It is time to push the panic button Birdland; the Baltimore Orioles now have their backs against the wall. Following Sunday’s 11-8 loss to the Texas Rangers, Baltimore now must rally and win the next two games in Texas to not only bring the series back to Baltimore but to have any chance at advancing to the ALCS.
Sunday’s game looked to be different than Saturday’s was; the Orioles struck first with an Aaron Hicks (2 for 5, 1 HR, 1 R, 5 RBI) bases loaded single for a 2-0 lead after one inning. That all changed when the wheels came off the cart in the second and third innings when Texas plated a combined nine runs.
HICKS, THERE IT IS!! pic.twitter.com/CDzy2VQz6m
— Baltimore Orioles (@Orioles) October 8, 2023
Starter and ultimately the pitcher of record, Grayson Rodriguez (0-1) allowed 5 runs on 6 hits, walked 4 and struck out 2 over 1.2 innings. Danny Coulombe (0.1 IP) struck out 1 to end the second inning. Bryan Baker (0.1 IP, 3 R, 3 BB) and Jacob Webb (1.2 IP, 1 R, 1 H, 1 HR, 1 K) combined to allow 4 runs in the third inning.
Grayson Rodriguez failed to escape the second inning tonight.
The righty spoke to the media after the game. pic.twitter.com/9ykbObS04k
— Orioles on MASN (@masnOrioles) October 9, 2023
Jorge Mateo (4 for 4, 2 2B, 1 R, 1 RBI) knocked in a run and scored a run in the fourth inning. Gunnar Henderson (2 for 4, 1 HR, 3 R, 1 RBI, 1 BB) homered to lead off the fifth inning, countering Texas’ fifth inning run.
His first Postseason home run
pic.twitter.com/EIWfQspa8X
— Baltimore Orioles (@Orioles) October 8, 2023
In what was a moot point at the time, Hicks hit a three-run homerun in the bottom of the ninth to account for the final score.
Hicks to the Sticks pic.twitter.com/gDxg0keAQn
— Baltimore Orioles (@Orioles) October 8, 2023
Of the seven relievers called upon by Manager, Brandon Hyde, Tyler Wells (1.0 IP) tossed a clean seventh inning and Cionel Perez allowed (1.0 IP) 1 hit and struck out 2 in the eighth.
Austin Hays (3 for 4, 1 2B, 1 R, 1 BB), Adley Rutschman (1 for 5, 1 2B) and Jordan Westburg (1 for 4, 1 2B, 1 R) each hit a double in the game.
Texas leads the best of five series 2-0
Next Game: Tues. 10/10 @ 8:03 pm at Globe Life Field
TBD vs. Nathan Eovaldi