Orioles get buried early by Blue Jays, lose 5-3.

The Orioles lost tonight 5-3 to the Blue Jays. They were buried early by some Blue Jays home runs and the offense could not do anything about it until it was too late. Another frustrating loss in a season that has seen these types of games mount up as of late. The Orioles left a total of nine runners on base and went 0-3 with runners in scoring position making them 0-10 for the series. Either bad at bats or bad results plagued them once again tonight.

As I said, the scoring got started early tonight. Jose Bautista took the very first pitch of the game into the left center field stands clearing the wall by a row or two of seats. 1-0, Jays. Not a great beginning for Gallardo, but maybe a bit unlucky. With two down, Michael Saunders drew a walk and with two strikes on him Russell Martin hit a fly ball to right field close to the out of town scoreboard that went right over the grounds crew shack. 3-0, Jays. Two wall scrapers, three runs, and a horrible start for the Orioles.

The game for the Orioles offense was mostly one of wasted opportunities. With two down in the first inning, Manny Machado singled and Chris Davis walked, but Mark Trumbo grounded out to second base. The Orioles would also strand runners in the bottom of the third inning and fourth inning. The Orioles first run of the night came in the fifth inning. With two down, Hyun Soo Kim hit a single which Jonathan Schoop followed with a single of his own. Kim moved to third on the ball which was very risky, but ended up being critical. Machado hit a squibber to third base which Josh Donaldson muffed allowing Kim to score from third. Hooray for aggressive base running, but only when it works. 3-1, Jays.

Now, still in the bottom of the fifth, the Orioles still had two on and two down with Davis up. Davis worked a walk on four straight pitches, Aaron Sanchez was either tiring or avoiding Davis altogether. That brought Trumbo to the plate with the bases loaded. However, he missed an outside pitch and flew out to right field to end the rally. Lots of four letter words in the Conway house.

As you can tell by now, Gallardo was miraculously somehow able to navigate around anymore damage while he pitched. He got a big double play in the second and a huge bases loaded double play in the third inning to keep the Jays to just three runs. He ended up retiring ten straight hitters to finish his outing in the sixth inning. He went 6.0 innings, gave up 5 hits, 3 runs, 2 walks, and 3 strike outs.

That would be three straight quality starts from the Triumvirate of Mediocrity consisting of Wade Miley, Ubaldo Jimenez, and Yovani Gallardo. Sometimes, okay all the time, this game is hard to figure out.

The Orioles offense would reward Gallardo’s quality start by stranding another runner in the sixth inning. The Jays would tack another run on in the seventh inning off of Mychal Givens this time. A bloop one out single at the feet of Trumbo by Dioner Navarro put him on first base. Then, with two down, Devon Travis grounded a ball down the left field line, but the slow footed Kim was playing in the gap. This allowed Navarro to saunter from first to home on the play as Travis glided into second base. 4-1, Jays. Bad outfield defense makes a pitching staff look worse.

The Orioles offense would also strand a runner in the bottom of the seventh inning. With Kim on first after a lead off walk, Schoop lashed a ball down the third base line, but it short hopped right into Donaldson’s glove. Double play, another rally killed. More four letter words screamed at the dog. Machado would fly out to left field to end the inning.

As another Orioles chance to score runs evaporated the Jays would add another run. With two down, Orioles annihilator Michael Saunders crushed a pitch off of Brad Brach to make the game 5-1, Jays.

The Orioles would leave another runner on base in the eighth inning. The bottom of the ninth inning was a little more interesting as the offense lashed out like a dying animal backed into a corner. With one down, Nolan Reimold singled. Then, with two down Schoop blasted a ball into the left field stands to make the game 5-3, Jays. However, the rally died there as Manny lined out to right field. Orioles lose 5-3.

Mercifully, the Orioles are off tomorrow. Join us here Friday at 7:05pm as the Orioles open up a home series against the Yankees. September baseball begins in Baltimore.