Baltimore Orioles fall to Seattle

I suppose the question at hand might be whether or not a lack of offense or poor base running cost the Baltimore Orioles last night’s game against Seattle. I would submit that the overall story was that the Birds couldn’t get guys on base and/or get them in until the end. However a base running blunder late in the game squashed a potential rally, and most certainly didn’t help matters.

Wei-Yin Chen didn’t have his “good stuff” per se, however he kept his team in the game. Chen’s line: 7 IP, 8 H, 4 R, 0 BB, 4 K. If anything, Chen might have pitched to contact a bit too often, and thus spent a little too much time in the strike zone. Mike Zunnino gave Seattle a 1-0 lead in the second with an RBI-double, and Justin Ruggiano extended the lead to 3-0 on the fourth with a two-run homer. Seattle’s scoring for the night closed out with Chris Taylor‘s RBI-triple in the seventh, and the O’s trailed 4-0.

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Courtesy of Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

The Orioles started coming back late, but the good news for them was that they started coming back. Jimmy Paredes sent a two-out RBI-single to right field. However that’s where the base running mistake came into play. Paredes tried to extend the play into a double, while a second runner was coming home. However Paredes was thrown out at second base by none other than Nelson Cruz, which nullified the second run. Buck Showalter challenged the play, and the call was confirmed – although it appeared to be questionable at best.

Paredes has been great for the Orioles thus far in 2015, however that’s not a mistake that can happen. At that point in the game the Birds were down by three. If Paredes stays at first and allows the second runner (Manny Machado) to score, the O’s are down two with two gone and Adam Jones coming to the plate. Mind you also that Jones ended up going 3-for-4 on the night, one of the lone offensive bright spots. It’s tough to say what would have happened from that point forward, but needless to say the inning wouldn’t have been over.

J.J. Hardy would add an RBI-single in the last of the ninth, however despite making Seattle closer Fernando Rodney work hard in the inning, the O’s ended up falling 4-2. Let me be clear; this loss is not on Paredes. His blunder didn’t help matters, however it’s always a team effort. Unfortunately that’s one of the things which stands out. But with the exception perhaps of Jones, nobody was able to get on base – much less get driven in.

I mentioned this above, but the Orioles worked Fernando Rodney in the last of the ninth. That could bode well for the Orioles going into tomorrow, as the Seattle ‘pen was taxed coming into this game. We also saw the MLB debut of Tyler Wilson, who gave up two hits, no walks, and no runs. Tommy Hunter bounced back after a rough outing over the weekend, striking out a hitter with the bases loaded to end the eighth.

The series concludes this afternoon, as it’s “weather day” at Camden Yards. The O’s and Seattle will play a 12:30 PM matinee, in front of thousands of school kids who will be attending the game as part of a field trip. Chris Tillman will try to bounce back from his back spasms earlier in the week and will get the start for the Orioles. He’ll be opposed by Seattle’s J.A. Happ. As I said, game time is set for just after 12:30 PM this afternoon.

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