Baltimore Orioles’ B-team falls to BoSox

Admittedly I was a bit surprised when the Baltimore Orioles posted their lineup and it appeared that the B-team was going to be starting. That’s not a knock on the guys who played last night in the respective positions at which they started, however I found it interesting that there was no Adam Jones, Nick Markakis, or J.J. Hardy. Buck Showalter said before the game that Markakis would be available to play and probably would have started if the game was of any consequence. I suspect that tonight we’ll see many more of the regulars, although who knows.

Courtesy of Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

Kevin Gausman had a rocky start against the BoSox, although he managed to hold it together fairly well. Gausman’s line: 5 IP, 7 H, 3 R (2 earned), 3 BB, 2 K. Gausman struggled with the long ball last night, which is somewhat odd for him, however he was taken deep by two pretty decent hitters. The Baltimore Orioles took a 1-0 lead in the last of the third when Nelson Cruz (on of the regulars who did play) hit a soft infield RBI-single to third base and managed to leg it out at first. However the O’s stranded the bases loaded, which always seems to come back and bit one in the behind. In the top of the fourth David Ortiz led off with a solo homer, and one batter later Cespedes did the same thing. Suddenly Boston had a 2-1 lead.

Ortiz would also add a single to right field which ended up scoring Betts from third base when Caleb Joseph dropped the relay throw home. The Orioles had the runner dead in the water at home plate, however Joseph mishandled the throw. It appeared to me that it was a bit of a tough error to charge as it was a bang-bang play, however that’s how it was ruled by the official scorer. Delmon Young would bring the Orioles to within 3-2 in the last of the seventh with an RBI-triple, and he would score to tie the game when Steve Pearce reached on an error. Unfortunately in this case, it was the Orioles’ bullpen who made the error in the end, as Darren O’Day gave up a two-run homer once again to Ortiz in the top of the 11th and the B-team fell to Boston, 5-3.

So the only real question to come out of this game in my view is whether or not O’Day is scuffling on the mound. And that’s not something that can truly be answered until he gets back out there. The best relievers will give up homers in tight spots from time to time, so I would say that it’s really not that big of a deal.

As Buck Showalter said after the game, Ortiz has homered off of quite a few good pitchers.

Kevin Gausman also developed a blister on his throwing hand, which is why he was lifted after five innings (91 pitches). According to Showalter it’s something that’s bothered him off and on this year, but it doesn’t appear to be something overly worrisome.

The series continues this evening with game two beginning just after 7 PM. Chris Tillman will take to the mound for the O’s, and he’ll be opposed by Boston’s Ruby De La Rosa.