Baltimore Orioles: 0-for-RISP Never Wins, O's Lose to Mariners

Aug 2, 2014; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Orioles catcher Caleb Joseph (36) is congratulated by Jonathan Schoop (6) after hitting a solo home run in the fifth inning against the Seattle Mariners at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. The Mariners defeated the Orioles 6-3. Mandatory Credit: Joy R. Absalon-USA TODAY Sports

Many years ago I played on the golf team for my high school. My coach was a colorful personality filled with great one-liners. And when I would leave a putt a foot short of the hole, he would say, “Randy, don’t you know that it is statistically true that 95% of putts that are left short of the hole don’t go in?” Indeed. True statement.

The same is true in baseball with runners in scoring position (RISP). When a team does not get a hit in that situation, it is virtually impossible to win the game … probably not 100% as on the golf green, but nearly that bad.

Until Ryan Flaherty delivered a pinch hit two-out RBI in the ninth inning on Saturday night, the Baltimore Orioles were 0-for-11 with RISP. The Birds simply could not get runners home, in spite of opportunities throughout the game.

The first Orioles run was delivered by Adam Jones in the bottom of the first inning on a ground out to second, and Caleb Joseph hit a solid homer into the left-field corner. That was about it for scoring, as the Baltimore Orioles dropped the second game of the series to the Seattle Mariners 6-3.

Miguel Gonzalez simply did not have his good stuff on this evening. His command was loose, and his balls did not have the late movement that so often makes him difficult to hit.

Gonzo yielded a solo shot in the third inning to Dustin Ackley, but the big blow of the game was a fifth inning three-run bomb by Robinson Cano that gave the Mariners a 4-1 lead at that point. The Orioles have historically been killed by Cano, and they have been fortunate so far this season to have kept him under control … until last night.

As I wrote in yesterday’s article about the final third of the season, the Mariners statistically have the best pitching staff in the American League, even slightly better than the Oakland A’s.

But somehow the Baltimore Orioles have got to find some more offense. Where is it going to come from?

Back on July 25th I wrote an article entitled “Is Nelson Cruz becoming a Hole in the Baltimore Orioles Lineup?” Well the answer is in; and the answer is “yes.” He struck out three times last night and is flailing wildly at low and outside pitches.

In his last 20 games, Cruz is 8-for-82 (.097) with one home run and two RBIs. That is not just a hole; that is a canyon in the #4 spot of the order.