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: Got Aldey?!

Brandon Young turned in another great outing for the Baltimore Orioles in Toronto tonight. Young attacked the strike zone from the beginning. He threw strikes. He mixed his pitches. He put the Birds in a position to win. Young’s line: 6.1 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 0 BB, 4 K.

Young had the lead before he even climbed the hill at Rogers Centre. Adley Rutschman sent one out in the top of the first, and the O’s led 1-0. That Rutschman at-bat would really set the tone for the game. He was down 0-2 in the count early. But he battled back, fouled off a ton of pitches, and worked the count even. And wound up smacking one after (after an umpire review).

However Springer would lead off Toronto’s half of the frame with a double, and would later score on Guerrero’s sac fly-RBI. Young would make one mistake by leaving a slider up in the fifth, and it resulted in a two-run home run by Valenzuela. However if there’s one thing that last weekend’s series taught us, it’s never to say it’s over until it’s over.

The Orioles would put two on with one out in the sixth, and Adley Rutschman coming back to the plate. Once again, another outstanding at-bat. And I say that because it only took two-pitches; his two-RBI double tied the game at three.

One thing to watch, but Samuel Basallo’s spot in the order was due up next. The Orioles sent up Jeremiah Jackson to bat in his place. The team later said he left the game with right abdominal discomfort. You hope it’s just precautionary, but that’s something to watch which could be a problem.

The good news however is that Jackson smacked an RBI-single to give the O’s the lead back at 4-3. And if that wasn’t enough, Coby Mayo smacked a two-run homer later in the inning. That gave the O’s some breathing room, as they led 6-3.

The best news perhaps of the game was that the Orioles didn’t stop adding on. Jackson’s next turn at the plate was in the top of the eighth, and his RBI-single extended the lead to 7-3. And that’s important because it took the Orioles’ pen out of a save situation. Not that it was ever going to be a save situation.

An RBI-single by Colton Cowser and a fielder’s choice-RBI by Leody Taveras later in the inning extended the lead to 9-3. That broke the game wide open. And to finish things off in the inning, Adley Rutschman would smack a two-RBI double in the eighth. And the O’s led, 11-3.

This was an aggressive team win. The Orioles took outstanding at-bats all night. Adley Rutschman had five RBI tonight. Which bodes well for the Orioles’ offense.

The Basallo injury is something to watch. That’s the last thing they need. And he’s the last guy to whom they want to see it happen. As I said, hopefully it’s precautionary. But the silver lining is that Jeremiah Jackson (his replacement as a DH) drove in two runs. Just for good measure, the O’s loaded the bases in the ninth and scored two runs on a Toronto throwing error.

This is the sort of game that would happen to the Orioles earlier in the season. They just kept adding on. And in some instances Toronto gave them gifts. And they warmly embraced those gifts. Very quietly, the Orioles have now won ten of fourteen.

The series continues tomorrow at Rogers Centre. Kyle Bradish gets the start for the Orioles, and Toronto is yet to announce a starter. Game time is set for just after 3 PM.

Baltimore Orioles: Everything was up

Chris Bassitt had a curious outing tonight for the Baltimore Orioles in Boston. This in a curious game. In short, neither Bassitt nor subsequent relievers could keep the ball down. Bassitt’s line: 3.0 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 2 BB, 1 K.

The Orioles snapped a three-game winning streak with the loss tonight – something that was going to happen at some point. But especially when playing in a park like Fenway, you have to keep the ball down. Not only did Boston put the ball in play a lot tonight, the balls they put in play took just about every favorable bounce possible for the home team.

The Birds out two on in the first but couldn’t plate any runs. However in their half of the frame Boston didn’t offer that same charity. Abreu’s RBI-single would give them a 2-0 lead. Abreu would smack a two-run home run in the third.

During that third inning however manager Craig Albernaz came out to check on Chris Bassitt. He was later seen talking to trainers, and Bassitt was lifted after the inning ended. He didn’t necessarily look comfortable as his outing went on.

The Orioles cannot afford to sustain another pitching injury. Part of the “charm” of the roster this year was supposed to be the depth. If the entirety of that depth ends up on the IL, that’s a massive problem. We don’t know that Bassitt’s injured. However that didn’t look good.

Again however, everything Bassitt threw was up. The same was true of every Oriole pitcher. Gasper’s two-RBI triple in the third extended the lead to 5-0. The quirk on that play was that it was a lazy fly ball to center. Blaze Alexander appeared to lose the ball in the sky. This after the Boston outfield did the same thing in the previous half inning. The difference is that Boston held the Orioles accountable for that mistake. The same wasn’t true in reverse.

Two RBI-doubles and an RBI-single later in the inning would run the score to 8-0. End of the day this was a donnybrook sort of game for Boston bats. Sometimes you get games like that. And again it goes without saying that you aren’t going to win every game. And eventually winning streak ends. Luckily the O’s did manage to get on the board and avoid being shut out for the first time, this on Adley Rutschman’s RBI-triple in the seventh.

The first concern isn’t losing the game. It’s Chris Bassitt. Again, the Orioles can ill afford to lose another starter. (Or a position player for that matter.) The Orioles also fought back from the hole they had dug by attacking the strike zone. Neither Bassitt nor any other Orioles’ pitcher did that tonight…

…they lived above the zone and on the fringes of the plate. Here’s what’s worse; Boston hitters were making contact. Pitches that shouldn’t have been hit, were hit. And hit a long way. It’s one game. The recent tends with this team are still positive. But they need to avoid another cold snap. That may well begin and end with Bassitt’s injury status.

The series concludes tomorrow afternoon at Fenway Park. Trevor Rogers gets the start for the O’s, and Boston is yet to announce a starter. Game time is set for just after 1:30 PM.

Baltimore Orioles led by Baz and blasts

Shane Baz went to the bump at “the Fens” for the Baltimore Orioles this evening. If something turned in terms of the direction of the season over the just-completed home stand, it continued to turn tonight in game one of three against Boston. Baz’s line: 7.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 6 K.

Earlier in the season the Orioles didn’t necessarily try to strike guys out. It seemed that they wanted teams to put balls in play, and they were. Something seems to have shifted, because as strikeouts have piled up, so have wins.

Baz actually started in an inauspicious manner tonight, giving up a leadoff triple. Boston would then take a 1-0 lead on Abreu’s sac fly-RBI. However Baz limited the damage, and got himself and his team back in the dugout. You can live with that – most games aren’t going to end 1-0. Especially at Fenway Park.

And Baz was rewarded for limiting the damage. Coby Mayo smacked a solo homer to tie the game at one in the second. A home run that was reviewed, for the record. It appeared to clear the green monster, yet it was called a double. Upon review, Mayo was awarded home plate and a home run.

Following an Adley Rutschman single in the third, Pete Alonso smacked a two-run homer that didn’t need to be reviewed. It was a no-doubter, and the O’s led, 3-1. And Shane Baz followed the lead of his teammates from there. He mowed down hitter after hitter throughout his start.

Blaze Alexander would tack on a sac fly-RBI in the fourth, as would Boston’s Mayer in the fifth. Incidentally, that Alexander sacrifice fly was set up by Leody Taveras sacrifice bunt. Needless to say, the O’s are starting to manufacture runs, which is a good thing.

Whether it’s intended or not, Taveras has begun making bunting more and more a part of his game. Later in the game he bunted for a base hit. This is a welcome addition to the lineup, as it gives the Orioles and old school element of their offense. More than just hitting the ball hard.

With the 4-2 win, the Orioles now have their fourth three-game winning streak of the season. Tomorrow night they’ll go for their first four-game win streak. Needless to say, the season appears to be turning around – for now.

The series continues tomorrow night at Fenway Park. Chris Bassitt gets the start for the Birds, and he’ll be opposed by Boston’s Payton Tolle. Game time is set for 6:45 PM.

Baltimore Orioles: The party buss rolls on, as Birds split with Toronto

The Baltimore Orioles sent Kyle Bradish to the bump in the final game of four with Toronto, and of the homestand. Needless to say, Bradish wasn’t fooling around this afternoon. Neither were Oriole bats. Bradish’s line, 7.0 IP, 4 H, 1 R (unearned), 3 BB, 4 K.

The Orioles of course were coming off one of the most dramatic wins of the season yesterday. The last thing you want to have a let down in the wake of that. Especially on the longest home-stand of the season, in which they were already 6-3. But a 7-3 stretch is better than 6-4.

Luckily, Bradish was strong. So were the bats. After Leody Taveras sacrificed two runners into scoring position in the second, Colton Cowser gave the O’s a 1-0 lead on a fielder’s choice-RBI. One inning later, Pete Alonso’s RBI-single extended the lead to 2-0, and Samuel Basallo’s RBI-double ran it to 3-0.

But the inning wasn’t over yet. Neither was the game. The Birds had two on, and Colton Cowser coming to home plate. You know, the guy who engineered two of the three walk-off’s on this home stand? He still had some magic in his bat. Cowser’s three-run homer gave the Orioles a 6-0 lead.

It begins and ends with starting pitching. Bradish certainly played that role masterfully this afternoon. But the better news is that the team put together a team win. Too often it’s been decent starting pitching and poor hitting – or the inverse. Today they put it all together at once.

Taylor Ward grounded into a fielder’s choice-RBI (with an assist from replay) in the sixth, followed by an RBI-double by Gunnar Henderson. Adley Rutschman would tack on a sac fly-RBI, and the Birds led 9-0. And it’s a good thing they built that lead.

Toronto would score a lone run in the seventh on an errant throw by Jackson Holliday. However Tyler Wells would come on in the top of the eighth and surrender four runs, cutting the lead to 9-5. Three of those runs came on a three-run homer by Pinago. The Orioles came back on Toronto yesterday. The last thing you want is the same to happen again in reverse.

But it didn’t. That was just a blip in the radar for Tyler Wells. Everything he threw was up, for the record. While on paper this was a series split, make no mistake that the Orioles got the better of Toronto this weekend.

The O’s finish the longest home stand of the year at 7-3. What happens from here remains to be seen. But needless to say, a good and very interesting ten games at home. After an off day tomorrow, the O’s head to Boston on Tuesday night.

Baltimore Orioles: Polar Bear Plunge for the win!

The Baltimore Orioles have gotten decent starting pitching of late, most recently this afternoon with Brandon Young. He’s stepped up of late nicely, but he’s also been let down – in various ways. Young’s line: 6.2 IP, 7 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 7 K.

Simply put, Young mowed Toronto hitters down all game long. And it wasn’t even close. He was absolutely outstanding. The only thing that could have saved him today however, was perhaps throwing a no-hitter. Maybe a perfect game.

Toronto walked ejght Orioles today – EIGHT. But the O’s also grounded into four double-plays. You can’t have that when you’re getting free passes on base. The whole concept in Moneyball about guys getting on base only applies if you can bring them in.

A couple of walks did come in to score in the third. Gunnar Henderson’s RBI-single following two walks gave the O’s a 1-0 lead. And that inning did have some promise for awhile, however it ended in a double-play.

But the fourth inning did the O’s in – or so we thought for most of the day. With two outs and one on, Sanchez sent a deep shot to center. It ticked off of Leody Taveras’ glove for an RBI-double. It was ruled an extra-base hit. But it’s a play Taveras probably should have made.

To make matters worse, Sanchez would come around to score on Clement’s RBI-double which was in short a fist to center. Taveras pulled up and let it drop without much of an effort. It’s possible that the shadows and sun didn’t give him a good read, or that he thought he could throw the runner out at home plate. That also is a hit, however it’s most definitely a play that has to be made.

The O’s had a shot to do some damage in the last of the fourth, however. Taveras somewhat redeemed himself by putting down a great bunt which advanced two runners into scoring position. Keeps you out of a double-play, right? And as many double-plays as they were piling up, that’s a good thing…

…until it’s not. Jeremiah Jackson grounded the ball directly to third, and the third baseman Okamoto stepped right on the bat for one, and threw across the diamond for the second out at first base to end the inning.

Not only did they not stay out of the double-play, but a okay that was designed to keep them out of it all but led them into it. It’s uncanny how that worked out.

Everytime the O’s were close to doing something that sort of thing would occur. Predictably, Toronto eventually opted to pull away rather than wait for the Orioles. Okamoto’s two-RBI double in the eighth extended the lead to 4-1.

And it came on a two-strike slider, which is an interesting pitch selection. It was also poorly placed. Toronto would top it off with a run-scoring double by Guerrero in the ninth. With an assist on a Colton Cowser error in the outfield.

The game felt over. Especially after Samuel Basallo appeared to injure himself slightly striking out. Then Coby Mayo was hit by a pitch. And that changed everything.

Mayo would score on a Leody Taveras triple which cut the lead to 5-2. Big deal, right? It sort of was given that Jackson Holliday’s RBI-triple scored Taveras and cut the lead to 5-3. Following a Colton Cowser double and a Taylor Ward walk, the bases were loaded.

The Orioles had Toronto’s Hoffman on the ropes. He proceeded to walk Gunnar Henderson, and the tying run was suddenly at third. That brought Adley Rutschman to the plate, also with the bases loaded. After he walked, the game was tied.

The best thing about baseball is that you never know what you’re going to see. Today it was Pete Alonso striding to home plate with four runs in, the game tied, and the bases loaded. And it was Pete Alonso winning the game with a walk off RBI-single for the Orioles, and the Birds going home with a 6-5 win.

You may never see a more improbable victory in any sport. Anyone could have been excused for thinking the game was over. I wrote it above myself. The Orioles have been on the other end of games like that before also. But that’s just because baseball is the best sport. Heck of a game, and heck of a win.

The series concludes tomorrow at Camden Yards. Kyle Bradish gets the start for the Orioles, and Toronto’s starter is TBD. Game time is set for 12:15 PM.

Baltimore Orioles: Fine line between bullpen management and mismanagement

Save for the tail end of his time in the ballgame, Trevor Rogers was outstanding for the Baltimore Orioles this evening. For the most part, he mowed down Toronto hitters and allowed Oriole bats to amass a lead. Rogers’ line: 6.0 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 1 BB, 3 K.

The stat line is incredibly deceiving in terms of his outing. The four runs are in essence an anomaly. The real question is was he lifted too late?

The Orioles did squander some opportunities early. Guerrero committed and error in the second with two runners on by dropping a foul pop. The O’s allowed Toronto to squirm out of it.

They also loaded the bases in the last of the third. Adley Rutschman walked with the bases loaded. Samuel Basallo would also scratch across a run with a sac fly-RBI. That did give the O’s a 2-0 lead.

But could it have been more? Keep in mind, the Orioles had the bases loaded (with nobody out). Only scoring twice, and in fairly humble fashion, is almost a win for the team in the field. They could have buried their opponent early. Instead they all but let them off the hook.

One inning later Jackson Holliday would add a solo home run in the fourth. Pete Alonso would go back-to-back with solo home runs in the fifth. Again, that’s a good thing, and a good sign. But solo home runs don’t beat you, the O’s need to get more runners on base.

As I said, Rogers pitched well – through six. Understandably, he seemed to begin to tire in the seventh. He allowed a leadoff double to Guerrero, and then a two-run home run to Okamoto. That narrowed the lead to 5-2. After Varsho got aboard with a double, it was obvious that Rogers was tiring.

However Craig Albernaz opted to keep Rogers in the game. Was it due to Tyler Wells in the bullpen not quite being ready? Or was it due to the fact that McAdoo, a guy without a hit at the big league level (and a righty) was coming up?

The latter option checks out with the Orioles’ insistence on Sabre metrics being used at all costs. There’s a fine line between managing and mismanaging. If the pitcher is tiring, you have to recognize that. You have to put that above matching up. The computer doesn’t and cannot take into account that a pitcher is tiring. Only that the matchup makes sense – all things being equal.

So not only was McAdoo due his first career hit, he decided to make it a two-run homer. McAdoo’s yearn to make an impact in a big spot outdid the computer. Go figure. To his credit, Craig Albernaz admitted after the game that he left Rogers in for two long.

Albernaz then went to Yennier Cano in the eight, which in reality does make sense. But Cano was injured on Wednesday…was he 100% tonight? The computer can’t tell you that, which again explains why feel for the game matters. Cano surrendered a two-run homer to Guerrero, signaling a 6-5 loss for the home standing Orioles.

Mercifully, Rogers left with the lead. Because he pitched too well to have to take the loss. He needed a solid game like this, and he provided it. However again I maintain that a computer isn’t winning anyone any games. It makes no sense to leave an ailing pitcher in to match up. And it cost them the game.

I would also look back to early in the game when the O’s had the bases loaded in the third. You can’t win games consistently if you let the opponent off the hook. Granted, they did score two – which is good. But if that inning yields a crooked number, this is a different game.

The series continues tomorrow at Camden Yards. Brandon Young gets the start for the O’s, and he’ll be opposed by Toronto’s Trey Yesavage. Game time is set for just after 4 PM.

Baltimore Orioles: Tough to win on one run

Chris Bassitt was outstanding against his former team tonight for the Baltimore Orioles. Needless to say, he kept a potent Toronto offense at bay – perhaps because he knew them? Bassitt’s line: 6.0 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 2 K.

This was a pitcher’s duel from the beginning. Not exactly what anyone would have expected, but it’s the game we got. And sometimes that’s how you have to win.

Bassitt surrendered a solo homer in the third to Giminez, giving Toronto a 1-0 lead. They say that solo home runs never hurt you / but that’s not true. Coby Mayo smacked one of his own in fourth, tying the game at one.

Toronto would scratch another across in the eighth, when Pinago walked with the bases loaded. The Birds were unable to come back with one final run. And they fell in game one of three, 2-1.

The Birds had their chances. They had various situations with runners on base, but couldn’t deliver. You have to take advantage of situations where you can score runs. Especially in division games. But the beauty of baseball is you can always win tomorrow.

The series continues tomorrow at Camden Yards. Trevor Rogers gets the start for the O’s, abd Toronto is yet to announce a starter. Game time is set for just after 7 PM.

Baltimore Orioles: Revenge is a dish best served in a Blaze of glory

Behind starter Trey Gibson, the Baltimore Orioles defeated Tampa this evening at Camden Yards. In doing so, they completed the three-game sweep…this against the team who swept and embarrassed them last week in Tampa. This behind an outstanding starting effort. Gibson’s line: 5.2 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 4 BB, 1 K.

In the wake of that ill-fated and aforementioned series in Tampa last week, the Orioles started to right a few things over the weekend, a trend that continued and enhanced itself in the Tampa series this week. However Oriole bats exploded in this game tonight, hopefully in an attempt to right the ship…hopefully.

The Orioles started early and often. Gunnar Henderson smacked a two-run homer in the first, followed by an RBI-single by Leody Taveras. Before the crowd had seemingly settled in, the Birds led 3-0.

But the inning didn’t end there. Blaze Alexander’s two-RBI single extended it to 5-0. The onslaught continued in the third on an RBI-single by Tyler O’Neill. Two innings later, the score was broken wide open on a two-RBI double by Blaze Alexander. The most promising part of that? It was set up by Leody Taveras stealing second base. Taveras had been a pest to opposing teams on the base paths all year.

Tampa would scratch a rub across in the top of the sixth when Vilade grounded into a force out with a runner on third. BUT…the Birds weren’t done. Gunnar Henderson smacked a solo homer in bottom of the inning to extend the lead to 9-1.

To put Blaze Alexander’s night in perspective, he came back in the last of the seventh with a two-run homer. A two-run home run which was a SHOT off the bat. The extended the lead to 11-1, and the rout was on.

The one downer was Yennier Cano. He promptly loaded the bases in the top of the eighth with nobody out. However he also pulled up lane with an apparent leg injury. It’ll be interesting to see what Craig Albernaz says after the game, however Cano left the game. Which could be a concern going forward for the O’s.

Andrew Kitteredge did allow an inherited runner to score with a HBP with the bases loaded. But he ended the inning. And the Orioles put an exclamation point on the series.

You CANNOT get too excited about sweeping Tampa. However this Tampa team embarrassed the Birds last week. So turnabout is fair play. And ultimately, it’s a series sweep against a division foe.

Blaze Alexander also had a career-high six RBI tonight. Needless to say, the offense clicked in this series. Not to mention, they need to keep the party going both offensively and defensively from here.

The O’s now open a four-game set against Toronto at Camden Yards tomorrow night. Chris Bassit gets the start for the O’s (against his former team), and he’ll be opposed by Toronto’s Patrick Corbin. Game time is set for just after 6:30 PM.

Baltimore Orioles: Shane Baz presides over role-reversal

Shane Baz got a rematch against his former team this evening for the Baltimore Orioles. He pitched well last week in Tampa. He was outstanding this evening at Camden Yards. Baz’s line: 7.0 IP, 7 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 9 K.

It started somewhat suspect for the Birds and Baz. Following a leadoff double, Aranda’s RBI-single in the first inning gave Tampa a 1-0 lead. However if that’s going to beat you, then under no circumstances is that on you. Baz limited the damage to that one run, which is a good sign.

Tampa seemed to come unglued one inning later. In a fashion that we’ve seen this year from the O’s. Samuel Bassalo reached on a fielding error, and Leody Taveras on a single- which smacked off of Tampa’s starter, Jax. There was a brief injury delay, but Jax stuck in there to his credit. He would later depart before the third.

After the O’s loaded the bases in that second inning, Blaze Alexander reached on an error, scoring the tying run. That brought Jackson Holliday to the plate, who delivered a run-scoring single. Taylor Ward would add a sacrifice fly, and suddenly the O’s led, 3-1.

Keep in mind that just about every bounce in baseball has gone Tampa’s way this year. And every bounce has trended against the Orioles. This from injuries to the ball bouncing the wrong way on the cut of the grass. In the first two games of this series, we’ve seen Tampa victimized by bounces and errors. Are both teams pro/regressing to the mean?

To further that point, with Jackson Holliday on first in the last of the fifth, Gunnar Henderson grounded into a fielder’s choice at second. However the O’s challenged the call, in that Tampa had missed the bag on the exchange. And they were right. Was it close? Yes. But so was Colton Cowser sliding into home plate yesterday. In both cases the Birda challenged, and in both cases they were right.

That gave the O’s two on. Samuel Basallo came to the plate later in that fifth inning, and reminded Birdland why he signed that extension last year. His three-run homer broke the game wide open, giving the O’s a 6-1 lead. The Oriole bullpen held through the final two innings, and after two wins against Tampa the Orioles have a shot to sweep tomorrow.

Tampa’s made their share of mistakes which in essence have given games away yesterday and today. However we’ve seen that all year from the O’s. Maybe this evens things out in a sense. Shane Baz was stellar in his outing against his former team tonight. And he set the tone and drew the boundary for the game by only allowing that lone run in the first inning.

The series concludes tomorrow night at Camden Yards. The O’s are yet to announce a starter, but whomever he is will be opposed by Tampa’s Steven Matz. Game time is set for just after 6:30 PM.

Baltimore Orioles brought the cows home on Memorial Day

It seems like years ago when Kyle Bradish started against Tampa this afternoon at Camden Yards on Memorial Day. In a game where the somewhat suspect O’s played against the creme de la crème of the division (record-wise), Bradish pitched perhaps his best outing of the season. Bradish’s line: 6.0 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 3 K.

That lone run came on a solo homer by Aranda in the sixth inning. The way the game had gone, you could totally see the game ending 1-0 with Tampa winning. The Orioles had only mustered a few singles to that point, and had even had a runner picked off first base (with another pickoff coming later).

Needless to say, Bradish didn’t deserve to lose the game 1-0. He didn’t deserve to lose the game at all. And he wouldn’t. He wouldn’t get the win either, but he did get non-decisioned – as did Tampa’s McClanahan, a Baltimore native, who also deserved the win.

Leody Taveras drew a walk and promptly stole second base in the seventh. He would later score on Blaze Alexander’s RBI-single, and the Birds would take the lead later in the inning with an RBI-single by Taylor Ward. But we were only getting started.

Palacios’ RBI-single in the eighth would tie the game at two. Needless to say, despite their flaws, the Orioles battled in this game. They did everything they could to scratch and claw their way ahead, which is what we expect ironically of Tampa. The teams went to extra innings tied at two on Memorial Day at Camden Yards. But again, things were just getting started.

Neither side scored in the tenth, however Tampa landed what felt like the decisive blow in the top of the eleventh – that being a two-run home run by Mesa. For the record, keep in mind that both teams begin every inning with a ghost runner on second base. But that obviously means the Orioles get the same courtesy. And they took advantage also with a run-scoring single by Pete Alonso in the home half of the frame. Alonso would advance to second on an errant throw. He would later score on a run-scoring single by Jeremiah Jackson to tie the game.

However the Birds couldn’t get a third run, so on we went to the twelfth tied at four. Aranda’s sacrifice fly gave Tampa a 5-4 lead. When the Orioles took their turn at bat in the bottom of the inning, Ward led off with a fly out which also sent Colton Cowser (the ghost runner) to third. Gunnar Henderson would then hit into what appeared to be a fielder’s choice which plated the runner. He sent a bounding grounder to first, and Tampa nailed Colton Cowser at home plate.

That put the Orioles on the brink. But…did it? Craig Albernaz challenged the play at home plate. Needless to say, it was a close play. But the umpires ruled that Cowser had his hand in across the plate before the tag. Meaning he was safe, and the game was tied.

That was about as close of a play as you’ll see. However the umpires ruled that there was clear and convincing evidence that the call on the field of safe was incorrect. When you’re in extra innings and you’re already trailing. A play like that is almost wishing on a prayer. But the Orioles took that risk. And it worked out.

But true to form, Tampa put two runs across in the top of the thirteenth . They took a 7-5 lead, in what felt like about the 18th ultimate blow of this Memorial Day game. Needless to say, it appeared that the Orioles may be out of magic for this day. But the home team bats last.

Leody Taveras led off the last of the thirteenth with a run-scoring double which scored Jeremiah Jackson (the ghost runner). That wasn’t totally meaningless, but at the time it was somewhat meaningless. However it also did leave the tying run in scoring position with nobody out. Following a Blaze Alexander single, Jackson Holiday’s sac fly-RBI once again tied the game – this time at seven.

And that brought Colton Cowser back to the plate. Keep in mind that Cowser ended game one against Detroit yesterday with a walk off two-run homer. It was perhaps the most unlikely of outcomes at the time. Do you can imagine the odds of it happening again.

Sometimes things just happen. Anyone following that game in any capacity knew that Cowser’s deep fly ball was gone as soon as he hit it. And when it officially cleared the wall and became a souvenir for a lucky fan, the Orioles had a 9-7 win.

The two teams almost switched places today. It was Tampa who seemed to want to give the game away. And the Orioles struck at precisely the right time. Make no mistake that’s a huge win. But only the Orioles know if it’s going to be a win on which we look back as the start of something.

The series continues tomorrow night at Camden Yards. Shane Baz gets the start for the Orioles, and he’ll be opposed by Tampa’s Griffin Jax. Game time is set for just after 6:30 PM.