In video games in opposition to American League East rivals, the little issues matter extra. When these video games go to further innings, the little issues typically make the distinction.
Thursday’s divisional matchup between the Orioles and Tampa Bay Rays — the 2 finest groups within the American League — naturally went into extras. Two Orioles, one veteran and one rookie, got here by with sacrifices within the tenth to provide Baltimore a 4-3 lead that nearer Félix Bautista held within the backside half.
Second baseman Adam Frazier, an eight-year veteran, laid down an ideal sacrifice bunt to advance computerized runner Aaron Hicks to 3rd, and rookie Colton Cowser, enjoying in his eleventh profession sport, drove him in with a sacrifice fly to left subject. Bautista, who pitched a scoreless ninth to ship the sport to extras, hit the primary batter of the tenth however then struck Randy Arozarena and received Brandon Lowe to floor right into a game-ending double play.
The win places Baltimore (59-37) in sole possession of first place within the AL East for the primary time since Aug. 12, 2016. They are one sport forward of Tampa Bay (60-40).
Rays starter Tyler Glasnow was excellent by three innings at Tropicana Field — a typical sight through the years, because the 6-foot-8 right-hander has traditionally dominated the Orioles. Across six begins in opposition to the rebuild-era Orioles, Glasnow was 4-0 with a 2.08 ERA and a 36.4% strikeout price. Earlier this season, although, the Orioles tagged him for six runs in 4 1/3 innings en path to a victory, and their bats rediscovered that success in a fourth inning that was as bizarre because it was fruitful for Baltimore’s offense.
Leadoff hitter Gunnar Henderson started the body with a floor ball hit to left subject. The ball tipped off third baseman Taylor Walls’ glove, permitting Henderson to advance to second. The 22-year-old rookie then took benefit of the Rays’ lollygagging — left fielder Arozarena’s nonchalant throw and Walls’ failure to cowl the bag — to take third for a triple.
Tampa Bay then introduced the infield in regardless of having a 1-0 lead with no outs, and Adley Rutschman hit a Baltimore chop over second baseman Lowe’s head to attain Henderson. Anthony Santander then singled on a floor ball to the place the shortstop would’ve been had the Rays not been shifting, and he and Rutschman later superior on a wild pitch.
Rutschman scored on a sacrifice fly from Ryan O’Hearn, and Santander raced house from second on a floor ball single from Hicks. The ball reached catcher Francisco Mejía properly earlier than Santander reached house, however the onerous slide from the 6-2, 230-pound first baseman knocked the ball free. As Santander walked again to the bench, he waved his helmet to a big (and loud) contingent of Orioles followers behind the third base dugout.
Three of the Orioles’ hits within the inning had been to the alternative subject; all 4 had been on the bottom and received by due to the Rays’ infield alignment.
The Orioles managed simply two extra hits off Glasnow, who pitched three extra scoreless innings to maintain the Rays within the sport. Baltimore entered the seventh with a 3-1 lead due to veteran beginning pitcher Kyle Gibson, who stored Tampa Bay’s bats at bay. Through six innings, the 35-year-old allowed only one run with eight strikeouts — his third-highest complete this season and second straight begin hanging out eight or extra. The Rays’ lone run with Gibson on the mound got here on an RBI single from Mejía within the second. Gibson retired 13 of the subsequent 16 batters, together with hanging out the aspect within the fifth and inducing three floor ball outs within the sixth.
However, Gibson allowed singles to the primary two batters of the seventh and was changed by reliever Yennier Cano, who gave up each runs to the primary batter he confronted when Yandy Díaz roped a center-cut sinker 109.4 mph for a double to right-center subject. Cano stranded Díaz at second to maintain the rating tied.
Around the horn
- Manager Brandon Hyde stated he isn’t certain what position right-hander Shintaro Fujinami, whom the Orioles acquired from the Oakland Athletics on Wednesday night, will serve in Baltimore’s bullpen however the 29-year-old will doubtless be part of the workforce in a “couple days.” “I’m not going to jump the gun on what role I’m going to use him with until I see him or talk to him and let him pitch a little bit,” Hyde stated.
- Cedric Mullins, who was positioned on the injured checklist Wednesday with a proper adductor groin pressure, stated Thursday that the ache he skilled Saturday started in his quad earlier than shifting as much as his groin, the identical damage that brought on him to overlook most of June. “It’s kind of a reinjury of the same exact spot,” the middle fielder stated. “Definitely want to take the time to treat it properly and make sure everything’s going to be fine.” Mullins stated there’s “no way of knowing” how lengthy he’ll be on the shelf. He stated he’s capable of do “everything but running,” which included taking batting observe on the sphere Thursday. The Orioles are 42-22 when Mullins begins and 16-15 when he doesn’t.
This story might be up to date.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com