Baltimore Orioles Lose Ugliest Game in Years
May 22, 2014; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Orioles third baseman Manny Machado (13) reaches but cannot catch a ball hit by Cleveland Indians catcher Yan Gomes (not shown) in the second inning at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Joy R. Absalon-USA TODAY Sports
The Baltimore Orioles lost, then won, then lost, then won, and finally lost an ugly game for the ages. Troy Patton was the final loser in the 13th inning – giving up a bases-loaded, two-strike double to a batter with a .150 average.
The blow by blow of this one is too tedious to repeat. If you saw it, you don’t want to hear about it again. And if you missed it, I’ll spare you the worst of it.
For example, after the Orioles came back from a 3-0 deficit to take a 5-3 lead, it was immediately given back with lousy defense. Then, Lonnie Chisenhall broke that tie to put the Indians ahead with a homer over the right field wall off Darren O’Day. Later, with the game tied in the 13th, the same Chisehall set up the inning with a bunt single over the head of a charging Chris Davis. Yes, you read that correctly. It was that kind of game.
I want to be annoyed with Ryan Flaherty for misplaying two consecutive balls and costing Chen and the Orioles two runs (and probably the game), but Flash hit a three-run homer to give them the lead that he gave back before the inning was over.
And I want to be annoyed with David Lough for grounding into a 1-2-3 double play with the bases loaded and none out, but Lough would save the Orioles three runs with a great catch at the wall.
Though the Orioles got great pitching from Zach Britton and Preston Guilmet, it was the totally lost hangers by Patton that killed them, along with Flaherty’s muffs. I said it before; it is time for fresh air in another place for Patton. And it is difficult to imagine how Delmon Young could not stumble into far better production than comes from Lough – who has been a huge disappointment.
More good news – Manny Machado was taken out with some sort of groin aggravation. That seems to be a theme right now, including Chris Tillman and Tommy Hunter – now on the DL.
This was a game that should not have been lost. The Baltimore Orioles ended up dropping it to what is far, far from a good team, especially in the field. This is not winning baseball.
Let’s turn the calendar before I say something worse. On Friday …
The Indians will start T.J. House – a fellow with a major league career that totals one inning – from six days ago against Oakland. Over his minor league career he is 38-51 with a 3.90 ERA.
The Orioles will counter with Bud Norris, who has only ever pitched one game against the Indians – giving up only a solo homer in seven innings. Norris is only 2-4 on the season, but has a 3.58 ERA and excellent WHIP of 1.13. Yes, more upside-down stuff from this weird season – that Norris is the best of the starters so far … the guy who was on the bubble as the #5 man in the rotation. Totally weird.