Baltimore Orioles fall to Boston in game one of four

The Baltimore Orioles fell 5-2 to Boston in game one of a huge four-game set at Oriole Park at Camden Yards in Baltimore.

The Baltimore Orioles probably need to win three-of-four against Boston this week if they’re going to have a realistic shot at winning the division. After last night’s 5-2 loss, that math says that the Birds need to win the next three in a row – all against Boston. This is not to say that they can’t win the division if they don’t do that, but the road just gets that much tougher. As I said, a realistic shot.

Dylan Bundy surrendered all five of Boston’s runs, although he didn’t look horrible. However keep in mind that at this point it’s not about looking good or bad – it’s about winning. Bundy’s line: 5.0 IP, 6 H, 5 R, 2 BB, 3 K. Bundy was throwing the ball over the plate…and Boston was seeing that and raising him by hitting the ball.

Mookie Betts continued his prowess at Camden Yards against the Orioles with his two-run homer in the third which gave Boston a 2-0 lead. It’s really uncanny how well Betts has hit at Oriole Park this year. He’s a great player and a gifted hitter as it is, however he really shifts into high gear in Baltimore.

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One inning later the O’s tried to climb back into the game on Mark Trumbo’s RBI-double. However Boston wasn’t about to let anyone back into the game for good on this night. Pedroia added an RBI-single in the fifth, and David Ortiz a two-run homer in the sixth. The Orioles would climb back to within 5-2 on Adam Jones’ solo home run in the last of the eighth, but that was too little too late for the Birds.

The loss leaves the O’s four games back of Boston for the AL East lead. It also leaves them tied with Toronto for second place, and for the top wild card spot. As I said, if the Orioles want a realistic shot at winning the AL East, they probably need to take the final three games of the series. Incidentally they aso have a three-game set at Toronto next week which is equally as large when it comes to playoff implications.

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At the very least, if the O’s end up in the wild card they’d like to be in the top wild card spot so that the game is at home. Keep in mind that it’s an “automatic game seven,” which means it’s an elimination game. So at least if it’s at home not only will the Orioles have their fans with them, but they’ll have their last at-bat. The last thing they want to have to do is to play that game at a place like Rogers Centre.

Next: Baltimore Orioles' pitching duels them back into the win column

The series with Boston continutes this evening at Camden Yards. Kevin Gausman will take to the mound for the Orioles, and he’ll be opposed by Boston’s Eduardo Rodriguez. Game time is set for just after 7 PM.