It is time to push the panic button Birdland; the Baltimore Orioles now have their backs against the wall. Following Sunday’s 11-8 loss to the Texas Rangers, Baltimore now must rally and win the next two games in Texas to not only bring the series back to Baltimore but to have any chance at advancing to the ALCS.

Sunday’s game looked to be different than Saturday’s was; the Orioles struck first with an Aaron Hicks (2 for 5, 1 HR, 1 R, 5 RBI) bases loaded single for a 2-0 lead after one inning. That all changed when the wheels came off the cart in the second and third innings when Texas plated a combined nine runs.

Starter and ultimately the pitcher of record, Grayson Rodriguez (0-1) allowed 5 runs on 6 hits, walked 4 and struck out 2 over 1.2 innings. Danny Coulombe (0.1 IP) struck out 1 to end the second inning. Bryan Baker (0.1 IP, 3 R, 3 BB) and Jacob Webb (1.2 IP, 1 R, 1 H, 1 HR, 1 K) combined to allow 4 runs in the third inning.

Jorge Mateo (4 for 4, 2 2B, 1 R, 1 RBI) knocked in a run and scored a run in the fourth inning. Gunnar Henderson (2 for 4, 1 HR, 3 R, 1 RBI, 1 BB) homered to lead off the fifth inning, countering Texas’ fifth inning run.

In what was a moot point at the time, Hicks hit a three-run homerun in the bottom of the ninth to account for the final score.

Of the seven relievers called upon by Manager, Brandon Hyde, Tyler Wells (1.0 IP) tossed a clean seventh inning and Cionel Perez allowed (1.0 IP) 1 hit and struck out 2 in the eighth.

Austin Hays (3 for 4, 1 2B, 1 R, 1 BB), Adley Rutschman (1 for 5, 1 2B) and Jordan Westburg (1 for 4, 1 2B, 1 R) each hit a double in the game.

BOX SCORE

Texas leads the best of five series 2-0

Next Game: Tues. 10/10 @ 8:03 pm at Globe Life Field

TBD vs. Nathan Eovaldi

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