Huge week for the Birds, some youthful invigoration to the club. Maybe long overdue, but perhaps perfectly on schedule. Only time will tell, but the future is shifting closer and closer to now, and we're all in on it.
But let's not spoil all the fun in the introduction:
Brooms in Beantown
We weren't alone in calling for Colton Cowser to be getting more at bats in Baltimore, but we were a loud contingent. Early results have been extremely positive, as evidenced by this series opener.
Boston's Tyler O'Neill took one to the bleachers in the bottom of the first to put the BoSox up 1-0. It would be the last time they'd score on the evening, as ace Corbin Burnes only allowed three additional baserunners over his next six frames. Cowser would hit the first of his two doubles in the top of the second, driving in Cedric Mullins, before hitting a two-run two-bagger two innings later.
The O's wouldn't need any more to win, but that didn't stop them. Adley Rutschman, Anthony Santander and Cedric all contributed RBI singles while Colton drove in one more on a sac fly, burying an inferior opponent. 7-1 Birds.
Holliday Season!! The professional debut for baseball's #1 prospect happened last Wednesday night and it was a fun one! At least after Cole Irvin got off the bump...the desperation starter allowed five earned through five on seven hits and three walks, but miraculously, the Orioles were still in it.
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| Photo: David Butler II/ USA Today |
The good guys scored seven runs in the two innings after Irvin exited to jump ahead. Once again, it was Cowser starting the rally with a two run single before Holliday drove him in on a groundout for his first career RBI. Ryan O'Hearn touched home after a Chris Martin pass ball in the seventh, just before Jordan Westburg hit a moonshot over the left center fence to tack the final three runs on the scoreboard. Craig Kimbrel looked convincing as he shut the door, securing a 7-5 Baltimore win.
The Cows came home Thursday night, with Colton breaking out a personal broom for this one. Grayson Rodriguez allowed two early runs, but wouldn't surrender another for the remainder of his 5.2 innings. Cowser cut the deficit in half with a fifth inning solo shot before Anthony Santander put them ahead with a two-run rocket in the top of the eighth. Danny Coulombe would falter in the bottom half of the inning, in a rare disappointing appearance, ultimately landing us in extras.
Cue the MOO! In a furious tenth inning push, Gunnar Henderson led things off with a two-run homer to build some cushion. After two quick outs, the rally continued, with a double, walk and Mullins RBI single-- setting the stage for Mr. Cowser's second home run of the day, driving in three more decisive runs. The first player in team history to have 10 or more RBI in a series at Fenway; a historic set. Even Michael Baumann couldn't blow the newly amassed six run lead, although not entirely for lack of effort... O's win 9-4, wrapping up the sweep.
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| Photo: MLB.com |
Milwaukee Comes to Camden
Friday was a slaughter. A raucous ovation for Jackson Holliday was probably the only positive takeaway from this one, welcoming baseball's #1 prospect to the city proper. Tyler Wells was really bad, giving up four earned in just four innings. Jonathan Heasley was even worse, getting shelled for six runs in just two frames. He's in Norfolk now. Sometimes it's not your day, as Baltimore found out quickly in game one of this series. 11-1 Brew Crew.
The middle game wasn't much better for Birdland. The bats jumped all over DL Hall early, chasing away the former top prospect after five runs in just three and a third. Then shit hit the fan.
A 5-4 lead was quickly blown out of the water, with William Contreras hitting an RBI single followed by a Jake Bauers 3-run homer. Throw in a three run eighth and that's how you get an 11-5 Orioles loss. I guess he was due for one, but this was an ugly Dean Kremer meltdown.
Then Sunday came, with a 95 series streak of not being swept on the line. No better time to have your #1 starter on the bump. It wasn't all pretty for Burnes though, with Milwaukee leadoff hitter William Contreras going yard to start the game off . The former Brewer settled in from there though, only allowing two more runs (one earned) over the next four frames. Ryan O'Hearn provided an early single to put one on the board before he and Cedric Mullins hit solo dongs to help the Birds go tit for tat with the opposition.
Yennier Cano allowed a rare long ball to Blake Perkins, breaking the 3-3 tie in the seventh. The comeback kids took over from there. Jackson Holliday notched his first career hit in the bottom of the frame to help the rally along, before scoring on an Adley double play. Gunnar added an RBI single in between those two events, allowing the O's to retake the lead, 5-4.
Then the Cows came home. An insurance bomb in the eighth by Colton put things even further out of reach, allowing Baltimore to continue their historic run. 6-4 win in Birdland.
Game 1 vs. the Twinkies
No worries about a sweep in this series! Cole Irvin got the rock in game one and was predictably shaky, giving up six hard hits while failing to escape the fifth. A difficult 5-4-3 double play in the fourth was an incredibly clutch moment to get him that far.
The poor pitching wouldn't matter though, not with how the lineup battered Louie Varland. The 26-year old righty was lucky to escape with just four earned runs after giving up a whopping eleven hits over five innings. Jordan Westburg stayed hot early with a two-RBI double before Ryan O'Hearn and Mullins added runs on a solo homer and sac fly, respectively. Cedric was back for more his next at bat, hitting a two-run shot to provide a 6-2 cushion. With a terrible Minnesota offense opposite of them, it was more than enough.
Gunnar added a dinger just to be sure, which ended up being a bit of a luxury because Keegan Akin looked iffy for the first time in 2024, ultimately giving up two runs. Hopefully just a blip not a regression to his mid-mean, because he's been solid in relief for the Birds this year.
7-4 Baltimore win to start the home set.
Concluding Thoughts
-A moment of reflection on Corbin Burnes. To find ourselves in this spot, with a bona fide #1 starter at the top of our rotation, is such foreign territory as Orioles' fans. It's must watch television, the best pitching Baltimore's seen since...Mussina? Palmer? He's only guaranteed to be here for a few more months, so let's enjoy the ride as long as we've got it
-Tyler Wells cannot be a starter, but I think he could have a place in the bullpen. The same goes for Cole Irvin, who I'd prefer to remain in the rotation if I had to choose between the two. Neither are particularly exciting, but no roster's going to be perfect top to bottom. If John Means and Kyle Bradish can return to any degree of their former selves, then some of our pitching issues could be quickly solved from within.
Wild cards nonetheless, the both of them. Realistically, expect Mike Elias to make a move for a starting pitcher and reliever in the coming months.
AL East Standings
1. New York Yankees (12-5)
2. Baltimore Orioles (10-6)
3. Toronto Blue Jays (9-8)
4. Tampa Bay Rays (9-8)
5. Boston Red Sox (9-8)
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@Choppinglines
*I own no rights to any images found in this blog
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