Baltimore Orioles: You have to cover your bases

Another tough night for the Baltimore Orioles, beginning with starter Dean Kremer. Perhaps it was the solo homer by Yastrzemski that set the tone – on the first pitch of the game. Perhaps it was the mindset of the entire team. But something was amiss. Kremer’s line: 6.0 IP, 7 H, 5 R (4 earned), 0 BB, 7 K.

I said yesterday that Oriole pitchers are in effect throwing too many strikes. That might be a bit of a play on words, but look at Kremer’s pitching line; zero walks. Kremer was throwing strikes. And that might be why the first pitch was deposited into the seats. Hitters are aware.

But the O’s got the first two runners on in the third, and James McCann’s RBI-double tied the score. Later in the inning Cedric Mullins’ RBI-groundout gave the Orioles the lead at 2-1 Look everything else aside, you have to start small. Scoring runs and getting a lead is just that.

However San Francisco immediately put runners at first and second in the fourth. Fitzgerald then reached on a swinging bunt to third. It was an “excuse me” check swing…and it worked. It shouldn’t have, but it did. And that’s been the trend of late…if an Oriole opponent does it, that means it must be right.

But it didn’t end there. McCray hit into a fielder’s choice – another “excuse me” sort of swing. Dean Kremer fielded the ball along the third base line; bases loaded and nobody out, he correctly threw home. And the runner from third was dead in the water…

…if not for one thing. Minor thing, but yet not so minor. Catcher James McCann knew he had a force out at the plate. All he had to do was catch the ball. And he did. But he didn’t have his foot on home plate. It lodged smack in front of the plate, and the runner was correctly ruled safe.

I can’t say I’ve ever seen that. I feel like a kicker in the NFL is more likely to miss an extra point (before the distance changed to what it is now) than a catcher not having his foot on the plate like that. It happens I suppose, but it happened in a bad spot there for the Birds.

Schmidt’s subsequent two-RBI single put San Francisco back in the lead at 4-2. All things being the same, that still would have happened had McCann made the out at home plate. But we know all things wouldn’t have necessarily been the same. They could have turned two and been out of the inning with the lead. Or Schmidt could have hit a grand slam. You just never know.

San Francisco would tack on a fifth run on a solo shot by Conforto in the sixth, and the Birds would net one on an RBI-double by Ryan O’Hearn in the bottom of the inning. The O’s put runners at the corners in the seventh, and in my view were cheated out of a run – and a potential rally. Heston Kjerstad was ruled to have been hit by a pitch. But it was a wild pitch, that got away from the catcher…

…the Orioles challenged. Replays seemed to emphatically show that the ball didn’t hit Kjerstad. It showed a wild pitch that almost hit him, which then should have resulted in a run scored from third (on the WP). But the umpire declared that the call was confirmed, and it went as a HBP. Colton Cowser lined out to end the inning.

We can’t say that the outcome of the game would have changed. But that seems like a call that got away, and went against the Orioles unfairly. But when you aren’t covering your own bases, calls like that go against you.

The series concludes tomorrow at Camden Yards. Zach Eflin gets the start for the O’s, and he’ll be opposed by San Francisco’s Logan Webb. Game time is set for just after 1 PM.

Baltimore Orioles: Blanked again

The Baltimore Orioles’ margin for error got a bit thinner tonight. Albert Suarez was far from stellar, but more importantly San Francisco starter Snell was. And despite the fact that things did stabilize, the damage was done early. Suarez’s line: 3.1 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 2 BB, 3 K.

Suarez surrendered a homer to Yastrzemski in the first at-bat of the game. The third pitch, in fact. And when you can’t score as it is, that’s all that’s necessary. Snell struck out 12 Orioles over six innings. This by mixing his pitches and hitting the corners.

And that might be one of the keys to this game – and others. The Orioles throw a lot of pitches in the strike zone. They want the opponent to put the ball in play. Sometimes it works out – in fact, there were a few middle innings even in this game that were quick.

However other times it doesn’t work out, and the ball gets hit. And the fact is that Oriole hitters have the same philosophy; they’re expecting pitches in the zone. Instead, they’re being deceived into thinking that’s what they’re getting. And when they do get one, they look at it.

And many times, when the ball gets out in play strange things happen. Bailey nicked a ball and in essence reached on a swinging bunt with one out in the second. I’m not sure that’s what he meant to do, but it was the result and he reached base. He would later score after two walks loaded the bases, followed by a sac fly-RBI. Yastrzemski would later add an RBI-single.

San Francisco would tack on a fourth one in the fourth inning on an RBI-single by Walton. And that came following a single and a stolen base by McCray. Again, put the ball in play, good things can happen. Get on base, additional good things can happen.

That was also true in the ninth. Craig Kimbrell gave up a softly hit base hit, allowed the runner to steal second, advance to third on a wild pitch, and score on an RBI-bunt single by Wisely. Zero hard contact. But a run scored. So did four more that inning, totaling a 10-0 loss.

I really do think there’s something to the point about the corners. Not only are opposing teams using the entirety of the plate, but the Orioles are all but begging for them to do so. That, combined with the fact that the O’s aren’t using the entirely of the plate is what’s killing them. The Birds are looking for balls in the zone. Technically they’re getting them; they’re just so well-placed that they look like balls.

End of the day, the odds of the Orioles missing the postseason are very slim. However end of the day, we know what injuries have done to this roster. Would three pitchers not having undergone Tommy John’s, another being on the DL, losing their starting and backup third baseman, losing a utility infielder, and several relievers have made a difference? I’ll let you decide.

The series continues tomorrow night at Camden Yards. Dean Kremer gets the start for the Birds, and he’ll be opposed by San Francisco’s Hayden Birdsong. Game time is set for just after 6:30 PM.

Baltimore Orioles: Big win, closer than it should have been

For the second consecutive game, the Baltimore Orioles got an outstanding outing out of a starting pitcher. This time Corbin Burnes. The question however was whether or not the Birds would get any run support to help Burnes out. However needless to say, Burnes gave them quality distance. Burnes’ line: 7.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 7 K.

One interesting thing, Detroit started the same guy as they did last night – as the “opener.” That being Brieske. I guess when you only throw the guy for one inning, that’s an okay thing to do. Still too non-traditional for my tastes.

The O’s started the game with two walks, ending the potential for a perfect game. Ryan O’Hearn ended the no-hit bid in the second inning with a single. Gunnar Henderson would also double in the third with two outs, putting a runner in scoring position. And this time the Birds converted that situation into a run, with an RBI-single by Cedric Mullins.

It was only one run, but after last night it was a big run. And given where the Orioles are in the standings, it was big to get a lead, no matter how small. And given how Burnes was pitching, that one run was bigger than it otherwise should have been.

That lone run would stand up for a few innings. However following a HBP, Livan Soto smacked a double which gave the O’s two runners in scoring position with one out. James McCann would score one of those runners with a sac fly-RBI.

But they weren’t done yet in the inning. Keep in mind that slumps, individual and team-wide, are broken in a piecemeal manner. Perhaps Gunnar Henderson’s triple in the ninth inning last night (ending the combined no-hitter) began that process. It continued into this evening, to the point to where the Birds put a couple of runs on the board. Fast forward to the seventh inning with one in, a runner on second, and Gunnar Henderson again coming to the plate…

…and Henderson isn’t the odds-on favorite to win MVO for nothing. He smacked a two-run home run, extending the lead to 4-0. That allowed the team to relax a bit. Ironically it may have also saved a reliever. By virtue of the fact that the Birds had a bit of a margin for error, maybe Burnes was able to relax. And maybe he was able to pitch seven full innings as a result.

The only problem was that the Birds allowed Detroit to close the margin at the bitter end. Meadows led off the ninth with a solo homer off of Seranthony Dominguez, who would then retire the next two hitters – but on very loud outs. However he would then strike out Perez for what should have been the third out…

…if not for the fact that it was a wild pitch by Dominguez that went all the way to the wall. That put a runner in scoring position, who would later score on a run-scoring single by Torkelson. However Dominguez would record the final out, and while it got too close for comfort at the end, the O’s went home with the win.

You have to hope that going forward perhaps things can stabilize slightly. There’s a good chance the Orioles get reliever Jacob Webb back off the IL in advance of tomorrow’s series finale. Perhaps that also begins a litany of returns to the active roster, which could well include Grayson Rodriguez and Jordan Westburg eventually. And ready for a playoff run.

The series in Detroit concludes tomorrow at Comerica Park. Cade Povich gets the start for the O’s, and he’ll be opposed by Detroit’s Keider Montero.

Baltimore Orioles: Blanked

Starter Zach Eflin was a superstar for the Baltimore Orioles last night in Detroit. The downside was that Oriole bats were quiet. And by that, I mean quieter than usual. Dangerously quiet. Elgin’s line: 6.2 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 3 K.

Eflin gave up a solo homer to Carpenter in the second at-bat of the game. At the time, you’re thought it was only one run. Obviously if Eflin could buckle down and and just shut Detroit down the rest of the way, the Birds should still win. Makes sense…right?

Eflin held up his end of the bargain. There were some innings in that mix that he retired the side in five minutes. But he stepped up when the team needed him tonight.

Detroit used an “opener” in tonight’s game, who was lifted in the second inning. I’m not a proponent of that sort of methodology, yet between Brieske (the starter/opener) and Hurter (the bulk pitcher), they stymied the Orioles. In reality the concept is a little too zaney for a traditionalist like myself.

The two pitchers were throwing what would have been baseball’s first combined perfect game into the eighth inning. Adley Rutschman drew a walk, giving the Birds their first base runner. That knocked Hurter out of the game, but Detroit was still twirling a combined no-hitter.

That continued until there were two outs in the ninth inning. Gunnar Henderson did what many other Orioles had done all game. He swung at the first pitch, only this time it landed in play. His sharp grounder down the right field line ended up with him on third base with a triple.

So Henderson ended the no-hit bid, AND put the tying run at third base in one fatal swoop. However Anthony Santander struck out to win the game, and the Birds fell 1-0. This wasting an outstanding effort by Zach Eflin.

Some of the Oriole at-bats were semi-lackluster over the course of the game. You can’t discount the fact that they’re at a severe disadvantage given the caliber of talent on the IL. However they’re also in the thick of a playoff chase, and teams below them, while not necessarily a threat to the Birds going to the postseason overall, are taking it seriously.

The series continues this evening at Comerica Park. Corbin Burnes gets the start for the O’s, and Detroit is yet to announce a starter (presumably going with another “opener”). Game time is set for just after 6 PM.

Baltimore Orioles: Should the Birds have run the risk?

It would have been tough to pitch better than Dean Kremer did tonight for the Baltimore Orioles. He pitched to a quality start. Yet the O’s still fell. Kremer’s line: 7.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R (1 earned), 2 BB, 7 K.

That’s a quality start, if you’re keeping track at home. And it’s a darned shame to waste it. But that’s baseball.

Emmanuel Rivera smacked a solo homer in the third inning. However as quickly as he gave the Birds the lead, he turned it back in. He committed a throwing error with a runner in scoring position in the bottom of the inning, allowing Boston to tie the score at one. Rafaela would tack on an RBI-single in the fourth to give Boston the lead at 2-1.

Despite a few opportunities, the Orioles couldn’t tie the score. That is until the eighth. Anthony Santander smacked his 41st home run of the season, tying the game at two. It was late, but it counted. And the game went to extras.

The Birds took a 3-2 lead, again thanks to Emmanuel Rivera. His run-scoring single in the tenth (thanks to the ghost runner) put the Orioles in the lead. However Boston got a ghost runner also in the tenth. With one out, Jackson Holliday misplayed a grounder to him at second. Maybe he misjudged and could have thrown the runner out at first. In my view he did the right thing by eating it…

…a bad throw would have tied the game. No reason to run the risk. That left runners at the corners, with O’Neil coming to the plate.

The Orioles had the option of walking O’Neil. It was a consideration. Brandon Hyde opted to pitch to him, and he hit a walk off three-run homer. Meaning the Orioles fell, 5-3.

Many will criticize that decision. And based on the results, that’s fair. But sometimes you have to play the numbers. First off, O’Neil’s hitting .258 this year. The hitter behind him (Yoshida), was hitting .287. So they pitched to the more attractive hitter – from the pitcher’s perspective.

Furthermore, when you’re on the road in the bottom of an inning, putting the winning run in scoring position comes off as a big no-no. Any number of things could happen; wild pitches, bloop singles, seeing eye singles, etc. All of those things could be in play. Now that said, so would be a potential ground ball double-play. However that was the case with runners at the corners also.

End of the day, I think you have to run a risk-reward sort of analysis in your mind. You’re putting your eggs in the basket of a ground ball double-play induced by Keegan Akin, or two strikeouts. On top of that, anything ground ball in the infield comes with risk – an error throws a wrinkle into things. Again on the other hand, bases loaded puts a force at every base.

Instead, Brandon Hyde opted to pitch to O’Neil. The results of course say he made the right decision. However he put O’Neil in a circumstance where he had to get on base to win the game. He got on base and then some. He have O’Neil one option to extend the game – or end it. And needless to say, he ended it.

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.