Sometimes, one small play in a game ends up ruining it. When Adley Rutschman didn’t challenge a pitch in the eighth inning that was called a ball, I thought that was the small ruining play. The batter went on to homer. The game was tied, and I assumed the Orioles would soon fall behind. But that didn’t happen! Instead, the stage was set for Samuel Basallo to come along and serve up some heroics. He did just that, with a home run to put the Orioles ahead and give them a 5-3 lead to start their series with the Kansas City Royals.
The Orioles started scoring early but were held to just three runs for most of the game. They got the scoring started in the second inning with a singles party. Dylan Beavers, Blaze Alexander, Jackson Holliday, and Gunnar Henderson all singled. Beavers and Alexander came in to score on hits from Holliday and Henderson. It was a nice start against Royals’ starter Luinder Avila, who allowed his share of baserunners in his five innings pitched.
Taylor Ward led off the third inning with a single, but was thrown out trying to steal second base with Pete Alonso at the plate. Ward got a good job and could have beaten the throw, but appeared to try the swim move to avoid the tag. Instead, he avoided the bag just long enough to get tagged out. Not great, Taylor! Alonso walked not long after, which made it seem even dumber. They did not score.
The Orioles had just one baserunner in the fourth inning, but it was a Blaze Alexander bomb to put the team up 3-2. It was already Alexander’s second hit of the game and he played good defense as well.
Unfortunately, the Orioles did not score again off Avila. They had two more baserunners in the fifth but couldn’t capitalize, and Avila left the game after five innings. The Royals’ bullpen held strong until they didn’t, but more on that later.
For much of the game, it looked like three runs would be enough. Brandon Young was solid. He wasn’t perfect; he allowed baserunners in the first and second innings but got out of it. In the second inning, he got great defense from Henderson, who made a sliding stop in the hole to start a double play.
The Royals briefly tied the game in the fourth inning before Alexander’s home run. Jac Caglianone hit his 15th home run to make it 2-1, then a walk and a double tied the game.
Isaac Collins got thrown out at second to start the fifth. He popped off the bag on the slide and Henderson held the tag. It was called safe, then overturned on replay. The result was a 1-2-3 fifth. Another runner reached to start the sixth, but this time it was Alexander who turned a great double play to keep it a three-batter inning.
The seventh inning was Young’s best inning of the night. It might have been his best inning all year. He needed just five pitches to get two ground balls and a flyout. It seemed like the seventh was going to be his final inning, but the quick turnaround gave him the chance to come back for the eighth. That didn’t go so well.
Collins started the inning for the Royals. He had just four home runs on the year and an OPS barely over .700. So naturally, he worked an eight-pitch at bat that resulted in a game-tying home run. The real kicker is that Young started the at-bat at 0-2, and threw a pitch that nicked the strike zone that was called ball one. That’s the pitch that Rutschman didn’t challenge. Instead of a strikeout, we got a tie game. It was the eighth inning, Adley! If not then, when?
That was Young’s last batter, and what a disappointing end to another solid start. His final line was 7 IP, 8 H, 3 R, 1 BB, 5 K. Rico Garcia took over and pitched a quick rest of the inning.
The good news was that we didn’t have to wait long for the Orioles to come back, and they did it in an exciting way. Alonso started the bottom of the eighth with a single, then Basallo absolutely smoked a ball. It went off the bat at 105,9 mph and the only question was if it would stay fair. It did stay fair! As soon as it was for sure, Basallo flashed his winning grin at the dugout and heaved his bat towards his teammates before circling the bases. Orioles were up, 5-3.
Basallo continues to be exciting and I am always affected by the joy with which he plays. The smile on his face said it all.
Andrew Kittredge came in to lock down the win, and he did so without too much drama. Michael Massey doubled on a ball that a better right fielder may have caught, but Tyler O’Neill couldn’t catch up to. O’Neill had pinch-hit for Beavers in the eighth, but I don’t think Beavers would have made that catch either. Aside from that, easy peasy. Josh Rojas struck out to end the game and Kittredge had his third save of the season.
Orioles win! Brandon Young pitched seven-plus good innings. Blaze Alexander had an all-round solid game. And of course, Samuel Basallo had the game-winning home run. It was not a bad way to spend a Friday night.
It is Camden Chat tradition to name a Most Birdland Player after every win. Please put your pick in the comments below, and tell us why you chose Samuel Basallo.
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