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Baltimore Orioles: Ball bounces against Bud Norris

By Domenic A. Vadala |

As Buck Showalter often says, sometimes you just have to tip your cap. If you’re the Baltimore Orioles, that’s kind of what you have to do this evening after falling 5-1 to Boston. The BoSox had two players leave the game this evening to injury – Dustin Pedroia  with hamstring tightness, as well as Hanley Ramirez. A team that can overcome losing two players in a game like that probably earns themselves a tough win – eveThn against Bud Norris and the Birds.

Norris struggled towards the end, but probably pitched just a tick better than the stats indicate. Norris’ line: 5.2 IP, 7 H, 5 R, 1 BB, 3 K. Norris and Boston starter Clay Buchholz were locked in a pitcher’s duel

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through five innings. That’s when the O’s opened the scoring of a previously scoreless game on Chris Davis‘ RBI-single. However it was also Davis’ fielding error which got things started for Boston in the last of the inning. Davis bobbled former Oriole Alejandro De Aza‘s grounder, allowing him to reach. De Aza would move up to second on a pass ball, and then score on Mookie Betts‘ RBI-single to tie the game. 

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Phillies release 10-year veteran right-hander Bud Norris
Phillies release 10-year veteran right-hander Bud Norris /

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    • However part of what set that RBI-single up was another error – this one by pitcher Bud Norris. Sandy Leon‘s swinging bunt went right by Norris without him making any attempt to field the ball. And that seemed to spark the Boston offense. Dustin Pedroia’s two-RBI single later in the inning would give Boston the lead at 3-1, and they would run the score to 5-1 on David Ortiz‘s subsequent two-run homer.

    Boston would proceed to do to the Orioles what they had done to the BoSox and other teams – they shut them down with their bullpen. Pedroia pulled up gimpy on the aforementioned two-RBI single, which is when he left the game. It’s unclear at this point what Boston will be doing, especially given the fact that tomorrow is an afternoon game. Both Pedroia and Ramirez may be ineligible to play – at best. If Boston wants to move to send one or both to the DL, do they have enough time to get them to Fenway Park in time?

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    I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention that tonight’s game leaves the Orioles in a position whereby they have to decide if they want to keep Bud Norris in the rotation. Granted he had one sloppy inning in a game that he otherwise pitched fairly well, however at some point this could turn into a question as to whether or not the Orioles can sustain him in the rotation. Does he end up in the bullpen as a result? If so, how does that work out with the personnel that’s already there?

    The Orioles will be making a roster move prior to tomorrow’s game regardless, as Miguel Gonzalez will be coming off the DL to make the start. I would presume that unless someone’s headed to the DL for some reason, the corresponding roster move will come from the bullpen. Gonzalez will be opposed by former Oriole Eduardo Rodriguez. Game time is set for just after 1:30 PM.

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