The Orioles scored seven times in the 1st inning then held on for a 8-5 win over the Cardinals to take two or three in St. Louis.
Orioles News
The Orioles announced that Andrew Wojciechwski was diagnosed with elbow inflammation and an MRI showed no structural damage. He was placed on the 15-day Injured List but is expected to be out at least six weeks. With the injury, the Orioles were able to re-add Paul Fry to the pitching staff and will go with nine relievers until they need a 5th starter.
Lineup vs LHP Kwang-hyun Kim
- Austin Hays – CF
- Hanser Alberto – 2B
- Anthony Santander – RF
- Renato Nunez – 1B
- Pat Valaika – 3B
- Pedro Severino – C
- Jose Iglesias – SS
- Andrew Velazquez – LF
- Tommy Milone – SP
Starting Pitcher: Tommy Milone (0-1, 3.38)
The Orioles bats awoke against starter Kwang-hyun Kim in the first inning when they knocked him out without finishing the inning. They loaded the bases with one out, but Kim looked like he was going to get out of the trouble after striking out Pat Valaika for the second out. However, Pedro Severino had other ideas as he picked up a two-out, two-run single to left field scoring Austin Hays and Hanser Alberto.
Jose Iglesius looped his own single to left and after a great jump, Renato Nunez was able to beat a great throw by Austin Dean to make it 3-0 Orioles. Still not done Andrew Velazquez slashed a single into right field plating Severiono to make it 4-0. Of all people, Orioles starter Tommy Milone ended Kim’s day with an opposite field single to left scoring Iglesias to make it 5-0.
The Cardinals brought in Dan Jennings and Hays met him with his second hit of the inning and 5th straight Orioles hit, plating Velazquez making it 6-0. Alberto kept up the hit parade with a single up the middle that scored a head first sliding Milone at home to make it 7-0. Good hustle by Milone but we’ll see if that affects him on the mound.
Jennings ended the inning by striking out Anthony Santander, who had the unfortunate circumstances of making two outs in the inning.
After two scoreless innings, the Cardinals starting to scratch their way back in the bottom of the third with solo home runs by Kolten Wong and Paul DeJong to make it 7-2.
The Orioles bats went silent until the 6th when pinch hitter Rio Ruiz doubled to right center moving Nunez to 3rd. Severino then brought him home on a ground out to 2nd to make it 8-2.
The Cardinals picked up another run in the bottom of the 6th with two out, Dean laced Milone’s 102nd pitch into left field scoring Dejong to make it 8-3. That was it for Milone who was replaced by Hector Velazquez. Milone went five and two-third innings, allowing three earned runs on six hits with eight strikeouts.
Velazquez though couldn’t get a batter out in the bottom of the 7th as he left after allowing two hits and a walk plus a wild pitch, leaving with runners on 1st and 2nd, no outs and 8-4. Brandon Hyde brought in Hunter Harvey to face the 3-4-5 hitters. Harvey was up to the task once again, striking DeJong before walking the bases the full. He then struck of Matt Carpenter and got Dean to ground out to end the threat and keep it 8-4 Orioles.
Hyde brought in Richard Bleier to start the 8th. After allowing a leadoff single to Dexter Fowler, Bleier got Yadier Moline to hit into a 6-4-3 DP and then got another ground out to keep it 8-4.
Up by four and after only throwing seven pitches in the 8th, Bleier stayed on to face left-handed Orioles killer Wong who promptly doubled past the diving Nunez at 1B. With three righties due up, Hyde went to closer Givens. Givens struck out Goldschmidt before Dejong hit a ball into right field scoring Wong. However, Dejong tried to stretch it into a double and Santander nailed him at second base for the second out.
Givens then got Harrison Bader to fly out to the right to end the game. Orioles win 8-5 and improved to 3-6 on the season and take two of three from the Cardinals. Milone gets the win to improve to 1-1.
Orioles Player of the game: Pedro Severino (3-for-4, 3 RBI)
Transactions
After the game, the Orioles optioned Hector Velazquez to Norfolk (AAA) and promoted RHP Travis Lakins.
