oriole in history to complete the cycle in a game. Austin Hays did it last year against Washington. That was the most recent. All in all, it was a key moment and a huge feat all around. And it sent Oriole Park at Camden Yards into a frenzy.

The series continues this evening at Camden Yards. Tyler Wells gets the start for the Orioles, and he’ll be opposed by Pittsburgh’s Roansy Contreras. Game time is set for just after 7 PM.

Baltimore Orioles beat the best on quest to BE the best

The Baltimore Orioles got another solid start out of Dean Kremer this evening in the rubber match with Tampa. And make no mistake, it was a huge game. Whomever won tonight, would take two-of-three in the series. And given the standings, that was set to be huge. Kremer’s line: 6.0 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 4 K.

Kremer was outstanding. Unfortunately for the Birds, so were Tampa’s pitchers. I put it like that because they used Beeks as an “opener” in a sense. However both pitching staffs shut down the other side’s hitting. That’s why it’s called a pitcher’s duel!

But even in a pitcher’s duel, someone has to win. And from the Orioles’ perspective, the right team won. Adam Frazier grounded out in the last of the sixth with Adley Rutschman on third, giving the Orioles a 1-0 lead. Later in the inning Austin Hays’ RBI-double extended the lead to 2-0.

Franco’s RBI-single in the eighth cut the lead in half. However Danny Coulumbe got the Orioles out of the inning. They sent Tampa down 1-2-3 in the ninth, taking the game, 2-1.

Again, this is a huge win for the O’s. They took two-of-three from the team with the best record in baseball. There was reason to have optimism after the Atlanta series. Now even more so. In order to be the best, you have to beat the creme de la creme. And the Orioles did that this week.