The Orioles Report is back, coming at you all on Thursdays for the rest of the season! Baltimore entered the second half with a ton of expectations after racking up 59 wins in their first 94 games. They'd start things off on a good foot...
Three versus the Defending Champs
Busting out of the All-Star Break with a bang! After four long days without baseball, the Birds came out swinging down in Arlington. Texas found themselves in a 4-0 hole before they could even see a pitch from Corbin Burnes, courtesy of two-run dingers from Adley Rutschman and Colton Cowser in the top of the first. On a day where the O's ace was locked and loaded, the four runs would be more than enough.
Burnes lasted six frames, surrendering just one earned run on a Nathaniel Lowe solo homer-- one of only two hits he'd allow on the day while fanning six. Anthony Santander added two late long balls of his own in the fifth and seventh, bringing in five insurance runs.
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| Photo: Tim Heitman/ Getty Images |
9-1 Baltimore, with authority.
Saturday was much of the same between the two teams. The Rangers found themselves in a 4-0 hole once again, although it took the Orioles two innings to build that lead this time around-- thanks to an error and singles by Ramon Urias and Santander. Grayson Rodriguez allowed Texas to cut the margin in half with a two-run Andrew Knizer single, but Cedric Mullins promptly responded with a solo shot to reestablish control.
Jordan Westburg kept the scoring going with a two-run dong in the sixth to further extend the lead, putting G-Rod safely in position to pick up a decision. Cionel Perez let the reigning champs get within three, but Ryan O'Hearn made sure there'd be no heroics that evening, blasting one over the left center fence to claim the victory. It was the twelfth for Rodriguez on the year, tied for most in the American League. 8-4 Birds.
Some cold bats out there for game three, with Dean Kremer getting no help from the Orioles lineup. Outside of a three-run home run by Jonah Heim, it was a solid outing from Dean-- lasting 5.1 while giving up five hits and three walks. Far from pretty, but it kept the team within striking distance.
Run support though, nowhere to be found. Love seeing Colton Cowser collect two hits, while Tony Taters added a two-run shot in the eighth to make it interesting. But the rally was squashed by Kirby Yates. 3-2 Rangers on the day, as the series goes to Baltimore.
First Two in Miami
Strangely enough, both games against Miami have finished with 6-3 as the final score. Each have also been Orioles losses, in a gross display versus one of the worst teams in baseball.
Albert Suarez was horrible in the opener, lasting just two-plus after surrendering six earned on eight hits. While it hasn't been as extreme as Cole Irvin's regression, the clock's quickly approaching midnight for that Cinderella. The lineup busted out nine hits, but none after Miami starter Kyle Tyler exited in the fifth. Hard to mount a comeback that way.
To make matters worse, Jorge Mateo collided with Gunnar while going for a ball up the middle, twisting his throwing arm in a really abnormal direction as the two got tangled up and fell. He's set to miss an undisclosed amount of time, in what was diagnosed as a dislocated elbow.
Baltimore didn't show much more fight the following night. Chayce McDermott made his MLB debut, giving up three earned on five hits over four solid innings. It wasn't perfect, but he maneuvered some jams and looked confident on the bump.
The offense gave him no help, reserving all of their scoring for a sixth inning, bases-clearing double from the Milk Man. He's batting .412 since returning from the break, with a base knock in all five games. Vibes were good, with things knotted up at three.
Then Cionel Perez sold, as the kids say. The volatile lefty inherited a baserunner, who quickly got to second of a wild pitch. A subsequent walk and sac bunt set the table for Jazz Chisholm Jr., and he delivered, in the form of a two-run dribbling double down the left field line. Bryan plated Chisholm in the next at bat, adding an unnecessary insurance run for former O's closer Tanner Scott.
Look for the Birds to dodge a sweep this afternoon, as Corbin Burnes squares off against Roddery Munoz at 12:10.
Concluding Thoughts
-Interesting to see Connor Norby called up instead of Jackson Holliday post-Mateo injury. There's a number of reasons it makes sense-- the age of the two guys, positional fit, current stats at each level-- but it also lends one to believe that Norby won't be dealt anywhere this week.
-With that trade deadline in mind, pitching must be acquired, or this team will fold in the postseason. At this point, they've got two and a half starters plus a couple youthful unknowns. The bullpen's been inconsistent, a description many would call complimentary. Even closer Craig Kimbrel has failed to instill a ton of confidence from the masses, and he's been far and away the top arm of the bunch.
The wish list should be no less than a quality and middle-of-the-pack starter, as well as a solid closer. Three arms really feels like the minimum requirement to get this team in position to make a run at the World Series. There's enough talent on this roster and minor league system to get it done, but it takes two to tango.
Buckle up for a big week Birdland.
AL East Standings
1. Baltimore Orioles (60-41)
2. New York Yankees (60-44)
3. Boston Red Sox (54-47)
4. Tampa Bay Rays (51-51)
5. Toronto Blue Jays (46-55)
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@Choppinglines
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