Baltimore Orioles: Adley for two in the clutch

Coming off of a rough start against the ChiSox, Baltimore Orioles’ starter Albert Suarez tried his luck at the BoSox this evening at Fenway. And the Orioles’ “rotation savior” this season returned to his winning form and winning ways. He pitched to a quality start, and helped propel the Birds to a much-needed win. Suarez’s line: 6.0 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 8 K.

The Orioles led in this one almost from the beginning. That’s not to say the game didn’t have its high yield moments – more on that later. But Cedric Mullins smacked a solo homer in the first inning, and the O’s led 1-0.

But Mullins wasn’t done yet. He came up again in the third following a Gunnar Henderson walk. And Mullins smacked a second homer, this one of the two-run variety. And the O’s held a modest 3-0 lead.

Boston would get on the board in the fourth with an RBI-double by Casas. However following a Gunnar Henderson single and an intentional walk to Anthony Santander in the seventh, Ryan O’Hearn worked a tough at-bat and reached on an infield single. That brought the beleaguered Adley Rutschman to the plate. This with the Birds needing insurance…

…and Rutschman came through. In the clutch. For two runs – this with a solid two-RBI single to left. That gave the Birds a 5-1 lead, and some breathing room.

And they needed it. Yoshida’s RBI-double in the eighth cut the lead to 5-2. Boston also got a third run on a balk by Yennier Cano. However he got out of the inning, and save for a single, Seranthony Dominguez closed Boston out in the ninth.

Those insurance runs were huge. And again, they came from Adley Rutschman, who yes has been struggling. This was a big win for the Birds, but despite dominating from the beginning, it wasn’t without drama. However end of the day, the O’s brought it home.

The series concludes tomorrow night at Fenway Park. Dean Kremer gets the start for the O’s, and he’ll be opposed by Boston’s Nick Pivetta. Game time is set for just after 7 PM.

Baltimore Orioles: Anthony Santander hits 40 in loss

To be clear, the Baltimore Orioles have a massive amount of breathing room in terms of a playoff spot. Their inclusion in the postseason (despite their numerous injury issues) is all but a foregone conclusion. Cade Povich had his struggles tonight at Fenway Park, but wasn’t awful – despite his numbers. Povich’s line: 4.2 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 2 BB, 5 K.

The killer for the Orioles was stranding the bases loaded twice. Especially early on, when they had a chance to take control. Following a Hunnar Henderson double, Anthony Santander smacked an RBI-double in the first inning, and the O’s led 1-0. They would proceed to load the bases, but they let Boston off the hook.

You can’t do that – let your opponent off the hook. It’s the old adage of when your opponent is embarrassing themselves, let them. By letting Boston off the hook, the O’s emboldened them. O’Neil’s RBI-groundout would tie the game at one in the last of the first.

Refsnyder’s two-run homer on the third would give Boston the lead. Immediately after that, O’Neil would follow with a solo shot – back-to-back. And it wouldn’t be the last time tonight.

The Birds would load the bases again in the fourth. This time however, at least they would score. Anthony Santander would walk, and the O’s cut the Boston lead to 4-2. However two sixth inning RBI-singles by Rafaela and Refsnyder would extend the lead to 6-2.

But big Oriole highlight however was from Anthony Santander. He smacked a solo home run in the top of the seven, cutting the Boston lead to 8-3. That was Santander’s 40th homer of the season. A nominal number in a loss; but it means something. Hopefully he can now relax at the plate and focus on finishing the season strong.

Boston would tack on four more runs, including back-to-back homers once again by Refsnyder and O’Neil in the eighth. However the tone was set by the Birds leaving the bases loaded in the first. And onward. You can’t leave runners on base en masse.

The series continues tomorrow at Fenway Park. Albert Suarez gets the start for the Birds, and he’ll be opposed by Boston’s Kutter Crawford. Game time is set for just after 7 PM.

Baltimore Orioles: No margin for error

Baltimore Orioles fans can’t fault Corbin Burnes this afternoon. He was in a situation whereby he had no margin for error today given the fact that Oriole bats weren’t producing. Burnes’ line: 6.0 IP, 7 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 3 K.

Burnes was pitching-to-contact today. And Tampa was putting the ball in play; as you can see, only three strikeouts. All in all, Burnes pitched well enough to win. Needless to say, it was a quality start.

One of those two walks came to Aranda to lead off the top of the sixth. And as we know, nothing good happens after a walk. DeLuca followed immediately with a two-run homer. And when your bats aren’t producing, that’s a fatal blow.

Tampa can frustrate the living snot out of you. Whereby some teams wear down your pitchers, Tampa pitchers wear your hitters down. The Orioles mustered four hits in the game.

It’s also worth reminding fans that this lineup is very banged up. They desperately need Jordan Westburg back, and they lost Ramon Urias last week. Ramon Urias who had been the Birds’ hottest hitter of late. So they’re effectively now on their third string third baseman…

…if that. Nick Maton started at third base today. He was replaced by Coby Mayo – a promising prospect obviously, but he’s struggled to date. And he struck out to end the game. Tough going. But what choice do the Orioles have?

Tomorrow the Orioles head to Boston to open up a three-game set at Fenway Park. Cade Povich gets the start for the O’s, and he’ll be opposed by Boston’s Brayan Bello. Game time is set for just after 7 PM.

Baltimore Orioles: Frustrating day for Gunnar Henderson and the Birds

Baltimore Orioles’ and former Tampa starter Zach Eflin had a chance to win his sixth straight start this afternoon. But after the game started in a nearly half hour rain delay. It wasn’t meant to be. Eflin had a laborious game, but he pitched well enough to win. Eflin’s line: 5.2 IP, 8 H, 3 R, 1 BB, 4 K.

Tampa’s given the Orioles fits for years with their zaney tactics, which always seemed to work. Today they weren’t necessary – offensively, that is. Eflin surrendered a solo homer in the first at-bat of the game to Diaz, and a second one to Walls on the third.

They say solo homers don’t hurt you, but when you can’t score, they will. The O’s threatened in the second, but couldn’t push anything across. They also put two on in the fourth. And for all intents and purposes they did take the lead. They did – on a Gunnar Henderson three-run homer. That is until…

…they didn’t. Tampa centerfielder Siri climbed the wall in center, and crassly brought the ball back into the park. Instead of a three-run homer for Gunnar Henderson and a 3-2 Orioles’ lead, it remained 2-0 Tampa and the inning was over.

Again, it’s things like that at which Tampa seems to excel. But that’s part of baseball. Sometimes you have to tip your cap. The same was true an inning later when Adley Rutschman popped out to Driscoll – his counterpart behind the plate. Driscoll caught the ball while tumbling into his dugout. You applaud the effort.

Tampa would further extend the lead on Walls’ RBI-single in the sixth. But that inning also saw the Birds get on the board. Cedric Mullins’ solo homer in the bottom of the inning cut the Tampa lead to 3-1.

Tampa would also tack two on in the seventh. They led the inning off with a walk and a double, and with one out they intentionally loaded the bases – followed by an immediate out. That brought Driscoll to the plate, who sent a hot grounder to Ryan O’Hearn at first. O’Hearn misplayed the ball, and then made an errant throw to first, scoring two runs. (Ruled a base hit and a throwing error.)

Tampa would tack on an additional run on an RBI-single by Diaz in the eighth. But it wasn’t without controversy. The runner (Walls) was in scoring position because he stole second. I honestly was shocked that he was called safe to begin with, because it appeared that James McCann clearly threw him out. It was when the call was upheld on instant replay after the Orioles’ challenge that was even more stunning.

Would it have mattered? Obviously not. However if we’re going to expect the Birds to not go 1-for-6 with runners in scoring position, we should also expect the umpires to not blow obvious calls. And we’re seeing to much of it across the league.

Craig Kimbrell was within one strike of getting out of the ninth. But he gave up a triple, and that runner scored on a wild pitch. End of the day, Tampa took advantage of 100% of the opportunities they had in this game, and they added on – again when opportunities were presented. The Orioles didn’t. And that includes the run that shouldn’t have scored due to the stolen base in the eighth. Maybe the Orioles get a pass for that one given the bad call, but an opportunity presented itself and Tampa took advantage.

The key play of course was Siri robbing Gunnar Henderson. That sort of play can turn a game big time. Needless to say, it did today.

The series concludes tomorrow at Camden Yards. Corbin Burnes gets the start for the O’s, and he’ll be opposed by Tampa’s Zach Littell. Game time is set for just after 12 PM.

Baltimore Orioles: Yennier Cano lifts the Birds

In a move that shocked a lot of people, Dean Kremer made his scheduled start for the Baltimore Orioles tonight. This after Kremer got hit on the forearm last weekend in Colorado, and manager Brandon Hyde thought it was unlikely he would start tonight. I did also, for the record. But Kremer not only made the start, but spun a gem. Kremer’s line: 6.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 7 K.

This was a pitcher’s duel from the beginning. Luckily for the Birds, their guy was slightly better. Kremer didn’t surrender a hit until the seventh inning. In the flip side, Colton Cowser drew a walk in the fifth, and advanced to third on a walk by Cedric Mullins and an error. He would later score on a sacrifice fly by Jackson Holliday.

Gunnar Henderson would also lead off the sixth with a solo homer, extending the lead to 2-0. Now when you shut an opponent out, that’s all you need. But the final score shows a shutout; this game had its moments down the stretch.

The only downside of Dean Kremer tonight was he tired quickly. This in the seventh, after he gave up his first hit of the night. Make no mistake that he was outstanding. However following a second base hit and an error, the bases were loaded with nobody out when Kremer exited.

Enter Yennier Cano, who’s been clutch down the stretch for this Orioles team. However entering the game in a high yield situation is tough. And you don’t get much more high-yield than up two, bases loaded and nobody out in the seventh.

Cano struck out two and induced a third out on a pop up. Inning over. No runs across, Orioles maintain the lead.

Seranthont Dominguez recorded a four-out save, and the Birds maintained their half game lead over New York (who won earlier in the day) in the AL East. Make no mistake, while Dominguez got the save, the real save went to Yennier Cano. He thread the needle while walking a tightrope in the seventh inning. You WILL NOT see a reliever be more clutch in a moment than that. And it won the game for the Orioles tonight.

The series continues tomorrow at Camden Yards. Zach Eflin gets the start for the O’s, and he’ll be opposed by Tampa’s Ryan Pepiot. Game time is set for just after 4 PM.

Baltimore Orioles plagued by control issues

Albert Suarez and the Baltimore Orioles left fans wondering if this was who they really were tonight, or if it’s just a gross overcorrection. End of the day folks, you can’t win every game; sometimes you’re going to have an off day. Despite how good or bad the opponent is. That was today for the Birds. Suarez’s line: 4.1 IP, 8 H, 6 R, 2 BB, 2 K.

Suarez was put on notice early on that it was going to be a night for the O’s, Lopez’s solo homer to lead off the game gave the ChiSox a 1-0 lead. However the O’s evened the score right away, with Gunnar Henderson smacking a solo homer on the flip side in the leadoff hole.

Incidentally, Henderson broke a franchise record with that home run. It was his 35th homer of the season, all as a shortstop. He broke Cal Ripken Jr. and Miguel Tejada’s record of 34. Unfortunately for the O’s, it was the only run they scored.

Oriole bats couldn’t muster anything more in the game, however Chicago’s did. Vaughn’s solo homer in the fourth gave them the lead back at 2-1. That was followed by Fletcher’s two-homer later in the inning, putting the Orioles behind 4-1.

Chicago would get an RBI-double by Robert and a sac fly-RBI by Sosa in the fifth. They would put across two nominal runs in the ninth, to beat the O’s 8-1. They also snapped a twelve-game losing streak.

All steaks come to an end, including long losing streaks for bad teams. You can’t lose them all. Just like you can’t win them all if you’re the Orioles. Chicago squared up a lot of pitches early in counts in the early innings. They didn’t work counts or plaster the bases with runners; they just hit early and often.

Baltimore Orioles: Best outing of Cade Povich’s career

There isn’t much you can say about the Baltimore Orioles’ performance tonight. Seriously. The scoreboard indicates that it was outstanding, starting with Cade Povich on the bump. But how good was it, this against a hapless team? Povich’s line: 7.1 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 10 K.

Privately I called yesterday’s game ugly. I’m not sure how to describe this. Simply put, the Orioles steamrolled from the beginning. They led 2-0 after two first inning RBI-doubles, one by Ryan O’Hearn and another by Anthony Santander. Colton Cowser added an RBI-single, and the Birds led 3-0.

It got worse (or better in a sense) in the second. The O’s loaded the bases after three walks, this with two outs. Colton Cowser would draw a fourth walk, extending the lead to 4-0. However it appeared that Chicago starter Nastrini got out of the inning when he induced a pop fly down the left field line. However two Chicago players collided in the outfield, the ball dropped in, and it cleared the bases. The Birds led 7-0.

It’s tough to gauge how the Orioles played in this game given that it was such a mismatch. Both on paper and in practice. However one thing that made a huge difference was chasing the aforementioned Nastrini early. And they did it not by the sheer number of runs they scored, but by the number of pitches. Nastrini threw 72 pitches in two innings. Partly due to the Orioles taking a lot of pitches. And partly during to them hitting the ones they didn’t take.

Cedric Mullins added an RBI-single in the fourth, and Anthony Santander a sac fly-RBI in the fifth. It’s easy to say they couldn’t score late in the game, what the heck?! But odds are they called the dogs off. As was the case yesterday, this game was ugly.

Cade Povich pitched deeper than he ever had before in a game – 7.1 innings. Yes, Chicago hitters didn’t really seem like they were looking to do much. But he was also economical – he pitched into the eighth with ten strikeouts (also a career high). He also ensured that the Orioles won a game that they should have won handily. He did his part, and the bats did theirs.

The most drama that was in this game came in the sixth inning when Chicago (acting) manager Grady Sizemore was ejected for arguing balls and strikes by home plate umpire Hunter Wendlestadt. To show he wasn’t kidding, Wendlestadt then ejected Andrew Benintendi for the same thing a moment later. Needless to say, it’s always something. And for the record, Chicago had a legitimate gripe with home plate.

The series concludes tomorrow at Camden Yards. Albert Suarez gets the start for the Birds, and he’ll be opposed by Chicago’s Jonathan Cannon. Game time is set for just after 6:30 PM.

Baltimore Orioles: Big innings win ballgames

It was slightly harder for the Baltimore Orioles this afternoon at Camden Yards than they thought it might have been against the ChiSox. Corbin Burnes struggled – but pulled through to qualify for the win. Oriole bats still seemed slightly off, but they were good enough to win. Burnes’ line: 5.0 IP, 6 H, 2 R (1 earned), 1 BB, 4 K.

Chicago led off the game with single against Burnes, and the runner would advance to second on a fielding error by Ryan O’Hearn on a pickoff attempt. Benintendi would follow later in the inning with the runner at third with a sacrifice fly, and Sheets’ RBI-single would extend the lead to 2-0.

However Chicago doesn’t have the worst record in baseball for nothing. Gunnar Henderson led off the first inning for the Nirds with a solo home run, cutting the lead to 2-1. It was Henderson’s 34th homer of the season, tying Cal Ripken Jr. and Miguel Tejada’s franchise record for the most homers as a shortstop.

However that’s all the Birds could muster in the first, despite getting other runners on base. And despite a few other blips, Burnes did steady the ship a bit. Needless to say once again, he stuck around long enough to get the win.

With two on in the third, the O’s tied it on an RBI-single by Anthony Santander. Later in the inning with runners in scrimping position, Austin Slater’s RBI-double finally gave the Orioles the lead. A lead they’d never surrender.

The O’s would load the bases in the fifth, and Gunnar Henderson’s sac-fly RBI would extend the lead to 4-2. Adley Rutschman would follow with a run-scoring single, extending it to 5-2. For those keeping score at home, that doesn’t go as an RBI, as Austin Slater made it to second base on a fielder’s choice and an error. He was originally called out, but the Orioles challenged and the call was correctly overturned.

The O’s also got an RBI-single by Cedric Mullins, and a two-RBI single by Austin Slater in the sixth. And that sequence came as a result of two walks to leadoff the inning. This an inning in which they ended up batting around…

…an act that also included an RBI-triple by Emanuel Rivera. He would later score on an RBI-groundout by Gunnar Henderson. They would end the inning with Cedric Mullins striking out with the bases loaded, however that sixth inning busted the game wide open.

Chicago would tack on a nominal RBI-single in the eighth, but the O’s went home 13-3 winners on Labor Day Monday. This because Cedric Mullins added a two-run homer in the last of the eighth. The runs kept coming.

With the win, the O’s moved back into a first place tie with New York – FOR NOW. New York plays Texas this evening, so one way or the other that will change. However whether the competition is good or bad, big innings win games. And how do you create big innings? Base runners – the O’s started that sixth inning with two walks. They also depleted the Chicago bullpen, nodding well for the other two games of the series this game also begins the final stretch of the regular season. Or the final month more like it. Needless to say, this was a good way to start the end. But it’s how they finish it that’ll matter.

The series continues tomorrow at Camden Yards. Cade Povich gets the start for the O’s, and he’ll be opposed by Chicago’s Nick Nastrini. Game time is set for just after 6:30 PM.

Baltimore Orioles, Zach Eflin leave Colorado on a Rocky Mountain High

The Baltimore Orioles desperately needed a win this afternoon in Colorado. After last night, after which Ramon Urias went to the IL and Dean Kremer’s status remains to be seen, they needed a win to calm the fears of Birdland – at least for today. Enter Zach Eflin, fresh off the IL himself. Eflin’s line: 7.0 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 9 K.

If there was any concern about Eflin coming off the IL, he quickly quelled them. He pitched a perfect game into the sixth inning, and didn’t surrender a run until the seventh. By going that deep into the ballgame, he also spared the bullpen after a long game last night.

The Orioles jumped on Colorado early. After a walk and a base hit, Gunnar Henderson seemingly snapped out of his slump with an RBI-single. The only downside was that was the lone run the Orioles scored in that inning. But they made up for it.

Coby Mayo’s run-scoring single extended it to 2-0 in the fourth. That also was thanks to a two-base fielding error by Colorado’s Cave in right center, which allowed Eloy Jimenez to score from first. Cedric Mullins would single Mayo home later in the inning, and the Birds led 3-0.

One inning later the O’s opened the game wide open. James McCann’s two-run homer pushed it to 5-0. Gunnar Henderson’s seventh inning RBI-single ran it to 6-0, and the final was 6-1 thanks to an RBI-single by Jones in the seventh. This against a tiring Zach Eflin, who was able to make it out of the inning aside from that.

The story of the game was Zach Eflin. You couldn’t have scripted a better game coming off the IL. And again, the Oriole bullpen needed a blow. And they got it thanks to Eflin.

But don’t discount Gunnar Henderson either. He only hit .234 in August. So him being able to snap out of the funk and contribute at the plate today was huge. What happens with the roster in terms of injuries going forward remains to be seen. But the O’s took two-of-three this weekend in Colorado.

You could argue they should have swept, however you can never say that in baseball. If you’re taking two-of-three consistently, you’re doing okay. Especially when New York drops two-of-three at home this weekend, meaning the O’s are a half game out of first.

The Orioles now head home for a series with the ChiSox, beginning tomorrow with a mid-afternoon matinee at Camden Yards. Corbin Burnes gets the start for the Orioles, and he’ll be opposed by Chicago’s Chris Flexen. Game time is set for just after 3 PM.

Baltimore Orioles: Injuries and mistakes mount

The Baltimore Orioles may have lost more than a game last night. Starter Dean Kremer left the game after taking a comebacker off his right arm in the fourth inning. Kremer later had a X-ray, which was negative for a fracture – diagnosed with a contusion. Kremer’s line: 3.1 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 1 BB, 3 K.

Kremer gave up an RBI-single to Rogers, and a two-RBI double to Romo in the second. He left the game trailing 3-2, however, as Anthony Santander’s two-run homer in the third cut the Colorado lead. However they would later extend it to 5-2 on a two-RBI triple by Blackmon in the fourth.

But as we know, the O’s don’t go quietly. Eloy Jimenez hit his first Orioles’ home run, that being a solo shot in the fifth. Before you knew it, the O’s had two runners in scoring position later in the inning. Ryan O’Hearn’s two-RBI single would tie the game.

Ramon Urias had two brushes with disaster, having two balls thrown in the area of his nose. In the wake of what happened with James McCann, the Orioles are probably a bit more sensitive to something like that. Urias actually was hit in the nose in the fifth, with a pitch grazing the tip of it. However it seemed that someone had it in for him.

However it wasn’t that which sent Urias to the showers. It was rolling his ankle over third base in the seventh on a stolen base attempt. Urias collapsed backwards immediately in a heap. He was removed from the game, with Emmanuel Rivera coming in to play third.

Urías was on crutches after the game, and presumably might be out for awhile. Keep in mind, he’s already the backup in a sense. Jordan Westburg was hurt a month ago. Injuries were already a major problem, but now with Kremer and Urías looking at time out the road becomes all the more tough. Next man up is a great attitude to take, and this organization very much believes in that. But you can only do it for so long.

To make matters worse, the Orioles made some defensive lapses in the eighth which cost them the game. Craig Kimbrel recorded a quick out, and then gave up a double to Jones to left field. To be clear, it should have been a routine single. However because of what the air does to the ball at Coors Field, the O’s are playing their defense slightly deeper in the outfield. Still, it should have been a single.

Jones was thinking he could get to second base right out of the box – he ran hard the whole time. That, combined with Colton Cowser all but assuming that Jones would pull up to first with a routine single, allowed him to get to second. Jones would later score in Beck’s RBI-single. On top of that, Beck went to second on Cedric Mullins’ throw home (trying to steal an out at the plate). Beck would then steal third, and score on Romo’s fielder’s choice.

I didn’t think Craig Kimbrel pitched awful. Obviously he’s belabored, and he took the loss. But you could argue that he should have had a runner on first base with one out. However you don’t want to call Colton Cowser out too much either, despite the fact that he took his time getting the ball back in. Again, you might not expect a runner to blast around first like that trying to get into scoring position. Jones gambled on Cowser playing deep and taking his time, and he guessed right.

Compounding thjngs, Mullins allowed the second runner to get into scoring position, who promptly stole third base. That put Kimbrel in a position whereby he was going to surrender a second run even by recording an out – which he did. End of the day it’s always a team effort. But defensive lapses like that can’t happen. And again the fact that a team all but bet on the Orioles lallygagging in a sense is concerning.

What’s more concerning in the interim is the injuries. The O’s have an off day this week (Thursday), which may allow Dean Kremer to simply be skipped in the rotation. And if he needs to go to the IL later on, they can make the retroactive date back to today. Ramon Urias may be out for awhile also. Luckily they have Rivera, and Coby Mayo is expected to be called back up today. But this is the second third baseman the Orioles have lost in a month. As I said, you get to a point where next man up ceases to be possible.

Zach Eflin is also expected to return today, so that’s a positive. You also have to hope that perhaps the defense is slightly sharper today and onward, as guys taking extra bases and all but assuming that Oriole outfielders are going to take their time getting balls back in (and assuming correctly) can kill you. Again, Kimbrel wasn’t awful. Could have been better, but wasn’t awful. However when an exuberant runner is given an extra base due to correctly assuming he can push the issue and get away with it, that’s a problem.

The series concludes this afternoon at Coors Field. The aforementioned Zach Eflin will come off the IL to get the start for the O’s, and he’ll be opposed by Colorado’s Ty Blach. Game time is set for just after 3 PM.