Orioles announcer Ben McDonald jinxes Seth Lugo at perfect time

The Orioles have struggled to push runs across in both games of the AL Wild Card series, getting shut out in Game 1 on Tuesday and being held scoreless through the first four innings on Wednesday. Cedric Mullins changed that in the bottom of the 5th today, with a little voodoo help from announcer Ben McDonald.

During Mullins' at-bat, McDonald said on air that Lugo hadn't allowed an extra base hit in his last 5 starts. McDonald also went on about how Lugo had only allowed 16 home runs all year, and about how effective Lugo has been in terms of keeping the ball in the park.

Just moments later, Mullins came through. Facing a 3-2 count against the cruising Lugo, Mullins launched a middle-middle fastball nearly 400 feet into right center to put the Orioles on the board for the first time in the entire series.

Ben McDonald jinxes Royals starter Seth Lugo just prior to Cedric Mullins home run

Mullins' homer was expected to be the catalyst that finally got the Orioles offense going. The O's managed just 5 hits all day on Tuesday, while getting just 2 runners past first base all afternoon. Wednesday didn't start much better as the O's managed just four baserunners prior to Mullins' homer. Just one of those baserunners made it past first base, and none of them reached third.

Despite the struggles to that point, the Orioles were able to mount a significant threat in the bottom of the 5th after Mullins' homer. After Ramon Urias singled, Gunnar Henderson walked and Jordan Westburg reached on a throwing error to load the bases with nobody out.

The Orioles weren't able to capitalize, however. Anthony Santander popped out softly to first, Colton Cowser struck out swinging, and Adley Rutschman ground out to short to end the inning without any additional runs.

If the O's aren't able to come back and beat the Royals tonight, having a bases loaded with nobody out scenario and failing to plate any runs will be a major culprit as to why. Zach Eflin pitched well enough to give the Orioles a chance to win, and the bullpen was mostly effective through the end of the 7th.

The O's need offense. They need it bad, and they need it now or their season is going to be over by the end of the night.