Orioles Can’t Complete Late Comeback in Game Two Loss to Rangers
Baltimore, Maryland (PSF) Gut punch after gut punch. It was a tough game for Brandon Hyde’s young squad as they fell to the Texas Rangers 11-8, putting themselves in a corner now down 2-0 against a hot team.
Things looked promising early on, as the Orioles took an early 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first. Quickly after, the momentum shifted to the Rangers’ favor. In the next half inning, the Rangers tied the game up 2-2 thanks to Leody Taveras’s double, and the Rangers poured an additional three runs on, making the game 5-2 entering the third inning.
Enter Mitch Garver.
After reliver Bryan Baker walked the bases loaded, fellow righty Jacob Webb entered the game for Baltimore. After working the count to 3-1, Garver deposited his bat (sick bat drop), and a 3-1 fastball 419 feet into the left field stands, blowing the game open and making the score 9-2.
It was a blow that the Orioles never fully recovered from.
Grayson Rodriguez’s first postseason start did not go as planned. Rodriguez struggled immensely in the first half of the season, posting a 7.35 ERA, but earned the trust of the Orioles’ brass as the #2 starter in the postseason rotation as the season progressed. He had a 2.58 ERA in the second half of the season, showing improvement with limiting home runs and walks.
Unfortunately, his first postseason assignment came against the #3 scoring offense in the MLB, led by both established stars and breakout stars from the leadoff to 9-hole spot.
Rodriguez only lasted 1.2 innings, allowing ten baserunners (six hits, four walks), and six earned runs while striking out two batters. After departing, the Orioles bullpen did not do a great job of keeping the game in striking distance, giving up another five runs and eventually putting the team in a 11-5 deficit going into the bottom of the ninth inning.
In a tough day for Orioles fans and Baltimore sports fans overall (sorry Ravens fans), but there were some silver linings that may give fans some hope that there is still a little magic left as their magical season hangs in the balance.
Outstanding rookie Gunnar Henderson hit the first postseason home run of his career in the bottom of the fifth inning, which made the score 10-5. That would be the last run the Orioles would score until the ninth inning.
Aaron Hicks’s 3-run home run in the bottom of the ninth gave Orioles fans the slightest glimmer of hope again, but the magic quickly dissipated as the Orioles’ offense was stymied and the game ended with an 11-8 final score.
The Orioles, now 0-2, will travel to Arlington, Texas and Globe Life Field to face the red-hot Rangers in an elimination game. Their backs now against the wall, it is time for this talented, yet young/inexperienced Orioles team to dig deep and find their footing again. Brandon Hyde must have his squad ready on Tuesday.
The Orioles’ started is to be announced. Right-hander Nathan Eovaldi will take the ball for the Rangers in game three.
