Baltimore Orioles: #RIPFlanny

I always said that so long as I was writing a column about Baltimore Orioles’ baseball, I’d always mark the death of former pitcher, broadcaster, and executive Mike Flanagan. As most fans remember, Flanny was found dead on his Baltimore County property on August 24, 2011. He’ll forever be thought of as an integral part of the Orioles and the history of the franchise.

Both the organization, and fans took the news hard. And that might be partly because Flanagan became such an integral part of the Baltimore community. He loved it here, despite never forgetting his New England roots. He raised his family here, and quickly became entrenched as a Baltimorean.

Flanagan of course will always be a lot of things, one of which is the last Oriole ever to pitch on the mound at Memorial Stadium. When asked about his long walk in from the bullpen that day, Flanny famously said that if he had gone any faster, he would have simply fallen over. That was only one of many poignant moments that day, of course.

Death is always tougher for those left behind. Certainly his family and friends bear the brunt of his absence. However he’s missed and always well-remembered in the Baltimore community and amongst the Orioles fans. Rest easy Flanny, and know that the team you loved so much is in a good place.

Baltimore Orioles lifted off by Anthony Santander

Dean Kremer was pushed up a day to make the start this evening for the Baltimore Orioles. This in place of Jack Flaherty, who was scratched. Luckily for the Birds, Kremer was up for the task – and he pitched to a quality start. Kremer’s line: 6.0 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 5 K.

The O’s made some noise in this game early, but not necessarily in a good way. They left the bases loaded in the second, which in a sense is playing with fire when you’re in a pennant race. But they came back from that – and then some.

Ryan Mountcastle got back on Toronto’s bad side with an RBI-single in the last of the third. The Birds held that lead up for two innings, when Anthony Santander smacked a solo home run. And while the flood gates didn’t open in earnest for another couple of innings, that certainly foreshadowed what was to come.

It was Santander who began the Orioles’ final push. This with a second solo homer onto the flag court in the last of the eighth. Later in the inning the O’s had two on and an additional run scored on a throwing error. That’s why I always say that getting runners on is a big deal. Things happen when guys are on the base paths. All it takes is an error somewhere, and suddenly you’re in a place to score.

Cedric Mullins would add a sac fly, and Adley Rutschman’s two-RBI single would close out the scoring in the Orioles’ 7-0 win. This also marks the 70th consecutive series where the O’s haven’t been swept. A trend that’s starting to take on a life of it’s own.

The series concludes tomorrow evening at Camden Yards. The Birds are yet to announce a starter, but whomever he is, he’ll be opposed by Toronto’s Jose Berrios. Game time is set for just after 7 PM.

Baltimore Orioles fall on late homer in extra’s

The Baltimore Orioles got a quality start this evening out of Grayson Rodriguez. That doesn’t mean he had his best stuff. But putting your team in a spot to win is the name of the game, and Rodriguez did that. Rodriguez’s line: 6.0 IP, 8 H, 3 R, 2 BB, 5 K.

The Orioles drew first blood, on Austin Hays’ RBI-double in the last of the first. However Toronto would ambush Grayson Rodriguez in the second, with Varsho smacking a two-run homer. The Birds actually appeared a bit on the desperate side in that inning, as later on Toronto had a runner on first with nobody out. And Kiermaier lined out to first baseman Ryan Mountcastle, who tagged first base and tallied an unassisted double-play,

Mountcastle catching the liner on the fly in and of itself was a dramatic play. But he fell right next to first base, and tagged the bag as the runner tried to get back after taking his lead. Mountcastle had a rate game against Toronto where he was quiet at the plate, but his glove sure came in handy!

However Kiermaier would come up again in the fourth, and his RBI-double extended the Toronto lead to 3-1. But the O’s fought back, and it started with Jorge Mateo. More poignantly, it started with Jorge Mateo’s speed.

Mateo went to steal third base, and was able to score on a throwing error in the fifth. Jordan Westburg’s RBI-double would later tie the game at three. And the game remained tied at three, as the teams went to extra innings.

And Toronto’s Belt smacked a two-run homer on the first pitch of the tenth. Guerrero would later score on a wild pitch, and the Orioles trailed 6-3 the Birds went quietly in the last of the tenth, and went down to victory. Their margin over Tampa in the AL East is now two games.

The series continues tomorrow night at Camden Yards. Jack Flaherty gets the start for the O’s, and he’ll be opposed by Toronto’s Kevin Gasman. Game time is set for just after 7 PM.

Baltimore Orioles, Gunnar Henderson have hapless Oakland seeing “double vision”

The Baltimore Orioles sent Kyle Bradish to the hill this afternoon in Oakland to try to earn a series sweep in Oakland. Everyone knows Oakland’s struggles and the Orioles’ successes this year. But the bluntness of the way the game unfolded today was “cold as ice.” It almost made Oakland look like a “foreigner” to baseball. Okay, enough with that – Bradish’s line: 6.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 8 K.

The game wasn’t even close, and it was a donnybrook from the beginning. Ramon Urias grounded into a fielder’s choice-RBI in the first inning. The interesting thing about that was that Oakland challenged the play. Now I’ll grant that it was borderline in terms of out or safe at first base. But to challenge a call that close that early was odd to me.

One inning later, Jorge Mateo reminded fans why he’s on the team. He sent a deep shot to the outfield, and motored all the way around third to home plate. In doing so, his inside-the-park home run extended the Orioles lead to 2-0. But the Birds still had ten runs to go.

Austin Hays’ two-RBI single in the third extended the lead to 4-0. Ryan Mountcastle tacked on a three-run homer later in the inning, which opened the game wide open. If it wasn’t already blown apart.

However while this was a team win, the story was Gunnar Henderson. He smacked a solo homer in the seventh, followed by Jordan Westburg’s RBI-single. Oakland’s lone run came in the last of the seventh on Rooker’s solo homer. Their “nominal” run in a sense. But the O’s got the run back. Adley Rutschman’s RBI-single in the eighth extended the lead to 10-1.

But going back to Henderson, he came up later in the eighth inning a single shy of the cycle. And he sent a tight liner fair down the right field line, scoring an 11th run for the O’s. Had Henderson stopped at first, he would have hit for the cycle. But the extra base was in front of him, so he had to “settle” for a double. Ramon Urias would close out the scoring with an RBI-single later in the inning – scoring Henderson.

So to use a basketball term, Gunnar Henderson put out a “double-double” today. Hence the “double vision” reference. It was fun seeing the Oriole dugout, including Bay Area native Brandon Hyde, ribbing Henderson, saying he should have stopped at first. But that shows that Henderson is a team player. Individual accolades are ill-important. It’s best for the team to take the extra base. And he did.

With the series sweep, the Birds completed a 6-3 west coast swing. That’s striking. Trips like that can sometimes trip up teams in a pennant race. If anything, the O’s got stronger. And the ceiling is unlimited.

Baltimore Orioles: Job done late

The Baltimore Orioles sent Cole Irvin to the bump last night in Oakland in search of another win. Irvin of course was acquired via trade this past off season – from Oakland. And he didn’t disappoint in his old stomping grounds. Irvin’s line: 5.0 IP, 4 H, 1 R 1 BB, 3 K.

The one run Irvin surrendered was a solo homer by Diaz in the second. Following Irvin’s departure Diaz would smack a second solo homer, which would actually tie the game. Sandwiched between those two Diaz homers were two solo homers by the O’s, which came in the fourth inning. One by Austin Hays, and the other by James McCann.

And the game remained knotted at two for the duration of the regulation nine innings. But mind you, the Orioles are a team that does their best work late in games. And last night was no exception.

Ryan Mountcastle’s run-scoring single gave the Orioles the lead, 3-2. On a side note that isn’t an RBI. The runner that scored was the extra inning ghost runner, so it counts as an unearned run. But either way, the O’s had the lead.

And perhaps the best news of all for the Birds is that they didn’t really leave anything to chance. They blew the game wide open instead of taking their go-ahead run and taking a one-run lead into the bottom of the frame. Jordan Westburg added a sac fly-RBI, and Ryan Mountcastle scored on a throwing error at home plate when Austin Hays reached on a fielder’s choice. James McCann would add a two-RBI single, and the Oriole bullpen closed out a 7-2 lead.

As I said yesterday, this isn’t necessarily an easy series for the Orioles. They’re games the O’s should win, but of course they know that on any given day anyone can beat anyone. However in the first two games, they’ve found a way to take care of business, and at the very least guaranteed themselves a series win. They’ve also guaranteed themselves a winning west coast trip, which is incredibly meaningful.

The series concludes this afternoon at the Oakland Coliseum. Kyle Bradish gets the start for the O’s, and he’ll be opposed by Oakland’s JP Sears. Game time is set for just after 4 PM.

Baltimore Orioles: Gunnar Henderson’s long home run helps stabilize Birds

The Baltimore Orioles of course came into the Oakland Coliseum last night fresh off two losses in San Diego. And they’re playing perhaps the worst team in the league; starter Kyle Gibson was taxed with steadying the ship a bit. And while he had a slip up or two, he did just that. Gibson’s line: 5.0 IP, 9 H, 4 R, 0 BB, 6 K.

Make no mistake that this isn’t an easy series for the O’s. It’s akin when a quarterback has a WIDE OPEN receiver deep for a touchdown. In theory that’s the easiest throw to make – but the opposite is actually true; because it looks so easy, it’s actually very hard. Because this is a series that on paper the O’s should win (probably sweep).

And the Birds got after it early. Ryan Mountcastle’s RBI-single in the first inning gave them a 1-0 lead. Cedric Mullins tacked on a two-RBI double, and the O’s extended their lead to 3-0.

However the first and second innings would bring RBI-doubles by Oakland. Gibson had to pitch around a couple of hiccups so to speak. But he did. Sandwhiched inside those RBI-doubles however was Gunnar Henderson. He smacked a three-run homer that went so far it may have landed in San Francisco Bay. Maybe the Pacific. And the Orioles led 5-2 after two innings.

We heard from the O’s again in the fourth when Jordan Westburg tacked on a sac fly-RBI. Followed by Gunnar Henderson again, this time with a mere RBI-single. Westburg would later add an RBI-single of his own in the fifth, along with an RBI-double by Adam Frazier.

Oakland would tack on two nominal runs before Gibson departed after five. And the Birds took game one of this series by the bay, 9-4. Again, this is a game in a series that the Orioles should have won. And you get no kudos for doing what you’re supposed to do. But you get a lot of scorn if you’re unable to do so.

The series continues tonight at the Oakland Coliseum. Cole Irvin gets the start for the O’s, and he’ll be opposed by Oakland’s Ken Waldichuk. Game time is set for just after 9 PM.

Baltimore Orioles fall in San Diego

Baltimore Orioles’ starter Jack Flaherty “got rocked” as they say. This in San Diego last night. The good news for the O’s is that Tampa lost in San Francisco, so the Birds maintained their three-game lead in the AL East. Flaherty’s line: 3.0 IP, 4 H, 7 R, 4 BB, 3 K.

Flaherty loaded the bases in the first inning, and walked Cronensworth to give San Diego a 1-0 lead. However the bases remained loaded, and Sanchez’s grand slam opened the game wide open. San Diego led, 5-0.

Machado’a softly-hit bloopper turned into a two-RBI double in the second extended that lead to 7-0. Two doubles, one by Cooper and one by Gamel (a two-RBI double) rounded out the scoring by San Diego in the game. Needless to say, it wasn’t the Orioles’ day.

The Birds did eat into that lead, however. Cedric Mullins’ RBI-single in the sixth got the on the board. Austin Hays also smacked a solo homer, and Gunnar Henderson an RBI-single. Those last two in the ninth. In the end the Birds fell, 10-3 in the middle game in San Diego. This setting up a rubber match.

The series concludes this evening at Petco Park. Dean Kremer gets the start for the O’s, and he’ll be opposed by San Diego’s Blake Snell. Game time is set for 8:40 PM.

Baltimore Orioles: Grayson Rodriguez, Gunnar Henderson ensure that big wheels keep on turning

The Baltimore Orioles faced a challenge last night that can often pop up after a team wins a dramatic series. That being to keep the momentum going, especially against a team that in paper they should beat – in this case San Diego. Grayson Rodriguez certainly did his part, perhaps turning in his best performance as a big leaguer. Rodriguez’s line: 7.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 6 K.

Coming off the series in Seattle, the O’s were taxed with bringing that same level of intensity to San Diego. And that can be tough at times, especially when the new opponent is one they should beat handily. However the Birds were up for the challenge, which is a promising thing. Because the road only gets tougher.

The O’s took the lead in the top of the second when Ryan O’Hearn smacked a solo homer. The Orioles would load the bases a few innings later in the fifth with one out. While you’d love to say that Gunnar Henderson sent a grand slam over the wall, we’ll have to settle for a bases-clearing double. That busted the game wide open, and the Orioles led, 4-0.

San Diego never mounted much of a challenge. Coooper smacked a solo homer in the sixth, but aside from that Oriole pitching held them down. Again, these sorts of games can often be difficult for teams. The series in Seattle was dramatic no matter how you spin it. And at times it can be tough to come off that high and focus against a team you should handle. But the O’s did it, and earned a series-opening win.

The series continues this evening at Petco Park. Jack Flaherty gets the starting nod for the Birds, and he’ll be opposed by San Diego’s Michael Wacha. Game time is set for 9:40 PM.

Baltimore Orioles: Cedric Mullins for the win…!

Did Kyle Bradish really start this game for the Baltimore Orioles? Of course he did. And he was great for six innings, pitching to a quality start. But while his contribution was massive, it won’t be remembered when all’s said and done and fans think back to this game. Bradish’s line: 6.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 7 K.

The O’s were already in business today because Tampa lost to Cleveland. So they had an opportunity to extend their lead in the AL East to three games over Tampa. If they could win.

The Orioles of course got Cedric Mullins back this weekend from the injured list, but he started the game on the bench. The O’s took an early 1-0 lead on Gunnar Henderson’s sac fly in the third. Seattle would tie it on Suarez’s RBI-single later in the inning, and take the lead in the last of the fifth on Rodriguez’s RBI-double.

However Bradish would close his day with the score tied, as Austin Hays would smack an RBI-single in the sixth. And we appeared to be going to extra innings, which we did. Just not for the reasons that we thought.

The O’s had Jorge Mateo on second in the top of the ninth with Adley Rutschman at the plate. And Seattle pitcher Munoz was called for a balk – sending Mateo to third. Seattle manager Scott Servais came out to argue, and was ejected.

Now to be clear, the balk call itself was borderline at best. And it was a tough one to make at that stage of such an important game. But the umpire made it, and it played right into the hands of the Orioles given Mateo’s speed. They put the contact play on, and sure enough Rutschman put a swinging bunt in play in front of the pitcher…

…Seattle tried to nail Mateo at home plate, but he slid head first into home and gave the O’s the lead. The play was reviewed, and upheld. And the Orioles led.

With one out in the last of the ninth, Seattle’s France sent a deep shot to center field. Full disclosure, I thought it was gone off the bat. However I also immediately noticed that Cedric Mullins, who had entered the game as a pinch hitter, seemed to be acting like he had a chance at making the play. And he did have a chance…

…as he got to the wall he leapt, and…brought the ball back in. He caught it on the fly and brought the ball back into the ballpark. He climbed the wall, and appeared to have saved the game. With perhaps the defensive play of the year, league-wide.

I say he appeared to save the game because the next batter, Canzone, did smack a solo homer. Which seemed to let some air out of the sails. However as the game went to extra innings, we were once again reminded that today was Cedric Mullins’ day. And he wasn’t going to be stopped.

Mullins came up in the top of the tenth with the ghost runner at third base. Mullins almost out the O’s ahead with a two-run homer early in the at-bat, but the ball pulled foul. However like the catch, that drive was a harbinger. Because he eventually smashed a long two-run homer, giving the Orioles a 5-3 lead. Which translated into a 5-3 win.

You can almost see video yearbook programs looking back to this game after the season is over – whenever that ends up being, that sequence in the end – the balk and ejection, leading up to the Mullins homer (and everything in between)….that was perhaps as intense a sequence as I’ve ever seen in a sporting event. These two teams played each other TOUGH in both regular season series’ this year. An Orioles vs. Seattle series in October would be one for the ages. But needless to say, the cream also rose to the top when all was said and done.

The O’s now head to San Diego to open up a three-game set at Petro Park. Grayson Rodriguez gets the start for the O’s, and he’ll be opposed by San Diego’s Yu Darvish. Game time is set for 9:40 PM.

Baltimore Orioles: Ryan Mountcastle, Felix Bautista close out Seattle

Starter Cole Irvin set the Baltimore Orioles up nicely last night. He came out of the bullpen, and put the O’s in a position to win. He only lasted five innings, but he played his role flawlessly. Irvin’s line: 5.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 6 K.

The teams played to a scoreless tie through nine innings. Both sides had opportunities (the Birds were 1-for-6 with RISP), but nobody could put anything across. Seattle starter Kirby pitched nine scoreless innings before giving way to the bullpen as the game went to extras.

And the O’s took advantage of Kirby being out, after he stymied their bats all game. Teams of course get to a ghost runner on second base in extra innings. And with one out in the tenth, Ryan Mountcastle smacked a run-scoring single, giving the Orioles a 1-0 lead.

The Birds had brought in closer Felix Bautista in the top of the ninth, so he was actually in line for the win as he was the pitcher of record when the Birds took the lead. Brandon Hyde sent Bautista back out for the tenth, in effect to play his normal closer’s role. And he sent Seattle down 1-2-3, closing out a win for the O’s.

Most of the time it’s hard to win when you play nine scoreless innings. But this was a pitcher’s duel, and that’s how some games go. Tampa had beaten Cleveland earlier in the day, so this was a big win for the Orioles because it retained their two game lead atop the AL East. It also snapped Seattle’s eight-game winning streak.

The series concludes this afternoon at T Mobile Park. Kyle Bradish gets the start for the O’s, and he’ll be opposed by Seattle’s Bryce Miller. Game time is set for just after 4 PM.