Good morning Birdland,
Those of you that have Apple TV+ were treated to quite the game on Friday night. The Orioles beat the Tigers 7-4 thanks to several exciting performances from throughout the roster.
Jackson Holliday had his first two hits of the season, including an important home run that just squeaked over the shortest part of the left field wall. Pete Alonso also went deep as part of a four-RBI night. Gunnar Henderson was the spark plug with three hits, a double, two runs scored, and constant
pressure on the Detroit defense. And all six pitchers that were used basically did their job, though Keegan Akin did allow a solo home run on the very first pitch of the game.
It was the kind of game that gives you some sliver of hope that this team can claw their way back into contention. They demonstrated exactly what they are capable of on a baseball field. Of course, it came against a Tigers team that has been even more disappointing, but you can only play the teams on your schedule.
Speaking of, the Orioles desperately need to make the most of this lengthy homestand that began on Friday. After these Tigers, they play three against the Rays and four with the Blue Jays. Labeling anything as “must win” in May feels silly, but the team has dug themselves such a hole that wiggle room is limited.
Weather in the area looks dicey today. The worst of the storm is to our north, but it’s going to be chilly all day with a chance of rain throughout. Will the O’s and Tigers actually play the second game of their series today? Maybe. It seemed unlikely they would play all nine innings on Friday, and yet they made it through. Both teams will want to do all they can to avoid playing a double-header on a Sunday.
Links
Eflin: “I didn’t expect to feel this good so quickly after surgery” | Roch Kubatko
It’s nice to hear from Zach Eflin. It would have been even better to get more innings from him. But that’s the life of a big league pitcher. His time pitching for the Orioles is likely over, unless he and the team can agree to a much lower salary in 2027 than the $25 million on his mutual option. That kind of money just isn’t going to happen after two consecutive season-ending injuries.
With Nolan Arenado’s help — kind of — Orioles’ Jackson Holliday adapts to third base | The Baltimore Banner
This story is not as interesting as the headline would suggest. Holliday has a glove from Arenado, which makes sense since his dad, Matt, is a Rockies legend. It doesn’t sound like Holliday plans to actually use the mitt in game, but maybe it gives off some good vibes.
What has contributed to the Orioles’ latest May swoon? | Orioles.com
Um, everyone has been terrible? That’s not totally fair, but it’s also not really wrong. Almost the entire roster has underperformed their expectations. When that happens, you lose games. It gets even worse when some of the guys that were actually playing well falter. Maybe some positive regression is due to hit the Orioles now.
Orioles birthdays
Is it your birthday? Happy birthday!
- Logan Allen turns 29 today. The southpaw appeared in three games for the Orioles in 2022. He is currently in the Dodgers organization.
- Mike González is 48 years old. He was brought in to be the team’s closer in 2010, but early struggles followed by an injury put an end to that. He stuck around through 2011, compiling a 4.18 ERA over 78 total appearances for the Birds in those two seasons.
This day in O’s history
1999 – The Orioles beat the Rangers 15-6. Brady Anderson sets an American League record and ties an MLB record by being hit by a pitch twice in the first inning. Only two other batters in MLB history have ever “achieved” that outcome.
2000 – Despite Rickey Henderson drawing his 2,000th career walk, the Orioles beat the Mariners 4-2
2006 – O’s catcher Ramón Hernandez leads the Orioles to a 14-4 win over the M’s by going 3-for-5 with two home runs, one being a three-run bomb and the other a grand slam.
2015 – Brian Matusz is ejected for having a foreign substance on him, becoming the second player in the league to be accused of breaking the rules that week. The Brewers’ Will Smith had been ejected from a different game a few days earlier. Matusz receives an eight-game suspension.
