It was bound to happen; one inning, one 100 mph four-seam fastball, one ball hit 403 ft. to centerfield for a grand slam homerun. The Baltimore Orioles lost a heartbreaker, 7-6 to the Houston Astros Tuesday night. In a rare show of mere mortality, Felix Bautista (6-2) surrendered that grand slam and took the loss. Bautista threw 30 pitches (21 strikes) in 0.2 inning. allowing 4 runs on 2 hits (1 HR), walking 1 and striking out 2. Those four runs allowed saw his ERA “balloon” from 0.85 to 1.52.
The Orioles held the lead for eight innings, using a quality start by Grayson Rodriguez (6.0 IP, 2 R, 6 H, 2 BB, 4 K, 1 HBP) as a jumping off point.
Ryan Mountcastle (1 for 4, 1 HR, 1 R, 2 RBI) set off the fireworks early with his 14th homerun in the first inning. The ball travelled 472 ft. over both bullpens in left-center and was caught by a fan in the SRO area overlooking the bullpens; it was the longest homerun by an Oriole player this season.
HE GOT ALL 472 FT OF THAT ONE
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— Baltimore Orioles (@Orioles) August 8, 2023
An inning later, Adley Rutschman (1 for 3, 1 HR, 2 R, 2 RBI, 1 BB) hit his 15th homerun of the season a measly 413 ft. to left-center.
Mount Splashmore
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— Baltimore Orioles (@Orioles) August 8, 2023
Jordan Westburg went 2 for 4 with a double and 1 run scored.
Ramon Urias went 1 for 3 with a triple and 1 run scored.
James McCann went 1 for 2 with 1 run scored and 2 RBI.
Jorge Mateo went 1 for 3 and made a homerun-robbing catch of a Yainer Diaz fly ball to center in the 3rd inning but failed to make a leaping catch at the wall of a Yordan Alvarez fly ball n the ninth.
Mateo making plays
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— Baltimore Orioles (@Orioles) August 9, 2023
2023 Record: 70-43
Next Game: Wed. 8/9 @ 7:05 pm vs. Astros @ OPACY