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Baltimore Orioles: Just 90 Feet from Victory

By Randy Buchman

Jun 20, 2016; Arlington, TX, USA; Baltimore Orioles manager Buck Showalter and umpire Alfonso Marquez (72) talk before a baseball game against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Park in Arlington. Mandatory Credit: Jim Cowsert-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 20, 2016; Arlington, TX, USA; Baltimore Orioles manager Buck Showalter and umpire Alfonso Marquez (72) talk before a baseball game against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Park in Arlington. Mandatory Credit: Jim Cowsert-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Baltimore Orioles lost a make-up game in Texas 4-3 on Monday night, missing multiple opportunities to score from 90 feet away.

It was a ridiculous loss in ridiculous ways in a ridiculous game that was ridiculous to schedule and be played. All of this was necessitated by a ridiculous set of events previously that had a game errantly called off in advance that could have been played then.

Everyone is referencing this as a one-game series. A one-game SERIES? Isn’t that statement what is called an oxymoron? More like a just plain moron.

As things have turned out, the better outcome would have just been to forfeit the game, stay home, and get ready to play a true series against the Padres. If the Orioles sleep-walk through the next several days, it won’t take much to understand why.

The biggest blown opportunity was in the top of the third inning, with the Orioles already leading 3-0. Mark Trumbo led off with a walk followed by singles from Matt Wieters and Jonathan Schoop to load the bases with none out. But J.J. Hardy struck out, and Nolan Reimold hit a chopper into a 5-3 double play.

Again in the ninth inning, the Orioles put runners on the corners with one out. But a Wieters strikeout and Schoop ground ball ended the game.

So while the Orioles got 15 base hits, they were only 3-for-11 with runners in scoring position. Baltimore ended the night by leaving 12 men on base.

On the good news side of the ledger, the O’s only went through two pitchers – Kevin Gausman with five innings and Dylan Bundy with three frames.

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So what is the story about Gausman, who is now 0-5 with a 4.37 ERA?  It is all about secondary pitch command. When those pitches are working for strikes, his fast ball is better than it already is. But when he has to rely on it heavily, hitters can sit on it. This is especially true when the ump won’t give you the corner, which happened several times in the three-run fourth inning of the Rangers. Those blown calls could have made all the difference.

In other news the Red Sox lost to the White Sox 3-1 in 10 innings, helping the Orioles to hold on to their one-game lead in the AL East.

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