Baltimore Orioles’ Victory over Oakland A’sBaltimore Orioles’ Victory over Oakland A’s The Baltimore Orioles rebounded from their previous loss with a resounding 5-3 victory over the Oakland A’s on Sunday, July 7. Orioles’ Hot Start The Orioles seized control early, scoring four runs in the top of the first inning. Anthony Santander’s home run, Ryan O’Hearn’s single, Jordan Westburg’s infield single, and Heston Kjerstad’s three-run homer gave Baltimore a commanding lead. Rodriguez’s Solid Outing Starting pitcher Grayson Rodriguez was impressive through the first five innings, holding the A’s scoreless. However, Oakland rallied in the sixth with a double by Tyler Soderstrom and a sacrifice fly by Shea Langeliers. Baltimore’s Fifth Run The Orioles extended their lead to 5-1 in the third inning thanks to sloppy defense by the A’s. Brett Harris’s error on a fly ball allowed Santander to reach base, and Kjerstad’s fly ball to right center was misplayed, allowing Santander to score. Oakland’s Comeback The A’s chipped away at the deficit in the seventh inning. Rodriguez allowed a pair of singles, and reliever Jacob Webb surrendered an RBI single to Bleday. An error by Gunnar Henderson brought in another run, narrowing the gap to 5-3. Orioles Close It Out Baltimore’s bats stirred in the ninth inning. A walk by Ryan Mountcastle, a stolen base, and another walk by Adley Rutschman set the stage for Henderson’s clutch single that scored Mountcastle. Closer Craig Kimbrel struck out two batters and induced a fly ball to end the game with a three-run lead. Other Notes * This was the Orioles’ last regular season game at the Oakland Coliseum. * Baltimore will face the Chicago Cubs in a three-game series starting Tuesday.
The Orioles got one on the chin yesterday, but they sure washed it away quickly. Baltimore jumped for four runs in the top of the first, with Grayson Rodriguez turning in a hot start in a 5-3 victory.
The Orioles clearly wanted to make a statement after Saturday’s beating. Gunnar Henderson and Adley Rutschman made quick outs, but the heart of the order followed with some quality two-out lightning.
Oakland starter Mitch Spence was one pitch away from ending the inning, but Anthony Santander had other plans. Santander hit a low slider and kept the ball inside the foul pole for Baltimore’s first run of the game. The blast marked Santander’s first career home run in Oakland.
Ryan O’Hearn followed with a sharp single to center, and Jordan Westburg squeezed out an infield single when Spence failed to make a fair throw to first. O’Hearn advanced to third on the mishit to put runners at the corners for Heston Kjerstad.
As it turned out, O’Hearn didn’t need the extra 90 feet. Spence gave Kjerstad a 90-MPH cutter right up the middle, and the rookie didn’t miss. Kjerstad drove the ball 406 feet to left-center, and the O’s had a four-run lead before the first Oakland player stepped into the batter’s box.
Oakland gifted Baltimore its fifth run with some sloppy defense in the third. Santander reached when Brett Harris couldn’t find a shallow fly ball in the sun. Santander advanced to second on a wild pitch and Kjerstad put the ball back in play with two outs.
Kjerstad sailed a towering fly ball to right center. Both JJ Bleday and Lawrence Butler tried to make the play, but the ball bounced off Bleday’s glove. Kjerstad raced all the way to third and Santander scored easily from second.
The bats then took a nap. Rodriguez sailed through the first five innings, but Oakland finally broke through in the sixth. Bleday drew a leadoff walk, and Rodriguez plunked Rooker to make it two-one with one out.
Tyler Soderstrom worked his way ahead in the count before hitting a sinker the other way. The ball crept down the third base line for a double, and the A’s had their first run of the game. Shea Langeliers followed with a sacrifice fly to left to cut the deficit to three.
Traffic allowed Jacob Webb to get loose, but Rodriguez struck out Zack Gelof to end the inning. Rodriguez somewhat surprisingly returned for the seventh inning, but Webb eventually came in on a pair of singles to start the inning.
Webb pitched well enough to get out of the inning unscathed, but that didn’t quite happen. He struck out Max Schuemann for the first out and generated what could have been an inning-ending double play.
Gunnar Henderson caught the pitch from Ramón Urías and touched the base for the second out, but his shot missed the first. The throwing error allowed Oakland’s third run to score, but Webb struck out Miguel Andujar to end the inning with a two-run lead.
Yennier Cano pitched well in the eighth, and Baltimore’s bats finally woke up in the top of the ninth. Ryan Mountcastle took a leadoff walk, giving his spot to pinch-runner Jorge Mateo. Mateo stole second, and Urías followed with the second walk of the inning.
Henderson delivered the clutch hit with a single right up the middle. Mateo scored with ease and Baltimore spotted Craig Kimbrel for a three-run lead at the bottom of the ninth.
Kimbrel struck out the first two batters he faced before allowing a single to center. Kimbrel generated a harmless fly ball from Bleday to end the game.
The game marked Baltimore’s last time playing at the Oakland Coliseum. The Orioles take tomorrow off before opening a three-game series against the Cubs.
Survey
Who was the most Birdland player on Sunday July 7?
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Heston Kjerstad (1-for-4, three-run homer)
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Grayson Rodriguez (6 IP, 3 ER, 6 H, 8 K)
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Anthony Santander (2-for-5, HR, 2 runs scored)
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