Royals 9, Orioles 4: It only seems like the sky is falling!

by dfa on Aug 4, 2011 11:43 PM EDT in Post-Game

KANSAS CITY, MO - AUGUST 04: Zach Britton #53 starting pitcher of the Baltimore Orioles wipes his face after learning about disappointing news from Wall Street. And being on the Orioles. (Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images)

If you went to stubhub last night, you could have bought a ticket for tonight's game for a buck seventy nine. And maybe, just maybe, you could have gotten a major league baseball from an Oriole pitcher.

Tonight started off for Zach Britton like the previous two...after six batters, the Orioles were down 3 runs. In fairness only one was earned, thanks in large measure to an error by the pitcher himself. But Britton would battle back, and for a time make you almost believe again. From the second through the fifth, Britton would scatter six hits without allowing a run. And the bats would score single runs in the third, fourth, fifth and sixth to take a 4-3 lead heading into the bottom of the sixth. And then, it didn't go so well.

Alicides Escobar led off the inning with a fly out. And then Britton gave up a one out double. Then a single to a Royal you've probably heard of, Alex Gordon. Then an RBI single off the bat of former Brave Melky Cabrera. And out goes Britton, and in comes JJ Johnson. Then a run scoring single off the bat of Billy Butler. JJ managed to get a strikeout! But the hits just kept on coming. Jeff Francoeur got his second infield single of the night. Then a "double" that involved some hilarity involving Mark Reynolds running into an umpire. And then a two run single off the bat of Chris Getz. And then another single, with a throwing error tossed in, as JJ threw the ball to heavens knows. It was at this point that the Royals play by play guy chimed in: "and the sky is falling on the Baltimore Orioles." It wouldn't cost the Orioles anything other than pride though, as the 11th Royal to bat in the inning would ground out to the third. So 1 inning, 2 pitchers, 8 hits, 1 error and six runs.

The Orioles went quietly into that good night after that and are presumably looking forward to going back home. For some reason, in the bottom of the 8th, Fred Manfra started thanking Oriole fans for listening to the Orioles this season despite 'many nights like these.'

The Orioles had a chance to win their first road series in two months but figured to continue the suspense for a little while longer. You're welcome Oriole fans!

Notables:
JJ Hardy hit his 100th career home run. And injured his ankle; the severity is not known at this point.

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Good job on this one.

I missed what happened to Hardy. Did he hurt his ankle on the play where the ball sailed on him? I guess that might explain the wild throw.

"That ball is gone. We'll pause ten seconds to commit suicide ... I mean, for a station identification." - Joe Angel, 6/17/11

by Eat More Esskay on Aug 5, 2011 12:36 AM EDT reply actions

Hardy, per the Sun

Hardy, however, left in the middle of the seventh with a left low-ankle sprain. He plans to see Orioles orthopedist Dr. John Wilckens on Friday and is listed as day-to-day. “Yesterday I felt it a little bit in between batting practice and the game, and it went away after I got off it a little bit,” Hardy said. “It felt OK coming into today, and then it kind of crept back up on me. I don’t think it’s anything serious. I feel like if they had taken me out of the game last night, I would have been fine an inning later.”

If you look at those UZR ratings or whatever

by dfa on Aug 5, 2011 2:00 AM EDT up reply actions

Around the minors 8-4:

Norfolk beat Rochester 5-4. Ryan Adams went 2-4 with a homer and a K. Jake Fox went 2-4 with a double and a homer. Rick VandenHurk went 5 innings, giving up 3 earned on six hits and 3 walks, while striking out 5, posting a GB/FB of 5/6.

Portland beat Bowie 3-2. Oliver Drake went 7.1 scoreless innings, giving up 4 hits, striking out 6 and walking 2, while posting a GB/FB of 11/2. Pat Egan gave up 3 earned runs on 3 hits and 2 walks striking out 1. Wynn Pelzer went two thirds of an inning, walking 1 without recording a K. Xavier Avery went 1-5. LJ Hoes went 0-3 with a walk and 2 Ks. Joseph Mahoney went 2-3 with a double and a triple. Ronnie Welty went 0-4 with 2 Ks.

Frederick lost to Lynchburg 4-2. Jonathan Schoop went 1-4 with a double. Manny Machado went 1-4 with a K. Aaron Baker went 0-3 with a walk and a K. Kipp Schutz DNP. Newly promoted Randy Henry went 2 innings, giving up 2 earned runs on 5 hits and a walk without recording a K.

Delmarva beat Lakewood 4-2. Ty Kelly went 0-2 with 2 walks. Michael Ohlman went 1-4 with a K. Newly promoted Jake Cowan went six strong innings, giving up 1 earned run on six hits and 1 walk while striking out 3 and posting a GB/FB of 9/3.

Aberdeen beat Lowell 9-1. Glynn Davis went 1-5 with a SB. Wynston Sawyer played first tonight and went 2-5 with a double. Mychal Givens went 3-3 with a double and 3 walks. Connor Narron went 0-4 with a walk and 2 Ks.

The GCL Twins beat the GCL Orioles 2-1 in 16 (!). Rod Bernadina went 0-6 with a walk and 2 strikeouts. Jaime Esquivel went 5 perfect innings, striking out 6 and posting a GB/FB of 6/1. Luis Bernardo went 2 scoreless striking out 1.

The DSL Orioles were rained out.

Melewski on Hoes, and then on some draft picks. Good news for people who like bad news:

Meanwhile, Jordan did confirm today that 12th-round pick Jason Coats, an outfielder out of TCU, is fully expected to go back to college and almost certainly will not sign with the Orioles.

If you look at those UZR ratings or whatever

by dfa on Aug 5, 2011 1:58 AM EDT reply actions