Baltimore Orioles Defeat Boston, Miguel Gonzalez Hurt

First off let’s get something straight; you NEVER apologize for wins in sports – EVER. They all count in the standings at the end of the day, even wins in which the bats were quiet. Lots of fans have voiced the complaint of quiet bats with regard to the Baltimore Orioles over the past month or so. However until tonight, many of those games were losses.

But this Oriole team is starting to gain some of their confidence back, and they’re doing things in games that need to be done at just the right time to win – whether the bats are hot or not. Miguel Gonzalez got the start tonight against Boston, and was solid early. Gonzalez’s line: 4.1 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 1 K. 

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Unfortunately after Gonzalez recorded one out in the fifth inning Buck Showalter

Courtesy of Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

and trainer Richie Bancells emerged from the dugout to check on an apparent injury on Gonzalez. It was eventually decided that Gonzalez would have to leave the game. He was later diagnosed with a right groin strain.

For those who don’t know, groin injuries can be incredibly painful. That type of injury landed Ryan Flaherty on the DL twice this year. This is not to say that Gonzalez will end up in the same boat, however needless to say it’s a concern.

Nolan Reimold, who returned from the minors prior to this evening’s game, appeared to have his first hit as an Oriole in 2015 in the last of the sixth. It would have been an infield hit, but Reimold hustled to first base to beat the throw – apparently. Boston manager John Farrell asked the umpires to review the play, and they reversed the call. 

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The replay appeared to indicate that at the very least, the runner tied the ball – and a tie of course always goes to the runner. However needless to say, this was a baffling decision because there didn’t appear to be enough evidence to overturn the call that was made on the field. However in the top of the seventh Boston’s Xander Bogaerts appeared to ground into a similar play and was ruled safe. This time it was Buck Showalter who challenged, and the play was reversed.

And perhaps, that was a big momentum-turn in this game. Steve Pearce led off the last of the seventh with a double off the scoreboard in right field, which was followed by a J.J. Hardy single to put runners at the corners. Boston pitcher Matt Barnes followed that up with a wild pitch, which allowed Pearce to score from first and gave the Orioles a 1-0 lead – the eventual final.

Chaz Roe was credited with the win, and Zach Britton recorded a five-out save. However perhaps the biggest defensive play on the night came in the next inning courtesy of Matt Wieters. Dustin Pedroia was hit by what came off as a phantom pitch (replays were inconclusive), and Brock Holt drew a walk. Rusney Castillo laid down a sacrifice bunt at home plate, and Wieters picked up the ball and threw Pedroia out at third base.

Britton came on and retired David Ortiz and Mike Napoli via strikeout. However getting the lead runner in that scenario could have been the defensive play of the night. I referenced Pedroia getting hit above; it ended up being a footnote in the overall game story. However while the replay might have indicated that the ball grazed Pedroia’s wrist, he also didn’t react as if he had been hit. It was only after John Farrell came out and argued that he got first base. 

Buck Showalter indicated after the game that Miguel Gonzalez had seen this groin problem in the past, however he declined to committ to what the Orioles were going to do. If it’s serious enough, it could involve a DL stint. Might that mean Kevin Gausman could end up heading into the rotation, or perhaps the return of Mike Wright?

The series continues tomorrow night with Wei-Yin Chen on the mound for the O’s. He’ll be opposed by Boston’s Rick Porcello. Game time is set for just after 7 PM.

Next: Baltimore Orioles turn to offense in the draft

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