Nice to see the guys get back on track after their poorest week in the last 3 years, winning four of six over two talented teams. A little history was made in the process, with Baltimore becoming just the 3rd team in MLB history to have 60 home runs in a month. They join the 2023 Braves (61) and 2019 Yankees (74) as the only three clubs to accomplish the feat.
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| Photo: MLB.com |
Fun little tid-bit in the middle of a fun little season. Into July we go, but first:
Final Two versus Cleveland
Nice to see the bats wake up for the middle contest of Baltimore's set versus Cleveland, after scoring just four runs in the previous three games. Jordan Westburg went 4-4 with an RBI while Ryan Mountcastle, Anthony Santander, Colton Cowser and James McCann each went yard to rack up the eight runs Baltimore managed.
Unfortunately for them, Cole Irvin was way off his A-game, getting battered for eight runs of his own (four earned) on ten hits over just four innings. It's been a steady, yet predictable, decline recently for the righty whom Elias acquired for Darrell Hernaiz. As his total innings add up and games begin to have more on the line, don't be surprised to see this trend continue.
Yennier Cano showed some vulnerability as well, allowing two earned on three hits in his inning of relief work. A sharper appearance would've put the O's in a position to steal this one, but the Guardians had just a little more on this Tuesday night slugfest. 10-8 Cleveland.
And then, after five arduous games, it was over. The longest losing streak we Orioles fans have endured since Adley's promotion came to an end after five generally poor efforts. Things started out shaky for Grayson Rodriguez, giving up a bomb to Jhonkensy Noel while finding himself in some sticky situations early. The kid settled in before long though, surrendering just two earned on five hits over seven strong-- a critical boost for a bullpen in need of a break.
With G-Rod dealing away, Gunnar Henderson helped pace the Birds, bringing in Jorge Mateo on a third inning single before hitting a game-tying, solo dong in the fifth. Cedric Mullins broke that tie with a solo shot in the bottom of the seventh to put their starting pitcher in line for a decision before Ryan O'Hearn followed along with an insurance dinger. Cionel Perez handled the eighth, while Craig Kimbrel held down the ninth to notch his 17th save. No brooms tonight y'all, 4-2 Baltimore.
Texas Foursome
If Google led you here in search of an Alexis Texas orgy, you're not only at the wrong place but also a perv. We welcome you regardless! Taking 3 of 4 from the reigning champs was equally sweet though for our adolescent O's fans.
Corbin Burnes set the tone in game one, permitting just one Ranger to touch home over seven frames thrown. Jordan Westburg and Heston Kjerstad kicked off the scoring with back to back doubles in the first, to build up a 3-0 lead-- one that'd double a few innings later after a Mounty sac fly and a Kjerstad two-run dinger.
The home runs were just getting started. Cedric Mullins gave us a two-run shot in the fourth, before Adley and Colton Cowser busted out solo bombs. Rutsch capped the game off with a sac fly and that was all she wrote. 11-2 Orioles in a good ole fashioned beatdown.
Nice to see Albert Suarez back to form after allowing eight earned runs over his last two starts. He let the Rangers scatter three hits over six scoreless, effectively maneuvering a difficult lineup with relative ease. For all intents and purposes, it may have saved his spot in the rotation.
Another Cowser homer put the O's up 1-0 in the fourth, before Gunnar drove in Mateo on a single an inning later. The two runs would be all they'd need to win, despite another sketchy pitching performance by Cano. One hit and two walks in a third of an inning, with only seven out of his nineteen pitches being strikes. Not what we're used to out of him. 2-1 Baltimore win.
June 29th was a big day for many of the young guns. Cade Povich allowed Corey Seager, the second batter he faced, to take him deep before settling in for five quality innings. He gave up five hits and struck out three along the way.
Anthony Santander matched Seager's solo homer to knot things up before later scoring on Heston Kjerstad's first career grand slam. It was a high hit ball to right center that just kept drifting... drifting...gone! Awesome moment for the kid, putting Baltimore ahead 5-2.
Texas would shave that lead to one, thanks to a Nathaniel Lowe two-run shot, but once again, it was Tony Taters to the rescue. In the bottom of the seventh, the right fielder hopped a ground rule double over to plate Adley, in what ultimately was an essential insurance run. Kimbrel recorded his third save of the week, helping Povich to secure his first career MLB decision. The 6-5 win also guaranteed the Orioles the series. Nice little Saturday in Camden Yards.
After so much positivity, it sucks to end the week on such a low note, but such is baseball. Cole Irvin was terrible again on Sunday, getting peppered for five runs in just 3.2 frames. He never looked comfortable or felt in control at any point against a potent lineup.
His opposing starter Alex Heaney dominated the Birds' bats, striking out ten while allowing just five hits over seven strong. You can never count the Orioles out, but this one felt over by the fifth inning. Credit to Ryan O'Hearn and Heston Kjerstad for bringing in the two runs, on a single and double, respectively.
Brutal 11-2 defeat, prompting some necessary soul searching on the off day yesterday. Onto Seattle!
Concluding Thoughts
-It was encouraging to see Craig Kimbrel notch his first two one-run saves this week. He'd previously been 0-4 in such situations this season. While still an imperfect closer, he's probably the best Baltimore's got in the pen at this moment. Here's to hoping he can stay consistent like this in the high leverage situations we'll be encountering.
-As we enter the final month of trades, starting pitching has transformed into the new priority for this team. Cole Irvin and Albert Suarez will eat some innings, and have shown to be capable of doing a decent job in doing so, but do you want to see either starting in game three of the ALCS? Dean Kremer's rocking an ERA north of eleven currently in Norfolk on a rehab assignment, not exactly instilling confidence either. Cade Povich has shown promise, but I'm not ready to hand him that rock yet either. Yet*
While Tarik Skubal may be nothing more than a pipe dream, there has to be some sort of splash made in this department if the Orioles are going to truly compete come October. Let's see what Mike Elias can pull off.
AL East Standings
1. Baltimore Orioles (53-31)
2. New York Yankees (54-32)
3. Boston Red Sox (44-39)
4. Tampa Bay Rays (42-42)
5. Toronto Blue Jays (38-46)
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@Choppinglines
*I own no rights to any images found in this blog
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