Some days the other team is just better. That was the case on Wednesday when the Houston Astros defeated the Baltimore Orioles 2-1 in Minute Maid Park. The game was a pitcher’s duel with Houston starter Cristian Javier getting bested by Baltimore starter Kyle Bradish.

Bradish allowed 2 hits, walked 2, struck out 9 and threw a wild pitch over 6.0 scoreless innings (100 pitches, 62 K) compared to Javier’s 1 run, 3 hits, 2 walks and 11 strikeouts over 5.0 innings (91 pitches, 62 K). The difference was the bullpens. Baltimore relievers allowed 2 runs on 3 hits with 3 walks and 1 strikeout over 2.1 innings but were outdone by their Houston counterparts who allowed 3 hits and struck out 2 over 4.0 innings. Orioles hitters just couldn’t find an answer late in the game: sometimes you just have to tip your hat to the opposition.

Adley Rutschman (1 for 3, 1 2B, 1 R, 1 BB) and Anthony Santander (2 for 4, 1 2B, 1 RBI) combined to put the O’s on the board right away in the first inning. Gunnar Henderson, Ryan O’Hearn and Adam Frazier each went 1 for 4; Henderson’s hit was his 27th double of the year.

Every Oriole starter with the exception of Rutschman struck out at least once in the game.

As for the bullpen, Manager Brandon Hyde used a total of 15 relievers in this 3 game series; an emerging question is can this continue into the playoffs?

Jacob Webb (1.0 IP) pitched a clean sevsnth inning.

Shintaro Fujinami (0.1 IP, 1 R, 2 BB) continues to be inconsistent. On Wednesday he thew 12 pitches (2 strikes) and when he missed the zone, he missed it by a lot. Mike Baumann (0.2 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 1 K) inherited 2 runners and allowed one of them to score.

Danny Coulombe (5-2) allowed 1 run on 2 hits and faced 3 batters over 0.1 inning and took the loss.

BOX SCORE

2023 Record: 95-57 Magic Number: 7

Next Game: Thurs. 9/21 @ 7:15pm vs. Guardians in Cleveland

Grayson Rodriguez vs. TBD

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