An Opportunity Squandered
Leading 3-2 going into the bottom of the 10th inning, the Baltimore Orioles bullpen could not maintain that lead, surrendering a three-run homerun to Boston’s Tyler O’Neill, giving the Red Sox an extra-inning 5-3 win.
Keegan Akin (3-1) was called upon to close out the 10th inning and promptly struck out Rafael Devers. A fielding error by Jackson Holliday (0 for 4, SB) put runners at the corners. Two pitches later, O’Neill deposited an 88-mph slider 393 ft. to left-center for the walk off win. Akin finished with a line of 3 runs, 1 earned, allowed on 1 hit (HR) with 1 strikeout in one-third of an inning and took the loss.
The Orioles loss combined with a New York Yankees win in extras dropped the Birds to 1.5 games behind in the Division race.
Lost in all of this was the performance of starter Dean Kremer. He deserved better for the quality start he provided. Kremer threw 103 pitches (70 strikes) over 7.0 innings, allowing 2 runs, 1 earned, on 5 hits (1 XBH) with 3 walks and 7 strikeouts.
Offensively, the Orioles got homeruns from Emmanuel Rivera (2 for 4, HR, R, 2 RBI) and Anthony Santander (1 for 3, HR, R, RBI, BB). It was Rivera’s RBI single in the 10th that put Baltimore up 3-2.
Gunnar Henderson went 1 for 5 with a double.
Colton Cowser went 2 for 4 with a triple, a triple that travelled 176 ft. and was misplayed by Boston SS Trevor Story.
Austin Slater went 1 for 4 with a run scored.
2024 Record: 83-64
Next Game: Fri. 9/13 vs. Tigers @ 6:40 pm in Detroit