A shit sandwich, as I've heard it referred to. Start bad, put some good in the middle to feel better about things and then end on a low note. Per that definition, we've described this week of Orioles baseball to a T. It wasn't perfect, but if it's as bad as things get this season, then we'll be okay.
Let's rewind seven days -->
Final Two vs. KC
Well, Tuesday wasn't great in Birdland! Alec Marsh had our number, allowing just two hits and one earned over seven efficient innings. Cole Irvin wasn't remotely a game adversary for him, getting rocked to the tune of seven hits and four runs over just five-- not the way we were hoping he would come out of the gate. Dillon Tate looked iffy once again, allowing a hit and walk in his one frame. Colton Cowser was the lone bright spot, going 2-3 in his first start of 2024. Here's to hoping it's earned him some more looks. 4-1 Kansas City
The rubber match of this three game set was one for the ages. Cole Ragans stymied Baltimore hitters for the first 6.1 innings, allowing just three baserunners while striking out seven. If you haven't learned the name yet, make sure you do, because this dude's legit. Corbin Burnes had an "off night", allowing two earned on nine hits over 5.2-- a night most starters would be content with. Michael Baumann relieved the ace and promptly allowed a long ball to Maikel Garcia to put the Royals up 3-0.
Then that KC bullpen showed it's true colors, giving up 13 of the team's 19 runs allowed in the final two frames through their first six games. The trend continued. Gunnar Henderson and Adley Rutschman tacked on two in the 8th via sac fly and a single to cut the lead to one before Yennier Cano held things down in the top of the 9th. The table was set, and James McCann delivered-- a 2-run single to walk it off after a 5 hour rain delay. A later celebration then expected, but a great one nonetheless: 4-3 Birds, plus the series.
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| Photo: MLB.com |
A Trio in Pittsburgh
Very surprising that game one of this series wasn't delayed with some snowy conditions during the early innings. The cold temperatures didn't deter the Birds however, as Ryan O'Hearn and Gunnar hit solo shots early to go ahead 2-0. Oneil Cruz cut the lead in half with a bomb of his own, much to the delight of this fantasy baseball owner, before Adley and Anthony Santander put the lead out of reach in the 7th, bringing in one apiece on a single and double, respectively. Cedric Mullins added a late dinger for insurance, helping Grayson Rodriguez nail down his second victory of 2024. The tall righty gave up just two earned, each on solo home runs, while striking out seven-- a star emerging. 5-2 O's
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| Photo: Gene J. Puskar/ AP |
The next two were brutal. The Orioles had no business competing Saturday, helping Bailey Falter to a career day on the mound (6 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 0 ER). Tyler Wells allowed three in the second, but was more than serviceable outside of that. It seemed like he had absolutely no shot of earning a decision win though.
Then the offense woke up late, at least enough to make things interesting. Austin Hays and Mullins cut the lead to one in the seventh before Cedric delivered, once again, in the ninth, sending things to extras. Adley hit a sacrifice fly to give Baltimore their first lead of the game, and a chance at an unlikely victory. But Michael Baumann pathetically allowed a hit and walked two-- one resulting in the tying run-- without recording an out. Danny Coulombe miraculously managed to survive the jam, but Jonathan Heasley was not so fortunate an inning later, as Oneil Cruz walked it off with a single. 5-4 Buccos
Sunday's loss was even tougher. Dean Kremer was locked and loaded, allowing one unearned run through seven. He gave up five hits, struck out six and allowed no walks in one of the best starts of his career. Ryan Mountcastle and Santander drove in runs in the fourth to build a 2-0 lead. Henry Davis would drive in one on a sac fly in the fifth, to cut the lead to 2-1, where it would remain until the final frame.
Keegan Akin secured the eighth, before Yennier Cano loaded the bases in the ninth on three batters. He induced a ground ball, securing the first out of the inning with a force at home. Then a tough ground ball up the middle was fielded by a diving Gunnar Henderson. He touched second while popping up, then whipped the ball well high and wide of first base, allowing the tying and winning runs to score with ease. A terribly rushed effort by the reigning AL Rookie of the Year, who seems to be straining just a little right now.
3-2 Pirates, in the first series loss for Baltimore this season.
Concluding Thoughts
-Colton Cowser time. Austin Hays is looking timid and I'm still not sure how Tony Kemp managed to walk into a roster spot, but we need to get Cowser out there with more regularity. The 24-year old is hitting .455, albeit in a small sample size, and needs to be out there more to build up some momentum off his hot spring training. Given the lack of production elsewhere, there's no reason not to
-Norfolk had a record-setting 26 runs last Wednesday, following it up with a 10 run first inning the next day. Those bats can't be sitting in AAA for long, whether they end up in Camden Yards or elsewhere remains to be seen
-We knew coming into the season that the bullpen would be a concern, but every pitch with them seems stressful at this point. Baumann's been trash, Kimbrel hasn't impressed. Some of the few reliable arms (i.e. Keegan Akin) are not particularly trustworthy long-term. Upgrades have to be brought in, and soon, or this could severely hamper the team's outlook
AL East Standings
1. New York Yankees (9-2)
2. Boston Red Sox (7-3)
3. Baltimore Orioles (5-4)
4. Toronto Blue Jays (5-6)
5. Tampa Bay Rays (5-6)
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@Choppinglines
*I own no rights to any images found in this blog
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