The Baltimore Orioles trailed the Cleveland Guardians 2-0 after seven innings on Thursday night before scoring two runs in the top of the eighth to tie the game. A bullpen meltdown allowed three Cleveland runs to cross the plate in the bottom of the eighth, ultimately making the O’s 5-2 losers; with the loss, Baltimore’s lead over the Tampa Bay Rays in the AL East is now 1.5 games (9 Orioles games remain).
Heston Kjerstad (1 for 1), pinch-hitting for Jordan Westburg (0 for 1, 1 BB), singled to open the eighth and was pinch-run for by Ramon Urias (0 for 1, 1 R). A double by Adley Rutschman (3 for 4, 2 2B, 1 R) advanced Urias to third and a fielder’s choice by Anthony Santander (0 for 4, 1 RBI) brought him home. Rutschman scored on a Ryan O’Hearn (1 for 4, 1 2B, 1 RBI) double.
O’Hearn ties it! pic.twitter.com/ITT7NMjche
— Baltimore Orioles (@Orioles) September 22, 2023
Cionel Perez (4-2) took the mound to start the bottom of the eighth and promptly hit Josh Naylor, walked Tyler Freeman and loaded the bases by giving up a Andres Gimenez single. Jacob Webb (0.2 IP, 1 H, 2 BB) replaced Perez and allowed all three inherited runners to score on a bases loaded walk and then a two-RBI single, tagging the loss on Perez and finalizing his line at 0.0 IP, 3 R, 1 H, 1 BB, 1 HBP.
In the ninth Austin Hays (0 for 3, 1 BB) walked and Aaron Hicks (2 for 4) singled to start a threat but that threat ended with an Adam Frazier (0 for 4) strikeout, an Urias strikeout and a Gunnar Henderson (0 for 4, 1 BB) line out to left. Frazier had a chance to redeem himself for not catching the fly ball to right field by Bo Naylor that landed for a single in the eighth, allowing the 4th Cleveland run.
Grayson Rodriguez gave the team a 5.0 inning start and allowed 2 runs on 5 hits, walked 3 and striking out 7, throwing 99 pitches (73 strikes) in the process.
The Orioles just need a little more length out of their starters going forward.
2023 Record: 95-58 Magic Number: 7
Next Game: Fri. 9/22 @ 7:10 pm vs. Guardians in Cleveland
