In the words of Boston (1977), “it’s been such a long time….I’ve got to keep on chasin’ a dream”. The dream that the Baltimore Orioles are chasing had to wait an extra 1 hour 13 minutes for the rain to clear to manifest itself. It had been 7 years and 3 days since that fateful night in Toronto when Ubaldo Jimenez surrendered a walk-off three-run homerun to Edwin Encarnacion in the 11th inning, ending the 2016 Wild Card game. The wait for playoff victory continues as the Texas Rangers won Saturday’s contest 3-2.
Back-to-back doubles by Adolis Garcia and Evan Carter followed by a Jonah Heim single gave the Rangers a 2-0 lead in the top of the fourth. The Orioles answered immediately with a RBI double by Ryan Mountcastle (1 for 4, 1 2B, 1 RBI) that brought in Anthony Santander (2 for 3, 1 HR, 2 R, 1 RBI, 1 BB), who reached on a one out walk.
The Baltimore Bird Bath pic.twitter.com/v0aLeykhAY
— Baltimore Orioles (@Orioles) October 7, 2023
Tony TATERS 🥔 pic.twitter.com/2LeYoMtuAs
— Baltimore Orioles (@Orioles) October 7, 2023
A Josh Jung homerun in the sixth extended the Texas lead and was matched by Santander (420 ft. to the right-center bleachers) in the bottom of the frame.
The Baltimore offense managed just 5 hits, went 0 for 4 with runners in scoring position and left 5 runners on base.
Gunnar Henderson went 1 for 4 and Ramon Urias went 1 for 2.
HAYS WITH THE PLAY!! pic.twitter.com/hDszcCQdB3
— Baltimore Orioles (@Orioles) October 7, 2023
Kyle Bradish (0-1) started the game and failed to give the Orioles the length they would have liked to have, allowing 2 runs on 7 hits with a walk and 9 strikeouts in 4.2 innings of work. He took the loss when all was said and done.
Baltimore used 5 relievers in the game, playing the match-up game as best they could.
DL Hall walked 1 and struck out 3 in his 1.2 innings of relief and Tyler Wells struck out 2 in 1.0 inning of relief.
Texas leads the best of five series 1-0
Next Game: Sun. 10/8 @ 4:07 pm in Oriole Park at Camden Yards
Grayson Rodriguez vs. Jordan Montgomery