HOUSTON — This week’s Orioles-Astros collection at Minute Maid Park represented a possible postseason preview — even perhaps a glimpse into what the American League Championship Sequence may seem like. Baltimore, which owns the most effective report within the AL, went toe-to-toe with defending World Sequence champion Houston.
It was a disappointing finish to the three-game set for the Orioles, who took a 2-1 loss in Wednesday afternoon’s finale. Baltimore’s taxed bullpen couldn’t shield a one-run lead within the eighth, after which Mauricio Dubón ended it with a walk-off RBI single in opposition to left-hander Danny Coulombe within the ninth.
Nonetheless, the O’s nonetheless took two of three. So if this truly had been a postseason collection, they’d be the staff shifting on. And that was sufficient of a optimistic to melt the blow of a troublesome loss.
“Any time you go on the street and get two out of three in Houston, it’s an enormous deal,” infielder Adam Frazier stated. “It’s slightly bitter as a result of we felt like we have been proper there to get the sweep, however that’s a great staff over there. To carry them down like we did, that’s a reasonably good job by our pitchers.”
Kyle Bradish pitched properly sufficient for Baltimore to win Wednesday. The truth is, the 27-year-old right-hander was excellent — however that shouldn’t come as a shock, as he’s been dominant in opposition to Houston over his first two massive league seasons.
“He pitches properly in opposition to good groups as a result of he’s acquired big-time stuff,” supervisor Brandon Hyde stated.
With six scoreless frames, Bradish preserved his 0.00 profession ERA vs. the Astros, as he hasn’t allowed a run in 22 2/3 innings in opposition to them. He allowed solely two hits and two walks whereas putting out 9 in a stellar outing.
Bradish has emerged because the clear rotation chief within the second half whereas additionally changing into an AL Cy Younger Award contender. He has a 2.65 ERA over 12 outings after the All-Star break, and his 3.01 season ERA ranks third within the AL behind solely the Yankees’ Gerrit Cole (2.81) and the Twins’ Sonny Grey (2.84).
If the Orioles have the luxurious of lining up their rotation how they’d prefer to open the postseason, then Bradish ought to begin Recreation 1 (whether or not that’s within the ALDS or the AL Wild Card Sequence). If he faces the Astros at any level, he’ll be prepared for the task.
“I do know they’ve acquired actually good gamers, one by way of 9. I’ve simply acquired to focus that rather more,” Bradish stated. “They’re most likely going to be the No. 2 seed. Hopefully, we’ll see them once more. It is a good ambiance. Their pitching workers, hitters, it’s a whole staff. It was a great check.”
Baltimore will ideally have a brisker bullpen when it faces robust groups — corresponding to Houston — within the postseason. Two of its high relievers, All-Star right-hander Yennier Cano and lefty Cionel Pérez, have been unavailable Wednesday after pitching every of the earlier three days. All-Star nearer Félix Bautista (partial proper UCL tear) stays on the injured listing, though he could possibly be an choice for October.
Within the eighth, Shintaro Fujinami issued two walks whereas throwing 10 balls and two strikes and recording just one out. He was charged with permitting the tying run, which scored on Jeremy Peña’s RBI double off righty Mike Baumann.
“It’s about throwing strikes with him,” Hyde stated of Fujinami. “In the present day, it was plenty of arm-side misses. His stuff’s good when it’s within the strike zone.”
Coulombe, who was pitching for the third time in 4 days, allowed a leadoff double to Yainer Diaz within the ninth earlier than Dubón’s successful hit with one out.
The Orioles would have most well-liked a happier ending and a collection sweep. However with solely 10 video games to go within the common season, they’re happy about their current play amid their pursuit of their first AL East title since 2014, significantly within the matchups vs. the Astros.
“They’re the defending champs over there, so we all know what they’re able to,” Frazier stated. “Everyone is aware of that, although. There’s a great probability we’ll see them once more in a few weeks. Till then, we’ve acquired to complete robust.”