Thursday was an evening of missed possibilities for the Orioles, each inside their one-game go to to Fenway Park and what the matchup meant to the playoff race they surprisingly discover themselves in.
The 4-3 defeat to the Boston Red Sox noticed Baltimore waste a number of scoring alternatives whereas additionally lacking the prospect to realize floor within the postseason image on a day a lot of their tightest rivals have been dormant.
A victory would have given the Orioles (58-53) sole possession of the American League’s third wild-card spot, having entered the day tied with the Tampa Bay Rays. Instead, they not solely misplaced to a Boston crew attempting to make its method again into the playoff combine, but additionally dropped half a sport of floor to the present three wild-card groups: the Toronto Blue Jays, the Seattle Mariners and the Rays.
They went 2-for-9 with runners in scoring place, and Eric Hosmer’s sixth-inning RBI double off Nick Vespi, who inherited a runner from starter Dean Kremer, proved to be decisive.
Thursday’s singular sport in Boston marks the beginning of a seven-game highway journey throughout which the Orioles will play three-game collection towards Tampa Bay and Toronto. This sport was initially scheduled for the primary week of the season however was reshuffled after the MLB lockout postponed every crew’s first two collection.
RISP, however no reward
Baltimore fell behind early Thursday because the Red Sox (54-58) hit Kremer arduous within the first few innings as Boston constructed a 3-0 lead after three. The Orioles had put runners on the corners within the high of the primary, however rookie infielder Terrin Vavra struck out trying, with all three strikes being referred to as and no less than two being in off the plate.
Vavra singled within the fourth to place two on for Austin Hays, who then grounded into an inning-ending double play. As the Orioles had their offensive struggles, Kremer settled in, retiring 9 of 10 Red Sox to get by means of the fifth.
That gave the Orioles the prospect to interrupt by means of within the sixth. Cedric Mullins singled to open the body, bettering his August batting common to .343. Rookie sensation Adley Rutschman then drew a stroll, turning into the primary Oriole with 11 free passes in a seven-game span since Brady Anderson in 2000.
After neither Anthony Santander nor Ryan Mountcastle got here by means of, Vavra lashed a two-run triple down the proper subject line. In his first 10 plate appearances with a runner in scoring place, Vavra is hitting .625 with a 1.600 OPS. He then scored the tying run when Hays reached on an infield single.
Jorge Mateo singled within the high of the seventh and stole his AL-leading twenty seventh base, one off the key league lead, however was left at third base when Rutschman struck out trying.
Around the horn
>> Originally scheduled to begin Thursday’s sport earlier than Wednesday’s rainout, Austin Voth will as an alternative open Friday’s collection opener towards the Rays. The Orioles have listed their starters for Saturday and Sunday as TBA. Spenser Watkins and Jordan Lyles could be on flip to pitch.
This story will probably be up to date.
Friday, 7:10 p.m.
TV: MASN
Radio: 97.9 FM, 101.5 FM, 1090 AM
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Source: www.bostonherald.com
