Baltimore Orioles: Jorge Lopez can’t nibble, O’s fall in DC

Baltimore Orioles’ starter Jorge Lopez did a service for his team tonight. With a tired bullpen, he went five innings in tonight’s 4-2 loss in Washington. That’s huge, as the Birds needed to spare a couple of bullpen relievers tonight with a long road trip ahead. Lopez’s line: 5.0 IP, 7 H, 2 R, 3 BB, 8 K.

Unfortunately for Lopez and the O’s, Washington starter Strasburg matched him pitch-for-pitch, and out-for-out. Both starters were throwing strikes all throughout their outings. With one difference; Lopez commanded the middle of the plate. Strasburg nibbled.

In general nibbling is going to get you in trouble. However Strasburg was good at it tonight. Very good at it. And as a result, he started getting strike calls on pitches right off the plate. Lopez was throwing strikes, but in the middle of the plate. He was getting pitches by hitters. Eventually something had to give.

And eventually Washington hitters adjusted to Lopez. Schearber’s RBI-double in the last of the fifth gave Washington a 1-0 lead. They tripled it later in the inning with an RBI-singles by Harrison and Soto. Bell’s RBI-single in the eighth would give them an insurance run, and a 4-0 lead.

The O’s didn’t have many opportunities, but they did have one in the sixth. Trey Mancini hit what could have been a run-scoring double. It should have been a run-scoring double. Washington overshot the cutoff man on the relay throw, and Austin Hays had a golden opportunity to score. But he was gunned out at home plate. It isn’t often that a team can overshoot the cutoff man, and still have it work out for them.

Freddy Galvis would smack a two-run homer in the ninth to get the O’s on the board, but it was too little too late. Jorge Lopez pitched a solid game tonight in a losing effort. But he couldn’t adjust when Washington adjusted to him. And he couldn’t work the corners of the plate, while Washington lived there. Things like that can often be the difference between winning and losing.

It’s also worth mentioning how big Austin Hays being gunned out at the plate was. If he scores there, the O’s have the tying run coming to the plate in the ninth (all things being the same). Consequently, if not for that insurance run, the same applies. This game was a lot closer to being different than we might think.

The series continues tomorrow afternoon at Nationals Park. Bruce Zimmerman gets the start for the O’s, and he’ll be opposed by Washington’s Jon Lester. Game time is set for just after 4 PM.

Baltimore Orioles: The Battle of the Beltways

The Baltimore Orioles open up a ten-game road swing tonight. Given their record at home and on the road, that’s not really a bad thing. But are the truly on the road? In Washington DC?

Yes folks, they are. When the O’s head to DC to play the Washington Nationals they do stay in a hotel as they would for any other road series, they wear the gray uniforms, and they bat first in each inning. They sit in Nationals Park’s third base side visitors’ dugout, and utilize the visitors’ bullpen in left field. They’re as “on the road” as on the road can mean.

However, the fact remains that Baltimore and Washington are close in proximity. As a crow flies we’re talking 40 miles. The fan bases are overlapped, and everyone knows or is related to someone who roots for the other team. In my case, my Dad’s side of the family (which is where I got my indoctrination into baseball) are all O’s fans. My Mom’s side of the family (despite having roots in Fells Point after they arrived from Italy) are mostly Nats fans – with a few O’s fans also.

Originally however, they were Washington Senators fans, of course. In fact, my late grandfather was a catcher who played semi-pro baseball in the Senators’ system. So despite some of the political differences between the franchises, the fans are largely friendly. You’ll see groups of friends and relatives split down the middle at Nationals Park this weekend.

And I think that’s something that’s really unique to the mid-Atlantic region. Obviously some regional rivalries are within the same city – New York, Chicago, and even the San Francisco Bay Area teams (to a lesser degree). So there are rivals who are geographically closer than these two teams. But make no mistake that Yankees and Mets fans would never be caught dead together.

Other situations are too far for fans to really “travel.” The Florida and Texas teams, for instance. In this case most of you reading this know Nats fans. Like my family maybe they’re your relatives, or maybe you work with them. But you know them, and you have intelligent conversations with them everyday – good baseball conversations. And many of you will be hosted by them in groups at Nationals Park this weekend. Conversely, many of you will host your Nats fan friends at Camden Yards in July.

And perhaps this rivalry more than any other in baseball, it’s truly about the fans. We’re far enough away to be different, but close enough to be family. Sure fans will have separate rooting interests this weekend. But it all ends in good fun. It all ends with everyone at a bar table sharing nachos and pitchers of beer – COVID withstanding.

And on that note, my hope is that any Orioles fans coming down for a game or for the whole weekend find some time to enjoy DC. Meaning the monuments (those which are open, at least), as well as aspects of Nationals Park. It does have a decent beer selection – for those who are into such things! Whereas Camden Yards seems to sell a lot of Flying Dog (out of Frederick), Nationals Park sells a heavy amount of Devil’s Backbone (out of Virginia). There are also lots of local food items such as Ben’s Chili Bowl among other food options.

All in all, it should be a fun weekend for fans of both teams. And that’s the goal. It’s baseball; it’s supposed to be fun for the fans. Whether you root, root, root for the home team, or the road team.

Baltimore Orioles: Why so poor at home?

Home games haven’t been kind to the Baltimore Orioles thus far in 2021. Thus far, and including today’s loss, the O’s have won exactly six games at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Dean Kremer got the start this afternoon in the series finale against Tampa, and it wasn’t even close. Kremer’s line: 3.0 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 4 BB, 3 K.

First off, I found Brandon Hyde‘s usage of Kremer to be interesting today. On one hand I suppose one could argue that it appeared Kremer didn’t have it today, and Hyde pulled him after three innings in an attempt to salvage the game. However he also could have been using him as an “opener.” Tough to say.

Tampa got the lead in the second, and never looked back. Wendle smacked a solo homer, followed later in the inning by a three-run shot by Arozarena. The O’s did attempt to fight back. Trey Mancini‘s solo homer cut the Tampa lead to 4-1.

Mancini’s been a bright spot for the Birds in this series. That was his third home run of the three games in which we saw Tampa this week, and also including multiple hits and RBI. Unfortunately the homers were solo shots, however the fact that he’s stroking at the plate bodes well for this lineup moving forward. Especially as the Birds head to Washington this weekend for three games under National League rules (with the pitcher hitting).

However Tampa ensured that the O’s weren’t about to come back. This after they came back late in the game last night. Choi’s RBI-single in the sixth ran the score to 5-1. Tampa would go onto put five more runs on the board before the end of the game, defeating the Orioles, 10-1 this afternoon at Camden Yards.

It’s interesting to note the Birds struggles at home, against how well they’ve played on the road. Obviously John Means’ no-hitter came on the road in Seattle. There’s really no decent explanation as to why the O’s can’t seem to win at Camden Yards.

Then again, the explanation is plain as the noses on our faces. The O’s have played the following opponents at home: Boston (twice), New York (twice), Seattle, Oakland, and Tampa. Those are tough teams to play anywhere. (Although they did perform better on the road against both Seattle and Oakland.) Especially seeing Boston and New York twice.

However the season itself is a grind. You’re going to have up’s and downs. The O’s will now head out on the road for a relatively long trip, taking them through Washington, Minnesota, and Chicago. So if there is something at home which has hampered them, this is a good chance to even things out a bit as they head away from Camden Yards.

The Orioles now head down the pike for the first installment of the Battle of the Beltways at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C. Jorge Lopez gets the start for the O’s, and Washington is yet to name a starter. Game time is set for just after 7 PM.

Note: Washington’s starter is TBD due to two players having been put on the COVID-19 list. One of them tested positive and is asymptomatic, and the other is in quarantine. Our thoughts are certainly with them; at the time this article is being written Washington is playing a day game in Chicago against the Cubs. Presumably they will update their starter following the game.

Baltimore Orioles blow big lead against Tampa

If you’re Tampa, you pretty much know that no matter what happens you’re going to get just about every bounce when you play the Baltimore Orioles. Somehow, some way, it just seems that the Birds always find a way to lose against Tampa, and this has been a problem for years. One would have thought that with John Means on the mound last night things might have been different. But they weren’t. Means’ line: 6.1 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 1 BB, 6 K.

Trey Mancini got the O’s off to a good start with a solo homer in the first inning. But it was the second inning where the Birds did the gist of their damage. Freddy Galvis hit a solo shot of his own, and when Mancini’s spot came up again the bases were loaded. And Mancini delivered big time, with a bases-clearing double.

It was one of those moments whereby you figured it blew the game wide open. And in fact it did. But the Orioles should know better than to relax with any lead against Tampa. So should the fans. Because Tampa always finds a way.

Brosseau smacked a two-run homer in the fifth, cutting the lead to 5-2. Arozarena’s solo shot later in the inning cut it to 5-3. Now the O’s hadn’t totally relaxed at that point. At least Trey Mancini hadn’t. His solo homer in the last of the fifth would extend the lead to 6-3.

However Tampa would put three on the board in the seventh to tie the game – an RBI-single by Choi, and a two-run homer by Arozarena. Means actually left with the lead, despite tiring in the seventh. They probably changed pitchers at just the right moment in a sense. However by then Tampa also had their sea legs underneath them.

They always seem to have the Orioles’ number, no matter what. Last night they came back from five down. Who knows what it’ll be today?

Choo’s RBI-single in the eighth would give Tampa the lead at 7-6. Tampa would put two more across in the inning, including one on a wild pitch. And that’s part of how they win games. They get guys on base. And when you get guys on base things such as wild pitches can happen. Pedro Severino would add an RBI-single for the O’s in the ninth, but it was too little too late.

The O’s will try to salvage one game in the series this afternoon in the finale. Dean Kremer gets the start for the O’s, and he’ll be opposed by Tampa’s Rich Hill. Game time is set for just after 12:30 PM.

Baltimore Orioles, Matt Harvey victimized by Tampa in normal Tampa fashion

Matt Harvey found out the hard way tonight what the Baltimore Orioles and Orioles fans have known for some time. This in terms of how Tampa wins games on broken bat and softly hit singles. Of the first nine hits Tampa had, only three were solidly hit and squared up. Harvey’s line: 1.2 IP, 7 H, 6 R, 1 BB, 1 K.

Now you don’t lose 13-6 and blame softly hit balls. However Tampa set the tone for the game in the second inning, putting six runs on the board. The box score says that those runs came on homers. So again you can’t truly blame a couple of broken bat singles. But those homers were three-run homers due to softly hit balls and broken bat singles.

After Tampa ran it to 8-0 in the third with a two-run homer by Zunino, the Birds got on the board in the last of the third on an RBI-single by Austin Hays. So at least they weren’t about to totally roll over. Not that anyone expected that they would.

Before the game the Orioles had promoted Stevie Wilkerson back to the big league club, DFAing Rio Ruiz. And Wilkerson produced immediately, with an RBI-single in the fourth. The O’s would also get a run on a force out by Austin Hays in that inning, as well as a man RBI-single by Trey Mancini.

However Tampa wasn’t having any comeback. They’d get three insurance runs before the end of the game, including a second two-run homer by Zunino. DJ Stewart and Pat Valaika would add garbage time RBI-singles in the last of the ninth, and the O’s dropped game one of the series, 13-6.

Tampa finds ways to get on base. Where as the Orioles are hitting the ball hard and those balls are finding gloves, Tampa flat out doesn’t care. A softly hit base hit counts the same as one hit square. And it’s true.

Once they get guys on base, they’re good at getting them in. Usually by way of homers. And that’s what we saw tonight.

The series continues tomorrow night at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. John Means gets the start for the Orioles, and he’ll be opposed by Tampa’s Ryan Yarbrough. Game time is set for just after 7 PM.

Baltimore Orioles: Took a hometown Baltimore boy to turn it around

The Baltimore Orioles sent Adam Plutko to the mound to make a spot start in the series finale against New York this afternoon. And he spotted them four runs, including a two-run homer by Sanchez, and a solo shot by Frazier. Enter Baltimore kid Bruce Zimmerman in the second, and he seemingly stabilized everything. Zimmerman’s line: 5.2 IP, 2 H, 1 R 1 BB, 6 K.

Zimmerman was recalled before the game for the purpose of bullpen strength, however his outing sent the message that he should have been put into the rotation outright today. Luckily for him, Oriole bats also came alive today.

Ryan Mountcastle’s RBI-double in the last of the first got the Birds on the board, cutting NY’s lead to 4-1. Pedro Severino would follow that up with an RBI-double of his own, making it 4-2. That merely foreshadowed the rest of the game.

The one bad pitch Zimmerman made resulted in a third inning solo homer by Judge. But he buckled back down, and Oriole bats picked him up. In the bottom of the third Mountcastle’s sac fly-RBI cut the lead to 5-3, followed by an RBI-double by Maikel Franco. Freddy Galvis’ RBI-single would tie the game at five after three innings.

Trey Mancini gave the Orioles the lead in the fourth with an RBI-single. And Maike Franco would give Bruce Zimmerman and the O’s some insurance runs in the seventh with a two-run homer. Mountcastle would add a two-RBI single in the eighth, and New York would add a meaningless run in the ninth. Ultimately the O’s took the finale of the series, 10-6.

But the story was Bruce Zimmerman. I suspect that he’ll be re-inserted into the rotation, once again giving the Birds five starters. His contribution this afternoon was more valuable than can be put into words. The zoo’s flat out lose this game if not for him. Where’s the line between winning and losing? Today that line was Bruce Zimmerman.

The O’s will have an off day tomorrow before Tampa comes in for a three-game mid-week set. Tuesday and Wednesday at 7 PM, and a 12:30 matinee on Thursday for the finale.

Baltimore Orioles: Jorge Lopez was too aggressive early

New York bats seemed hungry tonight, and they feasted on Baltimore Orioles’ starter Jorge Lopez. New York took a very aggressive approach tonight, swinging at anything and everything. And it worked. Lopez’s line: 2.0 IP, 6 H, 5 R (4 earned), 2 BB, 4 K.

Lopez was aggressive as well. Evidenced by his four strikeouts. But when a pitcher is attacking the zone and the hitters are swinging early, that’s going to be a problem. New York loaded the bases in the first inning before even recording an out. LeMahieu scored on a passed ball, and Sanchez’s two-run single gave New York a 3-0 lead.

In theory one would think that a pitcher attacking the zone would be a good thing. But you also have to know when to back off a bit. With a runner on base in the second, Lopez elevated a fastball to Judge, who ran the score to 5-0 with a two-run homer.

The Judge homer came with two outs and on an 0-2 count. In a sense, Lopez had Judge right where he wanted him. However that’s a spot where you in essence want to waste a pitch. Throw a slider low-and-away (or anything off the plate), and see if you can get the hitter to chase.

Instead, Lopez threw a fastball and tried to attack the hitter. However that fastball was elevated. In other words, it missed it’s spot. And Judge made him pay for it. Sometimes you have to be smart enough NOT to attack the zone.

New York would score again in the sixth on a balk call (again with the bases loaded), and a two-run double by Voit. The O’s would get on the board in the bottom of that sixth inning on Trey Mancini’s RBI-groundout. They would also add a run in the last of the ninth inning on an RBI-single by Ramon Urias. That would make the final 8-2, in favor of New York.

The O’s used multiple relievers in this game, which compounds things going into tomorrow. They were considering making tomorrow a bullpen game, but now it might appear that they’ll have to call someone up and make a roster move. We don’t know that for sure right now, but it might stand to reason that’s where things are going.

The series concludes tomorrow at Camden Yards. As I said, the Orioles’ starter is TBD, but whomever he is he’ll be opposed by New York’s Jordan Montgomery. Game time is set for just after 1 PM.

Baltimore Orioles: Three-run homer sinks the Birds

Dean Kremer’s numbers look worse than his outing was tonight for the Baltimore Orioles. He left with the lead, however the go-ahead run was coming to the plate. However to that point he was solid, and he put the Orioles in a spot to be able to win the game. Kremer’s line: 6.1 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 0 BB, 4 K.

The teams swapped home runs in the first inning. Judge for New York, and Austin Hays for the Orioles. Judge would come up again in the fourth, and smack a second solo home run, giving New York a 2-1 lead. They say that solo home runs don’t beat you. But it wasn’t a solo homer of which the Birds or Dean Kremer had to be wary.

Pedro Severino’s RBI-double in the last of the fifth tied the game back up at two. Pat Valaika would add an RBI-single, and the O’s suddenly had the lead at 3-2. For good measure, Trey Mancini would add an RBI-single of his own, giving the Orioles a 4-2 lead.

However that Mancini RBI-single may have been the biggest play of the game – for New York. Austin Hays tried to tack on a fifth run, but was thrown out at home plate. This prevented the Birds from a fifth run.

Kremer gave up a base hit and a walk with one out in the seventh. Urshela came to the plate with those two runners on, and promptly smacked a game-winning three-run homer. For the record, Kremer was non-decisioned in the game. But he deserved better.

Again, New York throwing out Austin Hays at home plate in the fifth was big. All other things being the same, the game goes to extra innings. Little things can often have ripple effects in games. That’s just the nature of the beast.

And as I said, the Orioles and Dean Kremer didn’t need to fear the solo homers. Instead it was the three-run shots that should have concerned them. But again, that’s the nature of the beast; that’s baseball.

The series continues tomorrow at Oriole Oark at Camden Yards. Jorge Lopez gets the start for the Orioles, and he’ll be opposed by New York’s Domingo Germain. Game time is set for just after 7 PM.

Baltimore Orioles: Matt Harvey hit hard in return to Queens

Matt Harvey gave the Baltimore Orioles a very un-Matt Harvyish start this afternoon at Citi Field against the New York Mets. Obviously Harvey broke into the majors with New York, and this was his first start back at Citi Field since leaving the organization. Needless to say, it wasn’t the outing he or anyone would have wanted. Harvey’s line: 4.1 IP, 8 H, 7 R, 1 BB, 4 K.

New York took a 2-0 lead in the last of the second on Pillar’s two-RBI triple. Ironically, that was one of the only balls against Harvey that was squared up. He fell victim to softly-hit balls and broken bat singles for much of hit outing. Which can be aggravating. What’s also aggravating is the fact that regardless of anything else, Pillar seems to always kill the Birds.

Later in that second inning Peraza’s RBI-single ran the lead to 3-0. And the rout was on. By the end of the fifth, New York had put seven runs on the board, and chased Harvey from the game. Chance Sisco would add an RBI-groundout in the seventh for the O’s, avoiding the shut out.

This was always going to be a tough series for the Orioles because it was so quick. They arrived in New York after the Boston game on Monday night, then a day-and-a-half later the series was over. Granted New York had to play in essence the same schedule, but there’s a difference between being at home or on the road for something like this.

The O’s do have two things in their favor, and that’s an early ride home to Baltimore this afternoon, and a day off at home tomorrow. However they then begin a grueling nine-game stretch, which will see the New York Yankees coming to Camden Yards this weekend, Tampa for three next week, and then a three-game weekend series in Washington. None of those games will be easy.

Certainly Matt Harvey wanted to pitch better in his return to Queens. However the fact that he’s in the big leagues again is a testament to his work ethic and his drive. He has nothing to be ashamed of. He just needs to buckle down in his next start, because as I said the Birds are going into a difficult stretch.

Baltimore Orioles: John Means solid, Birds fall late

Baltimore Orioles’ starter John Means followed up the best start of his life (a no-hitter) with about a lead solid an outing as one can have tonight at Citi Field against the New York Mets. Means didn’t yield another no-no, but he held the opponent scoreless for the second straight outing. And odds are he would have pitched deeper into the game had he not been coming up with the bases loaded and less than two outs. Means’ line: 6 IP, 6 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K.

Unfortunately for the Orioles, New York starter Stroman matched Means on just about every pitch. And that brought us into the seventh inning with no score. As I said, the bases were loaded with Means’ spot coming up. Under National League rules of course, Means had to hit.

But the O’s opted to lift him and they sent up Pat Valaika as a pinch hitter. And Valaika’s sac fly-RBI gave the O’s a 1-0 lead. One inning later with a runner on third, Freddy Galvis laid down a perfect bunt, squeezing the runner home. Galvis also beat the ball to first base, giving him an RBI-single, and giving the O’s a 2-0 lead.

Conforto’s RBI-single in the bottom of the eighth would get New York on the board. However after getting a couple of guys on in the ninth, they tied the game on Smith’s RBI-single. They would later walk off as winners on an infield RBI-single by Mazeika.

Closer Cesar Valdez gets the blown save and the loss. But New York had the look of crazy people in their eyes in the last of the ninth. They were determined. And the O’s stood in their way.

But that shouldn’t take anything away from Means’ performance. Technically I suppose one could argue that he fell off a bit given the fact that he didn’t pitch a no-hitter. But that’s obviously a tough act to follow. And this outing was strikingly good. It’s just a shame he was non-decisioned.

The series concludes tomorrow afternoon at Citi Field. Former New York Met Matt Harvey gets the start for the O’s, and he’ll be opposed by New York’s Taijuan Walker. Game time is set for just after 12 PM.